WARNING--THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THE REVIEW BELOW. OF COURSE, THE MOVIE CAME OUT 20 YEARS AGO, SO YOU'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO SEE IT.
Rape and revenge is one of the oldest themes in female-centered fiction, so for a story of that genre--as this one is--to stand out, the writer has to be very careful in how s/he executes it.
This one could have been a little more careful.
Okay, so Marjorie can't prove attempted rape. She can sure as hell prove assault (unless of course, consensual sex includes windows broken FROM THE OUTSIDE)--not in the same class, but better than nothing. But we need The System to be helpless so that Marjorie has to take the law into her own hands, so this doesn't occur to any of the characters.
Also, given what they know of the situation, Pat and Terry are way too willing to give Joe the benefit of the doubt. Let's review the facts as they know them:
1. Marjorie was attacked and almost raped a week before.
2. She escaped, but had to leave her wallet--with her address--behind. Therefore, her attacker now knows where she lives.
3. A total stranger is in their living room fireplace, with bug spray in his eyes and a nice scalp cut near his temple.
4. There's obviously been a fight, because there's broken crockery on the floor and the phones have been yanked out of the wall.
So why in the name of God is Pat so willing to hear Joe out??????? Is it really so much of a leap for her to figure out that this is the guy who attacked Marjorie before??????? But we need there to be some doubt in how this will play out, so Pat has to play incredibly dumb and almost fall for Joe's story.
All in all, the plot's inherent weakness overshadows very strong performances from the four principals. This should have been a lot better than it was.
Rape and revenge is one of the oldest themes in female-centered fiction, so for a story of that genre--as this one is--to stand out, the writer has to be very careful in how s/he executes it.
This one could have been a little more careful.
Okay, so Marjorie can't prove attempted rape. She can sure as hell prove assault (unless of course, consensual sex includes windows broken FROM THE OUTSIDE)--not in the same class, but better than nothing. But we need The System to be helpless so that Marjorie has to take the law into her own hands, so this doesn't occur to any of the characters.
Also, given what they know of the situation, Pat and Terry are way too willing to give Joe the benefit of the doubt. Let's review the facts as they know them:
1. Marjorie was attacked and almost raped a week before.
2. She escaped, but had to leave her wallet--with her address--behind. Therefore, her attacker now knows where she lives.
3. A total stranger is in their living room fireplace, with bug spray in his eyes and a nice scalp cut near his temple.
4. There's obviously been a fight, because there's broken crockery on the floor and the phones have been yanked out of the wall.
So why in the name of God is Pat so willing to hear Joe out??????? Is it really so much of a leap for her to figure out that this is the guy who attacked Marjorie before??????? But we need there to be some doubt in how this will play out, so Pat has to play incredibly dumb and almost fall for Joe's story.
All in all, the plot's inherent weakness overshadows very strong performances from the four principals. This should have been a lot better than it was.