BLACK WIDOW
US, 1987, 97 minutes, Colour.
Theresa Russell, Debra Winger, Dennis Hopper, Sami Frey, Nicol Williamson, Terry O'Quinn, Diane Ladd.
Directed by Bob Rafelson.
Black Widow is a portrait of two obsessed women. Teresa Russell plays a psychotic and ingratiating murderess, preying on wealthy men like a black widow spider. Debra Winger plays the other, a worker in the Justice Department, expert on investigations and wanting to explore the murders in which she sees a pattern. The two women finally confront each other, each thinking she has victory over the other.
There are guest appearances by Dennis Hopper and Nicol Williamson as two of the husbands. Sami Frey is the next intended victim.
The film was directed in glossy style by Bob Rafelson (Head, Five Easy Pieces, King of Marvin Gardens, The Postman Always Rings Twice). It is a competent and effective thriller, a star vehicle for two women.
1. Interesting psychological thriller? Portrait of crime and Investigation?
2. The glossy colour style, affluence? Katherine and her husbands and their days? The exotic touch? The moody environment? Seattle? Hawaii? The score?
3. The title, the brooch, the symbol? The split mirror in the opening pre-credits sequence?
4. The structure and style: the introduction to Katherine - her grief, with her next husband, the money, her studying up before she made her next move? The introduction to Alex, dowdy, dedicated to her work? The setting up of the cat and mouse procedure? Intercutting between the two?
5. The introduction to Katherine: her grief, Sarah and her friendship? Ben and sharing life with him, the toys, the different style of personality, poison in the brandy? The reading of the will and the clash with Etta? offering to make a gift to avoid her pursuit? Her moving to Seattle, studying the Indians, the books, the coins? The interview with the head of the board, her expertise, McCory? and impressing him, the relationship, marriage, setting up home, her lifestyle, using penicillin to kill him? Going to Hawaii, holiday style, her friendship with Paul, going to the volcano, staying with him, the encounter with Jessica and their becoming friends, the party, the swim and saving Jessica's life, the suspicions, seeing the detective with her, the photographs, setting up Alex with Paul, killing Paul, killing the detective? The money and the cancer group? Her visit to prison and admitting the truth to Alex? Caught? Her mental state, emotional state, her plans, her resentments and sudden outbursts of weeping?
6. Alex and her work, obsessed, the Justice Department, her relationship with her bosses, friends, playing cards, etc.? Dowdy appearance? Getting ready to investigate, computer information? Seeing patterns? The research, going to visit Sarah, visiting Etta and her hard reaction? To Seattle, the interview with McCory?, the story about the magazine interview? Seeing Katherine and her desperation? Going to Hawaii, getting Mr Shin to search? The first aid lesson and their pairing
out Katherine? the irony of the first aid kiss - not personal? The growing friendship, talk, sharing information, sharing clothes, hairdresser? Going to the party, the encounter with Paul and the attraction? Her talking with Mr Shin, the scuba diving and the accident, her being shaken and afraid? With Paul, the set-up? Etta going to prison? Confronting Katherine in prison, Sarah and Paul coming in? Vindicated? her finally out of the prison, past the press, her new style of dress and hair? Her transformation?
7. The sketch of the husbands: the first dead husband and his relations, the toy manufacturer and his style, the scholar, his holiday home, his trust? Paul and Hawaii, plans?
8. The relatives: Sarah and her niceness, believing Katherine, Katherine ringing her and trying to find out about Alex's pursuit of her? Etta and her gold-digging, her spurning of Katherine, with Alex?
9. The Justice Department, Bruce and Michael, their work with Alex?
10. The police in Seattle and their scepticism, disdain of the Justice Department?
11. Mr Shin, detective work, employed by Alex, by Katherine, his death?
12. A portrait of two women? Crime and investigation? Obsession? Katharine’s final summary to Alex in prison of what had happened - and the truth in this? A 'whydunnit'?
