MovieChat Forums > Dead of Winter (1987) Discussion > I can't believe no one has commented on ...

I can't believe no one has commented on this...(spoilers)

posted 11 years ago by tomfern
5 replies | jump to latest

I just watched this movie for the first time in over 20 years..I remembered it fondly..but in re-watching it, I have to say...SERIOUSLY?!?! A young(ish) able-bodied woman, held prisoner by a slight , almost delicate 'butler', and an old man in a wheelchair?!?! After realizing they were planning to kill her, drugged or not..she had DOZENS of opportunities to kick that old man down the stairs in his wheelchair, or even just tip it over, and roll it away from him..maybe she didn't want to hurt his feelings by taking advantage of his handicap?! So many times, as she stood there looking all helpless and meek, I imagined myself in the same situation..I'd have just stood there, and said.." Are you kidding me?!" She could have kneed the butler, and hit him with a poker..and even in the end..the old man hobbling up the attic stairs..instead of hiding in the corner, she should have stood at the top of the stairs, and just kicked him in the head, knocking him off the ladder to his doom. OR..close the attic hatch and sit on it! I just got all frustrated because they could have at least tried to show her doing even ONE of those things, and maybe show us why any of it wouldn't have worked for some reason.

[–] Duragizer 9 years ago

Yeah, I noticed it, too. I kept saying to mayself "All she needs to do is give the old guy one decent push and it's game over for him".

If this is a consular ship, where is the ambassador?

[–] tomfern 9 years ago

THANK you!!!!!

😘

[–] henrimaine 8 years ago

Sure, you could blame the movie for making the kidnappers too weak, old and sick. Or too few in numbers. A viewer who accustomed to all sorts of heroic female characters might find it hard to believe that a young woman is unable to fight off these two weakling men. But I think you are underestimating the somewhat effeminate butler, he seemed to be quite vigorous. Also, I think the movie is actually more interesting because of the fact that the kidnapper were not very physically fit. We have seen enough movies with aggressive macho criminals. Intellectuals can also be bad.

[–] gluserty (605) 6 years ago

I'm fine with it due to her not knowing the area, and the snow. I'm snowed in right now, and feel quite helpless:-). Yeah, they were sinister guys with bad intentions, but I think the weather hampered her (she did eventually run outside).

[–] telegonus (728) 5 years ago

I'm snowed in now, literally, and just finished watching the movie, and I think that isolation was a major factor in Steenburgen's character not being more, as we like to say, pro-active. Also, she was confused as to what was happening and wouldn't have known where to go even if she did escape from the spooky old house. Her style was more reactive than active. She was plucky in her way but not spunky, not till the end.