Agatha Christie

“Five Corners” of Tony Bill from 1988.
The elevators scene!
Brief comparative analysis with the “Basic Instinct” elevator denouement scene.

First of all, of course, I want to thank very much wholeheartedly the Cinema Club of the Tula’s Regional Library for introducing, for choosing, for presenting such a fascinating work of the cinematic art. Where I have been all this time?! “Five Corners” was released in 1988 and I succeeded watching it only in 2021. Post production 33 years later on... It was the most astonishingly astounding viewer's experience!...Especially, the elevators scene... Especially the elevators scene!

I do recollect the suspension of both belief and disbelief scenes, episodes, moments from the “Basic Instinct” by Paul Verhoeven, from the “Birds” by Alfred Hitchcock, from the screenings of the Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle detective stories, from the marvellous speleology thriller “Sanctum”, from “The Jaws” by Steven Spielberg... from some other outstanding master pieces of the world cinematic art... And, of course, the “Die hard” by John McTiernan (the movie was released in 1988 too, on July 15th and not on January 22nd) and James Bond in Shanghai elevators scenes in 2012 “Skyfall” by Sam Mendes.

But even these generally, wholeheartedly and universally recognized classical oeuvre of the aggravating compounding suspense genre look and feel not as sharply tickling Your nerve receptors, as this elevator roofs scene from the “Five Corners” by Tony Bill!!!

No I was not getting cold sweat, but my heartbeat was getting pulsating at the galloping pace.

The “Five Corners” elevators scene in my opinion is the most outstanding suspension thrilling episode not only of all the homologous mise-en-scènes, but one of the most outstanding and talented suspension nerves racking, emotions racketeering cinematic segments of / throughout the whole history of the world cinema!

Remember the elevator denouement of the “Basic Instinct” culminating in shoot-to-kill mesmeric incomprehensible dilemma (and later on - stupor) for inspector Conklin (portrayed by Michael Douglass)?..

In my opinion, the equivalent moments of elevator dooming drama from the “Five Corners” are even stronger in there pitching, striking, searing, incisive momentum of action. Of the detective story action. Although, in the “Five Corners” the whole action sequence is more procrastinating and slower, compared with the “Basic Instinct”, but... But the agitation impact is much stronger!!! Much more incinerating! Decimating our calmness mercilessly!

The elevator scene from the “Five Corners” does elevate our spirits and thoughts towards the skyscraper heights of cinematic aesthetics with the skyrocketing intensity and sky turbulence density!

Peter Friesen