Day 209 - Fatal Attraction

Tuesday November 15, 2011


Fatal Attraction (1987) directed by Adrian Lyne

"I be catching bitches while birches be catching feelings." - Xzibit

Today we got onto the cruise ship for the two week trip and if today was any indication I'm in for a really rough time watching movies because I could feel every tiny wave and now I have a splitting headache. Halfway through the movie I just wanted to close my eyes and go to bed but I had to stick it out… The things I do for my six and a half loyal readers!

Fatal Attraction is the movie that makes guys think twice about having an affair. It also makes you wonder how guys think they can get away with it when the affair relies on the other woman keeping her mouth shut as well. Add in the psycho factor and you're Michael Douglas looking over his shoulder for Glenn Close with a knife.

This is the standard thriller you'd expect from the title and premise. Michael Douglas is married with a kid. One weekend alone, he meets Glenn Close and, well, you know. For him, it's just a one night stand, for her it's so much more. Michael Douglas gets top billing but it is really Glenn Close that drives the film. She has all the ingredients for the spurned woman gone crazy, obsessive, chilling, scary, manipulative, etc. There have been plenty of films with crazy obsessive women, Kathy Bates in Misery comes to mind, and Glenn Close's performance here is near the top of that list. 

The film goes as you'd expect, though I will say that I think Michael Douglas gets off too easy here. Yes, Glenn Close is psychotic and even threatens to harm his family, but it is all initiated by Michael Douglas. Remember, he is the cheater here. He dismisses her far too readily and now he's wondering why she won't leave him alone. We only really sympathize with him because his wife and daughter are in danger, but make no mistake about it, he deserves to get caught and get punished for his actions. We don't really get to feel his guilt for cheating because the focus is on Glenn Close's craziness. He only admits it to his wife after things have gotten out of hand. She is upset but doesn't have the chance to be really angry at him because of the more immediate concern of Glenn Close's threat to the family.

All in all, Fatal Attraction is an enjoyable suspense thriller with a memorable performance by Glenn Close and a reminder to men, don't cheat!

Grade: B-