Movie Review : ‘Improper Conduct’ Deftly Spins Psychological Thriller

“Improper Conduct” is a nifty modest-budget psychological thriller pegged to the timely issue of sexual harassment. It is the 15th film by the enterprising Dr. Jag Mundhra who once operated Culver City’s venerable, long-gone Meralta Theater as a much-missed showcase for Indian cinema.

“Improper Conduct” is the first of Mundhra’s films to be released theatrically, his previous efforts having been contracted to go straight to video. This movie is the confident work of an efficient filmmaker who knows the ropes.

In a sharp ensemble cast, Tahnee Welch plays a beautiful commercial artist newly hired by an L.A. advertising agency, where owner Stuart Whitman has just appointed son-in-law John Laughlin as head of marketing. Laughlin immediately starts hitting upon Welch with increasing persistence and menacing crudeness, refusing to take no for an answer. Welch’s visiting sister, Lee Anne Beaman, a feminist law student, persuades her to hire Beaman’s lawyer friend Steven Bauer to file suit against Laughlin. Bauer feels sure that his brisk assistant Nia Peeples won’t have any trouble lining up other women Laughlin has pestered; besides, Welch has one witness, the office’s mail-room worker (Everette Lamar), a gutsy young gay man.

Up to this point “Improper Conduct” plays like a crisp, decently made TV movie, whereupon it veers unexpectedly and effectively in an entirely different direction. Having pointed up the pitfalls of women trying to fight back against sexual harassment, Mundhra and writer Carl Austin deftly move the film from courtroom drama to erotic suspense.

Technically adroit, “Improper Conduct” is notable for its array of well-defined, well-acted roles.

* MPAA rating: Unrated. Times guidelines: It contains considerable above-the-waist female nudity, some sex scenes, coarse language, some violence.

‘Improper Conduct’

Tahnee Welch: Ashley

Lee Anne Beaman: Kay

John Laughlin: Michael

Steven Bauer: Sam

Nia Peeples: Bernadette

Adrian Zmed: Doug

Stuart Whitman: Frost

An Everest Pictures presentation. Director Jag Mundhra. Producers Victor Bhalla, Mundhra. Screenplay by Carl Austin; from a story by Mundhra. Cinematographer James Michaels. Editors Wayne Schmidt, David Schulman. Wardrobe Ricardo Delgado. Music Alan Dermarderosian. Production designer Brian McCabe. 1 hour, 35 minutes.

* At selected theaters throughout Southern California.