Motive????
I watched most of the movie but I didn't get the motive for the ventriloqusit to take the children.
What was his motive for taking the children and phone stalking the baby sitter?
I really think he was trying to shatter the 'illusion' that they all had. Remember how Landis was obsessed with 'illusions'?
I think he was trying to tear apart the illusion that they were safe and in control; a happy family with a happy babysitter in a perfect house.
Express appreciation, love, and gratitude, even for simple things - B. Fredrickson
I agree that was his motive. I listen to his little rant about illusions and it all made sense that he wanted to show that all because you have a nice home and have money and a responsible babysitter, it doesn't make you safe.
shareAlso... I'm wondering whether part of his motive was that he knew she hadn't phoned the auto-club (and then his 'wife') because he'd already cut the phone line and was messing with her. Perhaps the whole autoclub phonecall situation was a test to see if she'd be honest with him even though she was scared. If she'd told him from the start that the phone wouldn't work, perhaps because there would be no illusion he might have jogged on. It would be psychopathic to put her in a creepy situation with the only out to be an unlikely reaction.
He even seems to get angry with her for a while and says "I don't believe you". Maybe it's his way of testing people. He has an obsession with illusions. I love his speech at the strip club about being the truth. At the end of her ordeal in the house he gives her a little truth, that he knows she's just a babysitter and that there's someone inside the house with her. But obviously he's lying too, that he's hiding in the bushes... it's crazy. Maybe he really thinks he's two people, but probably he's just toying with her.
The whole situation was (probably) an illusion. The car being broken down and needing to call the autoclub. Then Julia faking the phonecalls to the autoclub - do you remember her pretending to talk to them? "The number is blah blah blah and could you also please call my brother?" etc etc. She thought she was creating an illusion but he knew what was going on because he'd already cut the phone line.
She has the illusion that the kids are fine upstairs, the parents have the illusion of safety by hiring a babysitter... he breaks those illusions by stealing the children from under her nose.
Also, perhaps he becomes obsessed with Julia because she seems to be living an illusion of a life. When she talks to John in the diner she talks sadly about how she goes to bed hoping that when she wakes up everything in her life will be different. She has no friends, no social life or partner.
But then, perhaps trying to find a clear-cut motive is impossible. I love that the bad guy is deliberately ambiguous and mysterious.
But then, perhaps trying to find a clear-cut motive is impossible. I love that the bad guy is deliberately ambiguous and mysterious.
I love that there wasn't a clearcut motive, made it that much more creepier for me.
Obviously his motive was to get to the whole tummy touching/tapping/slapping/pounding thing. Who doesn't dream of doing that to an unconscious person???
shareThe children were stolen but it was never made clear what happened to them - I buy the illusion part except we can assume he killed the children since they were never found again (a similar thing happened in the original). I just don't get why he continues to pursue Julia and how did he manage to get into her apartment and leave that child's clothing in her closet, considering it was a three stories up and the door was triple bolted. I do not understand the illusion aspect as the film progresses.
Jerry at the Movies
http://jerrysaravia.blogspot.com/
While not 'confirmed', the film hints that Landis killed the children.
The cop John asks the sanity-questionable neighbor of Landis if she knows anything.
The woman says in a vague way that 'the children had died'.
Now if this is true or a crazy babble, we never get to know. I actually found this part annoying, as well as the abrupt ending to the film.
Why he pursues Julia exactly is never revealed either. It would appear he became obsessed with her.
He probably found it maddening that she escaped him.
But again, the cop put it best: "There can be a thousand reasons with a psychopath."
Psychopaths all have their own motivations; they don't necessarily make any sense to the everyday person.
There may be no security for the main door to Julia's building. It looked like low-rent and/or student apartments.
To her door. Landis likely picked the locks. John mentions this, that its not hard if you know what you're doing.
What do you mean about the 'illusion aspect'?
I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush.
Someone on this thread posted about how the killer is trying to evoke the illusion of safety and having a home to Julia, and how easily those things can be taken away.
When a Stranger Calls Back
http://jerrysaravia.blogspot.com/2014/11/whos-knocking-at-jill-schoele ns-door.html
True. I made mention of that above.
I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush.
Sorry, I was replying so quickly without checking. Anyways, those were thoughts I had before to some extent, but nothing can ever truly explain someone's motivation - only provide some insight.
When a Stranger Calls Back
http://jerrysaravia.blogspot.com/2014/11/whos-knocking-at-jill-schoele ns-door.html