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This film had me glued to my seat. The extreme and disturbing ordeals the characters have gone through in the past and are going through now are so compelling, that the fact that the entire film takes place in one location in one night serves to intensify the plot and situation even more. Like "Panic Room", "Death and the Maiden" knows how to keep the one situation/one night plot moving and moving fast and thrilling. When you have compelling characters, compelling storylines, and compelling dialogue, the film doesn't need anything else. All of that is the best thematic material. I didn't crave an explosion or a car chase. None of those would have been appropriate. This film is a dialogue-driven one that couldn't have been any other way. Another equally but differently riveting film based on a play is "The House of Yes", and like "Maiden" knew it had to rely on nothing except the already existing strengths of its characters, situation and dialogue. Both "House" and "Maiden" are brilliant films. "Maiden" has to be one of the most disturbing films I've ever seen, not for what it shows, but for what it implies and calls up from memories. It is an absolute and abhorrent SIN that Sigourney Weaver was not noticed for this role. Same goes for Roman Polanski and screenwriter Rafael Yglesias (he wrote "From Hell" - another great one to check out.) "Death and the Maiden" is simply great filmmaking.
score /10
jadesliver 17 June 2002
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0337355/ |
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29-11-2019 23:01:59