IMDb >
Black Widow (1987)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsBlack Widow (1987) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos (see all 3 NEW) |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
6 February 1987 (USA) moreTagline:
She Mates and She kills. No Man Can Resist Her. Only One Woman Can Stop Her. morePlot:
A federal investigator tracks down a gold digging woman who moves from husband to husband, kills them and collects the inheritance. full summary | add synopsisNewsDesk:
(77 articles)
Peter Hook blasts "Black Widow" Madonna (From digitalspy. 9 November 2009, 12:10 PM, PST)
Marvel unveils 'Deadly Origin'
(From digitalspy. 6 November 2009, 11:12 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Trophy Wife Takes Her Trophies more (29 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Debra Winger | ... | Alexandra 'Alex' Barnes | |
| Theresa Russell | ... | Catharine 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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
102 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyCertification:
Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | Norway:12 | Spain:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Iceland:12Fun Stuff
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Investigator in the last fifteen minutes of the movie refers to Jessica Bates as Jessica Barnes. moreQuotes:
[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.
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (29 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Black Widow (1987) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| The Talented Mr. Ripley | Body Heat | The Big Bluff | Perfect Stranger | Making the Headlines |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Crime section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |




Debra Winger and Theresa Russell give a couple of standout performances of the hunter and the hunted in Black Widow. I'm surprised neither was considered for an Academy Award. Then again it would have a crime to have nominated one without the other.
I once heard in a Law And Order SVU episode that female serial killers were a phenomenon not studied so there was no data on which the detectives there could work from. The same seems to be true right up to the federal level which is why FBI investigator Debra Winger can't convince anyone that a string of deaths by natural causes of some well to do men are all related and homicides as well.
Law enforcement doesn't like coincidence, but they like evidence be it the local police or the FBI. That's Winger's main problem in convincing her colleagues there's something going on here. The rest of their resistance is attributable to sexism. But that doesn't stop her, she takes leave and uses her own time and money to prove she's right.
Theresa Russell is great, she's one coldblooded piece of work. A couple of her older victims are Dennis Hopper and Nicol Williamson, both of which occur while Winger is still trying to convince her superiors. Russell is an exponential version of Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Diedrichson from Double Indemnity, exponential because she keeps doing it and getting away with it.
And not like she doesn't have enough money at some point to live really comfortably the rest of her life. There are hints of a deep psychosis in Russell's performance, all the better that not too much is revealed so the audience can draw its own conclusions.
The only way for Winger to catch her is in the act and when she does catch up with Russell and strikes up a friendship of sorts, the film becomes a real cat and mouse game, except were not quite sure of who is in what role.
I have to single out James Hong as a sleazy private investigator who Winger hires, but who Russell buys. He may have given his career role performance in Black Widow.
This film will keep you guessing and on your seat until the end, don't miss it if broadcast.