DEAN O'FLAHERTY'S Beautiful explains its title in its opening shot. Suzy Thomson (Tahyna Tozzi), Sunshine Hills' teenage siren, is lounging on the lawn of her parents' house wearing dark glasses and a red swimsuit in the midst of a downpour.

It is a potent aesthetic statement. The sight of silver raindrops dancing on golden skin gives eloquent notice of O'Flaherty's intention to steer his suburban mystery story well clear of the bleak realities of the kitchen sink.