Extremities (1986)

A woman takes revenge on the man who invades her home and tries to rape her.

Director:

Robert M. Young

Writers:

William Mastrosimone (screenplay), William Mastrosimone (play)

Stars:

Farrah Fawcett, James Russo, Alfre Woodard

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Farrah Fawcett	...	Marjorie
James Russo	...	Joe
Alfre Woodard	...	Patricia
Diana Scarwid	...	Terry
Sandy Martin	...	Officer Sudow
Eddie Velez	...	Officer #1
Tom Everett	...	Officer #2
Donna Lynn Leavy	...	Woman on Phone (voice)
Enid Kent	...	Mother at Police Station
Michael Hennessy	...	Pizza Man
Danika Hendrickson	...	Joe's Daughter
Clare Wren	...	Racquetball Player
James Avery	...	Security Guard

Storyline

An intended rape victim manages to escape from her attacker but leaves her purse behind. Worried that he may visit her house and finish what he has started, she contacts the police but they are unable to help, saying that she has no proof. "If he calls, let us know and we'll send a man round!" A fat load of good that would be. Her worst fears are realised when, alone one day in the house, her attacker visits and attempts again to rape her. Circumstances allow her not only to resist the attack but to turn the tables and lock him away. And that is where her dilemma really starts. Does she release him and risk another attack? Does she go to the police and risk being called a liar? Or does she kill him - and become as low as him?

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Plot Keywords:

rape | revenge | face slap | spit in the face | rape and revenge | 

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Taglines:

Alone and Vulnerable. The perfect victim...or so he thought.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 August 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Akrotites

Box Office

Gross:

$13,418,091 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Atlantic Entertainment Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Russo (Joe) and Farrah Fawcett (Marjorie) played their respective roles in the off-Broadway production prior to the film.

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Goofs

About 20 min into the film when Marjorie (Farrah Fawcett) is digging in the garden she is wearing loafers on her feet but in the next scene she is wearing thongs (flip-flops)

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Quotes

Joe: Look at her, and look at me... who did what to who?

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Connections

Featured in Tatort: Die Neue (1989)

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Soundtracks

"Stand Up to the Night"
Performed by Bonnie Raitt

User Reviews

An Intense Drama Featuring a Gritty Performance from its star...

EXTREMITIES is the disturbing, yet riveting screen version of a play by William Mastriosimone (who adapted his own play for the screen) about a woman who is attacked in her car one night by a would-be rapist on her way home and is terrified when she realizes the man got her purse and knows where she lives. After her roommates leave for work the next day, the guy shows up at her home and attempts to rape her. The story takes a surprising twist when, at one point, the woman turns the tables on the man and is able to overpower him; but when she realizes there is no way that attempted rape can be proved and if the man is arrested, he will just get off, she decides to keep him prisoner in the house until she can get a confession out of him. Far-fetched? Maybe. Disturbing? Definitely, but there's a wonderfully claustrophobic feel about this film, especially the middle with just the woman and her attacker, that you can't help but feel completely a part of what's going on. I did not see the play on Broadway, but I would imagine a piece like this works better onstage, but that doesn't make this film any less riveting an experience. Farrah Fawcett, one of the last actresses to do the role on Broadway, was awarded the role of Marjorie in the film version and delivers a taut and deeply moving performance as the victim who refuses to be a victim. Many critics found Fawcett's performance to be one-note, but for me, Marjorie is a woman completely numbed by what she has been through and the performance works for me. James Russo, in the performance of his career, is slimy and menacing as the would-be rapist who finds Marjorie to be much more of a challenge than he assumed. Alfre Woodard and Diana Scarwid co-star as Marjorie's roommates, who come home after Marjorie has overpowered the guy and has him tied up and stuffed in their fireplace upon their arrival. And it's the arrival of the roommates that take the story to an unexpected level because they didn't see what we saw Marjorie go through and therefore, think she should call the police and let them handle the guy. Not for the faint of heart, but if you can stand it, a gripping film experience anchored by a lead performance that will surprise you.