Black Widow (1987 film)

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Black Widow

Directed by	Bob Rafelson
Produced by	Laurence Mark, Harold Schneider
Written by	Ronald Bass
Starring	Debra Winger, Theresa Russell, Sami Frey, Dennis Hopper
Music by	Michael Small
Cinematography	Conrad L. Hall
Editing by	John Bloom
Release date(s)	1987
Running time	102 min.
Country	USA
Language	English
IMDb profile

Black Widow is a 1987 Neo-noir film starring Debra Winger, Theresa Russell, Sami Frey, and Dennis Hopper, about two women: one who murders wealthy men whom she marries for their money, and the other an agent with the Department of Justice who grows obsessed with bringing her to justice. It was directed by Bob Rafelson, from a screenplay by Ronald Bass. Black Widow is a late addition to the film noir revival of the 1980s, known as neo-noir.

[edit] Plot

The story revolves around two women, one the femme fatale Catherine (Russell) whose true name is never revealed. She preys on wealthy middle-aged men, seducing them into marriage and killing them by a mysterious means of poisoning. Each death is misdiagnosed as Ondine's curse, a condition by which seemingly healthy middle-aged men die in their sleep. The other woman is Justice Department agent Alex Barnes (Winger), who stumbles onto the first murder while investigating another case. As Alex delves further into the case, she uncovers a pattern, which she believes ties the same woman to several similar murders. Barnes' Justice Dept. boss, Bruce is played by 'Terry O'Quinn

Using exhaustive research, elaborate disguises and identity changes, Catherine weaves her web anew with each murder, killing a publishing magnate, a toy maker (Dennis Hopper), and museum curator (Nichol Williamson), and is moving quickly to her next victim, an international hotel tycoon (Sami Frey). Later in the film she reveals she’s been married six times, which suggests that she may have committed as many murders.

Alex (receiving the grudging permission of her superior) decides to go undercover to track down, first Catherine’s background and then her next potential victim. She trails the murderer to Seattle where she kills husband number three (Williamson), and finally to Hawaii where the two women meet and eventually engage in a sexually intense war of wits and wills, which culminates in a surprise ending.

The film opened to mixed reviews, but has maintained a loyal following for two decades.