I vaguely remember seeing this in a theatre in 1994 and loving it. I saw it on a huge screen and, visually, it's impressive and I've always liked Jamie Lee Curtis. But seeing it on a TV screen the visuals don't work too well and, despite some good acting, this is a pretty lame horror film.
Jude (Curtis) leaves her husband Robert (Peter Gallagher) and their three kids. Three years later she returns thinking she can restart where they left off--but Robert is divorcing her and marrying kind Callie (Joanne Whalley)and one of her sons named Kes (Luke Edwards) hates her. Jude slowly starts to go crazy when she realizes Robert doesn't want her back and tries to manipulate Kes into getting rid of Callie...for good! First off--the plot is old hat and a lot is left unexplained. We never find out why Jude left, where she was (she mentions Paris and New York...but WHAT was she doing there?) and why she becomes a psycho when Robert rejects her. Also there is a VERY sick sequence when she almost tries to get Kes into bed with her! The ending is disturbing (and pretty stupid) and doesn't anyone realize that Kes is going to have severe emotional issues over this? The few saving graces are some truly beautiful visuals and settings (check out Curtis' apartment and Gallaghers' house) and a powerhouse performance by Curtis. She looks incredibly sexy and goes all out in her role. Whalley (a good actress) has nothing to work with and Gallagher doesn't even try. Edwards was just OK in his role but he was only 14 when he did this. Vanessa Redgrave is very good in her too few scenes as Judes' mother.
So, aside from visuals and Curtis this movie has little to recommend this. Also, why did Curtis pick this to do when she's made it clear that she hates horror films? A 6.
Jude (Curtis) leaves her husband Robert (Peter Gallagher) and their three kids. Three years later she returns thinking she can restart where they left off--but Robert is divorcing her and marrying kind Callie (Joanne Whalley)and one of her sons named Kes (Luke Edwards) hates her. Jude slowly starts to go crazy when she realizes Robert doesn't want her back and tries to manipulate Kes into getting rid of Callie...for good! First off--the plot is old hat and a lot is left unexplained. We never find out why Jude left, where she was (she mentions Paris and New York...but WHAT was she doing there?) and why she becomes a psycho when Robert rejects her. Also there is a VERY sick sequence when she almost tries to get Kes into bed with her! The ending is disturbing (and pretty stupid) and doesn't anyone realize that Kes is going to have severe emotional issues over this? The few saving graces are some truly beautiful visuals and settings (check out Curtis' apartment and Gallaghers' house) and a powerhouse performance by Curtis. She looks incredibly sexy and goes all out in her role. Whalley (a good actress) has nothing to work with and Gallagher doesn't even try. Edwards was just OK in his role but he was only 14 when he did this. Vanessa Redgrave is very good in her too few scenes as Judes' mother.
So, aside from visuals and Curtis this movie has little to recommend this. Also, why did Curtis pick this to do when she's made it clear that she hates horror films? A 6.