Thriller

Black Widow

- She mates and she kills.

Federal agent Alexandra Barnes believes that Catherine Petersen is a serial killer who marries rich men and then murders them for their money. But since Catherine is seemingly a master of disguise and has multiple identities, Alexandra can't prove anything with conventional detective work. With no other option, she goes undercover, pursuing the same man as Catherine, and hoping that Catherine will slip up and reveal her true identity.

Release Date : 1987-02-06

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : American Entertainment Partners L.P.Amercent Films20th Century Fox

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Alexandra "Alex" Barnes

Original Name : Debra Winger

Gender : Female

Character Name : Catharine Petersen

Original Name : Theresa Russell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Paul Nuytten

Original Name : Sami Frey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ben Dumers

Original Name : Dennis Hopper

Gender : Male

Character Name : William McCrory

Original Name : Nicol Williamson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bruce

Original Name : Terry O'Quinn

Gender : Male

Character Name : H. Shin

Original Name : James Hong

Gender : Male

Character Name : Etta

Original Name : Diane Ladd

Gender : Female

Character Name : Michael

Original Name : D.W. Moffett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sara

Original Name : Lois Smith

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ricci

Original Name : Leo Rossi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective

Original Name : Danny Kamekona

Gender : Male

Character Name : Irene

Original Name : Rutanya Alda

Gender : Female

Character Name : Shelley

Original Name : Mary Woronov

Gender : Female

Character Name : Martin

Original Name : Raleigh Bond

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Donegan Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Artie

Original Name : Christian Clemenson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tran

Original Name : Arsenio

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dawn

Original Name : Darrah Meeley

Gender : Female

Character Name : Young Girl

Original Name : Kate Hall

Gender : Female

Character Name : Italian Man

Original Name : George Ricord

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Richard Arnold

Gender : Male

Character Name : Clerk

Original Name : Bea Kiyohara

Gender : Female

Character Name : Poker Player

Original Name : Chris S. Ducey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sid

Original Name : Tee Dennard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Herb

Original Name : David Mamet

Gender : Male

Character Name : James

Original Name : Johnny "Sugarbear" Willis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Foster

Original Name : Gene Callahan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Attorney

Original Name : Thomas Hill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Attendant

Original Name : Juleen Murray

Gender : Female

Character Name : Waiter

Original Name : Ed Pang

Gender : Male

Character Name : Clerk

Original Name : Allen Nause

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stewardess (as Denise Dennison)

Original Name : Denise Hewitt

Gender : Female

Character Name : Steward

Original Name : Robert J. Peters

Gender : Male

Character Name : Helicopter Pilot

Original Name : Rick Shuster

Gender : Male

Character Name : Helicopter Pilot

Original Name : Al Cerullo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Limo Driver

Original Name : David Kasparian

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doorman

Original Name : Mick Muldoon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Etta's Husband

Original Name : Wayne Heffley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Seattle Cop (uncredited)

Original Name : Brian Haley

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

The female of the species is more deadly than the male. Black Widow is directed by Bob Rafelson and written by Ronald Bass. It stars Debra Winger and Theresa Russell. Music is by Michael Small and cinematography by Conrad L. Hall. Two women. Catherine marries men for their money, then murders them. The other, Alexandra Barnes is on her tail, getting in close to hopefully expose her crimes... Rafelson's neo-noir homages the film noir femme fatales of the 40s and 50s with a high degree of success. There's much potency in the screenplay that puts it firmly in the noir universe. Flip flopping the misogyny angles of yesteryear, pic pitches the ultimate femme fatale destroyer of men into a cat and mouse scenario with a sexually repressed opponent - or is she a jealous but secret admirer? The transformation of Winger's dowdy Justice Department Agent into a blossoming lady at Catherine Black Widow's (Russell super sexy and sensuous) side brings in the doppelgänger effect, a good old noir staple. The sexual tension is a constant, particularly when Paul Nuytten (Sami Frey) is brought into proceedings, something which shifts the piece still further into noirville. There's also other characters straight out of film noir. Be it Alexandra's boss (the always reliable Terry O'Quinn), who's a lech harbouring desires for Alex, or sleazy Private Investigator H Shin (James Hong) who has a needle habit, it's clear that Rafelson and Bass know their noir. Unfortunately most of the play is in daylight, meaning missed opportunities for some psychological shadow play is passed up. Though it should be noted that Hall's photography is slick and tonally in tune, especially when lighting scenes involving Russell as prime focus. It all builds to a splendid finale, the makers pulling us both ways as to where it will lead. Sure, some of the plot devices are weak, but in the main this is sexy, intriguing and tricksy in narrative, whilst tech credits stay at the higher end of the scale. 7/10

kevin2019

@kevin2019

2024-03-28

"Black Widow" belongs in the category which seems to be attempting to recapture and recreate the classic film noir of the 1940's (this impression is subtly reinforced here by Michael Small's suitably evocative musical score). We first had "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (1981) and then this was followed by the explicit - and subsequently divisive - sexuality of "Body Heat" (1981), but it is "Black Widow" which successfully comes the closest to achieving the incomparable quality to be found in that glorious by-gone cinematic era. It is a wholly compelling and extremely well constructed film which features some beautiful locations (especially those in exqusite Hawaii) that are absolutely breathtaking (replete as they are with even an impressive volcano eruption at one point) and some gorgeously photographed underwater sequences which must surely be every travel agent's ultimate dream.