by Frank Calvillo
One of the best things about the neo-noir movement of the 1980s was its ability to revive and revamp such a potent genre of film. The wave of titles from this era managed to retain many of the trappings which made film noir so enthralling, while at the same time changing up a number of the conventions to reflect the current decade. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the incredibly underrated Black Widow.
In Black Widow, Debra Winger plays Alex Barnes, a highly driven employee of the Justice Department investigating the deaths of two wealthy men. When she notices physical similarities between the two men’s wives, Alex tries to find out everything she can about the mysterious woman (Theresa Russell) she believes is marrying wealthy men and then killing them off. When a third man ends up dead, Alex takes a leave of absence and trails the woman known as Rennie to Hawaii where she befriends her. It isn’t long before a dangerous game of cat and mouse develops between the two women as each tries to outwit the other at her own game.
When it comes to suspense in Black Widow, there are very few surprises plot-wise within this well-crafted film. Yet, the movie manages a great deal of fun with regard to its cat and mouse elements. In other films, the cat and mouse technique is used as a middle/third act device, usually to good effect. With Black Widow however, director Bob Rafelson and screenwriter Ronald Bass have crafted an entire movie around this device, which works during every moment, generating its own unique brand of suspense. The best example of this is during Rennie’s wedding reception when Alex (calling herself Jessica) gives the bride a brooch in the shape of a black widow spider. “The truth is, I’m sorry it’s over,” Catharine proudly tells Alex, to which Alex replies, “The truth is, it’s not over yet.” It is hands down the best scene in Black Widow simply for the thrills it gives off at the idea of two such powerful and determined alpha females trying to destroy one another.
The sheer joy of Black Widow remains observing the two very different paths of the two characters while also pinpointing their similarities. While the two women are as different as their motivations, both their lives are dominated by hunting. Catharine is constantly hunting for a husband, while Alex is obsessively hunting for Catharine. Even more interesting are the scenes of the two women’s early friendship as they continuously study and observe one another.
The boldest factor within Black Widow is most certainly the casting of a woman as a detective. In most cases, a film like Black Widow would see a male character try to catch a woman such as Catharine by falling in love with her. And while a slight hint at lesbianism is present in this film, it’s interesting to watch one woman try to outsmart another. These are two equal opponents on the same playing field with the same kind of ammunition. The result is a true battle, which leaves the audience truly wondering who is going to come out on top.
There’s no question Russell has the flashier role, and she lives up to it in what is probably the best performance of her career. There’s great fun at watching her go from icy blonde to Dallas-esque trophy wife to mousy librarian to beach bunny, all the while being silently calculating. By contrast, Winger’s role feels a little beneath her talents, and it seems to give her even less to work with after her character befriends Russell’s. However Winger is such a strong actress in her own right that she always remains the more watchable of the two, regardless of what she’s doing in a scene.
I’m not entirely sure how well a film like Black Widow would transfer into today’s cinematic landscape. Even with the novel move of having two female protagonists (one of whom takes on the typically male detective role), the film seems to only be able to exist in the ’80s, mainly due to the portrayal of its two female characters. However, while the film may remain a product of its time, this fiercely nail biting dance between two such strong and determined women makes Black Widow a true joy from start to finish.
The Package
Besides the film’s trailer and TV spot, there’s an interesting commentary from film historians Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman where they delve into the film’s ideology of how the two characters were highly reflective of typical ’80s women and also explore the careers of the film’s lead actresses as well as Rafelson’s.
The Lowdown
With its feminist stance and its prolonged cat and mouse chase, Black Widow is an entertaining thriller deserving of more recognition than its gotten in the past.
