Revisited by a man who fled after sexually assaulting her, a strong-willed woman is forced to consider her actions (given that the police told her before that it is her word against his) in this gritty thriller based on a successful stage play. The movie gets off to a superb start with a creepy, horror style music score and effective point-of-view shots as the man stalks her at night. This first act is, however, the clear highlight of the movie. The second act is pretty decent too with the two protagonists scurrying about her house and him dragging out the potential rape to nail-biting extremes. The ease with which he enters the house never quite feels right though and occurring during the daytime, the second act is not as spooky as the first act, but it is still gripping. Everything falls apart though in the haphazard third act with usually reliable actresses Diana Scarwid and Alfre Woodard turning in very melodramatic performances as lead actress Farrah Fawcett's best friends. While the third act is clearly meant to be the film's moral compass, it lacks the juiciness of the first two acts, which are an intense combat of two minds: would-be rapist versus potential victim. Whatever the case, Fawcett is certainly very effective here in the only theatrical motion picture to ever nab her a Golden Globe nomination, plus the film has a terrific mood-setting theme song by Bonnie Raitt.
Review of Extremities
