Jan Miller Corran wades into the film noir genre with her thriller Love Loaded. Dr. Jack Scanlon (Adam Huss) owns the Figaro Club, where his wife, Didi (Monica Young), entertains the well-heeled crowd with torch songs. Didi has a history that makes Jack anxious. His suspicions are provoked when Didi’s ex-lover April (Erin Chambers) reappears in the club after having moved out of town some time ago.
Jack is failing to manage his drinking problem with all the stressors in his life. This is an unfortunate weakness for a man who owns a bar. To add to his misery, from wronged lovers to botched surgeries, he has become the target for someone who wants to see him dead. He is not sure which of several people with good cause is trying to kill him. One possibility is a local mob boss named Marco Ponzetti (Tom Katsis). Didi has her own jealousy after seeing a woman named Molly (Emily Goss) showing interest in Jack.
After Didi confronts him about the booze, he walks away from her and his bartender/friend Bill (Rich Ceraulo Ko). As he steps out of the bar, someone takes a shot at him, grazing him with the bullet, and with this, the game is afoot. Jack disappears while Didi digs into the mystery of who is trying to kill him. She finds him hiding out at his ex-lover Kelly’s (Constance Brenneman) place. The threads of their lives unravel rapidly as the attempt on Jack’s life drives everyone to extremes. Simmering resentment erupts, while betrayal and murder are on the table.
“… Dr. Scanlon is the target for someone who wants to see him dead …”
The film is new, but feels familiar and comfortable. The men in the film are creeps across the board, unfaithful and misogynistic, hitting on any woman who gets within earshot. There are some new elements that subvert the traditional noir sensibility, however. Having one of Didi’s ex’s be a woman is an interesting variation. There are also gay male characters. These inclusions refresh an ancient cinematic formula in a delightful way.
Despite being in color, the visual conventions of the genre are honored with an interplay of light and shadow. The soundtrack is authentic as well, and the vocal performances sparkle. Fans of the noir genre are in for a treat in this updated approach.
Three Women in a Box LLC is an indie film production company founded by Corran. It focuses on women-centric and LGBTQ+-friendly indie dramatic features and shorts.
