''Coda'' is a 1987 Australian

made-for-TV A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a terrestr ...

horror Horror may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Genres *Horror fiction, a genre of fiction **Psychological horror, a subgenre of horror fiction **Christmas horror, a subgenre of horror fiction **Analog horror, a subgenre of horror fiction * ...

mystery film A mystery film is a film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur Detective, sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, ...

directed by

Craig Lahiff Craig Lahiff (23 April 1947 – 2 February 2014) was an Australian film director. He grew up in the Adelaide suburb of Somerton Park, South Australia, Somerton Park and studied science at the University of Adelaide, then trained as a systems co ...

who described it as "very much a telefilm. I suppose it's very Hitchcocky - and de Palma inspired." It was the first of three films Lahiff had arranged finance for which were made in succession. The film focuses on a serial killer targeting female university students. It was shot on location at

Flinders University Flinders University, established as The Flinders University of South Australia is a public university, public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia, with a footprint extending across a number of locations in South Australia and ...

on 16mm and features women in all the lead roles.

Plot

At a university, a music student is murdered and the main suspect is an ex of Kate Martin. She decides to investigate with the help of her friend Sally Reid.

Cast

Penny Cook Penelope Cook (13 July 1957 – 26 December 2018) was an Australian actress, stage director, TV presenter and writer. She played roles in the soap opera ''A Country Practice'', as Vicki Dean Bowen from 1981 to 1985, '' E Street'' as lead anchor ...

as Kate Martin *

Arna-Maria Winchester Arna-Maria Winchester was an Australian actress, appearing on film, TV and in the theatre. Career Winchester played the main role in the 1980 film '' The Chain Reaction'' and the 1983 TV series ''Kings''. Other featured screen roles include ...

as Dr. Steiner *

Liddy Clark Elizabeth Anne Clark (born 6 November 1953) is an Australian former politician with the Labor Party in the Queensland Legislature who held the seat for Clayfield and also an actress of television and film, director, producer and presenter, cre ...

as Sally Reid *Patrick Frost as Mike Martin *Vivienne Greaves as Anna *

Olivia Hamnett Olivia Jane Hamnett (13 February 1943 - 2 November 2001) was an English actress known for numerous Television in Australia, television roles in Australia, primarily in soap operas and miniseries. including ''The Sullivans'' as Meg Fulton in 197 ...

as Det. Sgt. Turner *Adrian Shirley as a real estate agent *Bob Newman as a psychiatrist

Production

Lahiff made the film after graduating with a Masters in film. He later said " "It took a while to work out the mechanisms of how to finance it, but that was the first full-length film." Filming started 23 August 1986.

Reception

According to ''Variety'' "This kind of film can only enthrall an audience if it’s convincing, and credulity is stretched beyond breaking point time and again... Thesping is not at all bad, with both Penny Cook and Liddy Clark providing pleasing characters as the frightened ladies. The protracted climax, consisting of endless chases down college corridors and then yet another fall from a high window (again, miraculously non-fatal) is merely dullsville." According to Lahiff's collaborator, Josephine Emery the film "opened doors for" Lahiff, "As a result of its success at American Film Market Craig was approached by JC Williamson’s with an offer of money to finance a 90-minute thriller." This led to Lahiff's next film, ''Fever''.

Plot

Cast

Production

Reception

References

External links