Black Widow (1987 film)

Infobox Film
name = Black Widow


caption =
director = Bob Rafelson
producer = Laurence Mark, Harold Schneider
writer = Ronald Bass
starring = Debra Winger, Theresa Russell, Sami Frey, Dennis Hopper
music = Michael Small
cinematography = Conrad L. Hall, ASC
editing = John Bloom
distributor =
released = 1987
runtime = 102 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0090738

"Black Widow" is a 1987 Neo-noir film starring Debra Winger, Theresa Russell, Sami Frey, and Dennis Hopper, about two women: one who murders wealthy men whom she marries for their money, and the other an agent with the Department of Justice who grows obsessed with bringing her to justice. It was directed by Bob Rafelson, from a screenplay by Ronald Bass.Black Widow is a late addition to the film noir revival of the 1980s, known as "neo-noir".

Plot

The story revolves around two women, one the "femme fatale" Catherine (Russell) whose true name is never revealed. She preys on wealthy middle-aged men, seducing them into marriage and killing them by a mysterious means of poisoning. Each death is misdiagnosed as "Ondine's curse", a condition by which seemingly healthy middle-aged men die in their sleep. The other woman is Justice Department agent Alex Barnes (Winger), who stumbles onto the first murder while investigating another case. As Alex delves further into the case, she uncovers a pattern, which she believes ties the same woman to several similar murders. Barnes' Justice Dept. boss, Bruce is played by 'Terry O'Quinn"

Using exhaustive research, elaborate disguises and identity changes, Catherine weaves her web anew with each murder, killing a publishing magnate, a toy maker (Dennis Hopper), and museum curator (Nichol Williamson), and is moving quickly to her next victim, an international hotel tycoon (Sami Frey). Later in the film she reveals she’s been married six times, which suggests that she may have committed as many murders.

Alex (receiving the grudging permission of her superior) decides to go undercover to track down, first Catherine’s background and then her next potential victim. She trails the murderer to Seattle where she kills husband number three (Williamson), and finally to Hawaii where the two women meet and eventually engage in a sexually intense war of wits and wills, which culminates in a surprise ending.

The film opened to mixed reviews, but has maintained a loyal following for two decades.

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090738/ "Black Widow"] at the Internet Movie Database
* http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=101238 Black Widow from Channel 4 Film
* http://www.fast-rewind.com/ The 80s Movies Rewind website
* http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A3393146 BBC - collective
* http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1002531-black_widow/ Rotten Tomatoes website