MovieChat Forums > Deathtrap (1982) Discussion > Ruined by the second half

Ruined by the second half

posted 9 years ago by henrimaine
11 replies | jump to latest

I enjoyed the first half very much. A failed playwright developing an idea to kill a young talented writer, the young writer coming over, the wife trying to talk her husband out of it, the young writer slowly realizing what's going on - that was great stuff. But then it all ended abruptly. When Caine started to strangle Reeve I was thinking: what, he's killing him already, but it's only half way through the movie! I think they should have stretched the Caine-Reeve-Cannon interaction for longer. The strangling of Reeve should have happened later, and the movie should have ended with the revelation that Caine and Reeve actually planned to murder the wife. The infamous kiss between Caine and Reeve could have been the very last shot. All what came after the wife was buried, was completely unnecessary in my opinion. And that old German woman - why did she even had to be in this movie?

I realize, this criticism actually applies more to the play, than the movie. But the makers of the movie should have understood that the play drags on for too long.

[–] benGsboat 9 years ago

I enjoyed the first half more too, but I don't think the movie was ruined by the second half. It was still fun to see Sidney and Clifford become suspicious of, and eventually turn on, each other.

As for Helga Ten Dorp, I loved that her character would drop hints as to what was going to happen later (the knife used by someone because of the play, Sidney being attacked by a man in boots, etc).

The really clever bit: the play Clifford was writing (that Sidney initially didn't know) was based on what we had just seen, and what was coming next -- except with the great twist that Helga ends up taking credit for it.

I remember catching this in a theater in '82, and have seen it many times since. Just finished watching the blu-ray (which looks great), and it's still very entertaining...even when you know what's coming.

[–] Danespina 9 years ago

While the first half is near perfect for me, I still find the second half awesome. I questioned the ending on my first watch, but in further viewings I found it a clever and think it fits. I wonder just how long Helga had the intention of stealing the work.

[–] Danespina 9 years ago

[–] arfire 9 years ago

I absolutely love this movie!! It seemed to not get much attention back when it was released or any other time for that matter. The first time I saw this film I was completely shocked by the events throughout. I also thought Christopher Reeve did a fantastic job in his role of the psychopathic/sociopathic Clifford Anderson. Honestly not one second of watching Reeve did I see Superman, he was outstanding and played well opposite the always great Michael Caine. I always recommend Deathtrap to friends that haven't seen it and they are never disappointed. But like I said earlier, this movie didn't seem to get a lot of press, at least none that I saw. Awesome movie!!!

[–] snelling 9 years ago

I love this movie even though I didn't think the ending was possible. So what happened to the bodies? Helga seemed to get the play written by herself pretty easily. A non-writer suddenly writes a smash hit play and no one suspects anything? Plus Sidney's agent/manager now works with Helga and he doesn't care that Sidney is dead?

As for the second half being a let-down I disagree. Just the ending.

"I will not go down in history as the greatest mass-murderer since Adolf Hitler!" - Merkin Muffley

[–] jimb14 8 years ago

What do you mean what happened to the bodies? I assumed the police came and she told them what happened. Then she stole the play but people just assumed she wrote it because it was what really happened. Basically it was her experience so it wouldn't be that farfetched for people that she was able to write it. Also what do you mean care that he is dead? The play obviously would have happened a long time after his death so who knows what his grieving process was. Not to mention he was a murderer so I am sure he thought a lot less about him. So he shouldn't have taken on a hit play because he was dead?

"No matter where you go, there you are."

[–] bnwfilmbuff 9 years ago

I agree. The second half of the movie really struggled to keep it real. I had a hard time staying interested.

[–] arthurab 8 years ago

It was a bit more uneven than the first half, but I still found the movie satisfying.

I'll admit the Helga character was a bit annoying, but she had some good lines. My wife (who was born the year the movie came out and had never heard of it til I had her watch it 10 or 11 years ago) and i still say to each other (in thick German accent): "You wear BOOTS?!?!?"

[–] samoanjoes (51571) 7 years ago

The second half was such a chore to sit through.

[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 6 years ago

" But then it all ended abruptly. When Caine started to strangle Reeve I was thinking: what, he's killing him already, but it's only half way through the movie! "

But that is what I loved about it! Suddenly, the plot thickens. What the heck is going on? This is certainly a turn of events.
Caine's character writes murder mystery plays. This plays out in murder mystery fashion. Perfect!

I will agree about one thing. I hated Helga, but everyone else's reaction to her was quite funny.

[–] avortac4 (3529) 3 years ago

You are correct.

The first half takes its time, brings all the emotion so perfectly to the surface, keeps up incredible tension with all kinds of 'near misses'-type situations, escalating and teasing the viewer... then it all starts going downhill quickly with twist after twist after twist after..

It's like they didn't know how to continue at some point, so they just kept twisting things until the whole movie was a mess, so they just tried to come up with a 'last twist' to end the whole thing.

Adding that dutch psychic was the last nail in this movie's coffin. This could've been a GREAT movie, instead, it's a 'pretty good for the first half' and then goes downhill with each twist.

Imagine what this movie would've been like with a more linear plot without so many twists.. that he -actually- tried to kill the young playwright and he would have to try to find away out of that situation, and the wife doesn't know whom to side with, and it could be a real triangle-drama.

I wouldn't know how to end it, though, but then, I am not a playwright.

Apparentl, neither was the one that finished the script and thought they have a good-enough ending. It's like the people that made the first half left and some typical idiots came in to finish the movie. It's really weird how so many movies can have a great premise, wonderful beginning or beginning and mid-part, and then just fizzle or taper out into a boring mess that doesn't feel satisfying to the viewer at all.