Black Widow (1987)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Bob Rafelson

Writer:

Ronald Bass (written by)

Release Date:

6 February 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

She Mates and She kills. No Man Can Resist Her. Only One Woman Can Stop Her.

Plot:

A federal investigator tracks down a gold digging woman who moves from husband to husband, kills them and collects the inheritance.

Plot Keywords:

Black Widow | Widow | Inheritance | Murder | Millionaire

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 20

10:45 AM

AMC

Cast

Debra Winger	...	Alexandra 'Alex' Barnes
Theresa Russell	...	Catherine Petersen
Sami Frey	...	Paul Nuytten
Dennis Hopper	...	Ben Dumers
Nicol Williamson	...	William McCrory
Terry O'Quinn	...	Bruce, Alex's Boss
James Hong	...	H. Shin - Honolulu private investigator
Diane Ladd	...	Etta
D.W. Moffett	...	Michael
Lois Smith	...	Sara
Leo Rossi	...	Detective Ricci
Danny Kamekona	...	FBI security
Rutanya Alda	...	Irene
Mary Woronov	...	Shelley
Wayne Heffley	...	Etta's husband

Also Known As:

Bullseye (Australia)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | Norway:12 | Spain:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai`i, Hawaii, USA

Company:

Amercent Films

Trivia:

Cinematographer, Conrad Hall's return to filmmaking after a ten-year absence.

Goofs:

Continuity: Shin rolls up the same sleeve twice to use a syringe.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Sara: When he didn't come to the office, 10:30, 11:00, I called the house. Catherine... he went in his sleep, peacefully. The doctor said if you'd been sleeping right next to him, you wouldn't have even known. You couldn't have done anything.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Monster A-Go-Go (#5.21)" (1993)

Debra Winger chases Theresa Russell

"Black Widow" is as much about a woman's obsession with her quarry as it is about a female murderess who dispatches her husbands in short order, loots their estates and moves on in search of another goldmine. The film doesn't explain just why the murders come to Federal investigator Alexandra Barnes' attention or what puts these particular killings at the top of her agenda, but she finally persuades her boss to let her go after the rich widow. Catherine Peterson studies her victims at long range, then moves in and spins her deadly web of deception and murder. Catherine adapts to the tastes and personalities of her husbands like a chameleon, doing whatever it takes to snare him, whether she's a blonde country bumpkin or a knowledgeable, well-versed brunette and serious student of Indian artifacts. Debra Winger and Theresa Russell are well-matched in this drama that plays out in Hawaii when Catherine sets her sights on another prospective husband. Alexandra cultivates a friendship of sorts with Catherine but soon the wealthy widow senses that Alexandra may be much more than she seems to be and sets in motion her own plans to outflank her determined pursuer. There is an undertow of erotic tension between Catherine and Alexandra that the film doesn't explore. The final scene is effective and proves that even a black widow can sometimes spin one web too many.