Never liked Faye as an actress but she was downright wretchedly cheesy in this movie. I love cheesy slasher flicks and good ones too. Ths movie just sucked so bad. Except for Brad Dourif and the Boston Legal guy, everyone pretty much was laughable, though not as bad as Faye Dunaway.
shareFaye was brilliant in this film. I get chills just watching her facial expressions when she begins to see the murders happen. This film is awesome, and everyone who took part was well worth the time and effort. I guess you can't appreciate some of the better things in life...
shareHer facial expressions & the looks that she gave when something troubled her were very well done. But, when she spoke....well...it was just plain flat. It would have better if she had not spoken at all, she was so...monotone.
sharethis was one her worst performances. That awful scream she would yelp was laughable.
I really disliked this film. it was very predictable and the writing didn't make sense at all. For example they had about 4 people within their close circle of friends get MURDERED and one was MURDERED as recent as a week or so ago and they still decide to have a birthday party for that one guy????? Come on.
I do like the theme song by and the soundtrack.
Regan: What an excellent day for an exorcism
Not Faye's finest hour; she's pretty bad, and so is the film. Her performance in Puzzle of a Downfall Child(71) is one of her least known and most interesting performances.
Your assessment of Dunaway's performance is on the money..cheesy. I agree the best performance in the film came from Brad Dourif.
shareOkay...the script was NOT the best ever written. The leads gave it their all (mostly), which can be accomplished, given poor or unpretentious writing. But overall, it is still an interesting movie. Quite obscure for its time (release).
I would almost say Douriff stole the whole show (not a scene) with his riveting performance as Parolee, Ludlow. I've always loved Douriff. He's a master actor (Almost won RP McMurphy in the Broadway release 'Cuckoo's Nest', but replaced with Gary Sinise). HE kept me on the edge of my seat.
Dunaway was not horrible. In fact I felt she carried herself quite admirably, considering the weak, oddball script. Granted her performance was no 'Mommy Dearest' (the oscar nomination she later received), but she delivered decently. Det. Neville was not even close to Jones' best actor performance, but their screen chemistry together is undeniable. And frankly I could think of no one better, at the time, to play the role.
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TripleOphiuchus811^
<The OP thinks this movie is inferior to the "cheesy slasher flicks" he loves?
And the overwrought performances (and indeed they are) are perfect for the claustrophobic mood of the film.>
Indeed!
And, even back in the 70's, this was not, and was not meant to be, a "cheesy slasher flick". There were many of those, even back then, typically shown as weekend, triple features at drive-in's back in the day.
To watch this movie first time through the lens of the present -- and, given the evolution of movies/themes and the resultant entertainment culture desensitization since that time -- it is hard to convey the impact this movie had on the viewer *then* as opposed to how it might for a new viewer *now*.
The flow of the film and some of the camera angling were meant to convey some of the artsy flow and otherworldliness of the fashion/chic culture then and that sets the stage for this story.
I remember many young female viewers at the time after seeing this flick falling in love with Tommy Lee Jones for the first time, and how disappointed they were with the end.
This film is also a treat to get a glimpse of 70's culture -- the clothing, the music, the cars, the attitudes...quite fun!
One thing I did not like, though, were many of the wardrobe choices for Ms. Dunaway. All those tartan plaids and scarves! She did get to wear some cool black boots and a neat split skirt, though :)
So, I think this can be a fun film probably more appreciated by the novice viewer who can manage to put down their present-day glasses, to try to watch it without the prejudice of modern-day cinema and while keeping in mind the mindset of that time period.
JMHO!
"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois
Well whenever Faye Dunaway gets hysterical in her film roles, she nearly always fails for me because she sounds like a whining, abused animal. I noticed this in Three Days of the Condor too in this scene of violence. I think she's better playing more contained, neurotic characters like the one in Chinatown not hysterical victims in thrillers.
"Say anything about me, dahling, as long as it isn't boring."-Tallulah Bankhead
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You could dislike the movie in your opinion but I think that Dunaway is absolutely excellent in this as in every flick she has starred into.
She was able to show us her deep struggle and to make us part of it everytime the killer was on a spree.
I couldn't imagine Laura Mars without Faye Dunaway behind her.
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