Black Widow (1987)

Black Widow is a 1987 neo-noir film starring Debra Winger, Theresa Russell, Sami Frey, Nicol Williamson and Dennis Hopper.

It is a crime drama about two women: one who murders wealthy men whom she marries for their money, and the other an agent with the Department of Justice who grows obsessed with bringing her to justice. It was directed by Bob Rafelson, from a screenplay by Ronald Bass. Black Widow is a late addition to the film noir revival of the 1980s, known as neo-noir.

Unlike classic noirs, neo-noir films are aware of modern circumstances and technology—details that were typically absent or unimportant to the plot of classic film noir. In the films of the early 1940s and '50s, audiences are led to understand and build a relationship with the protagonist or anti-hero. Neo-noir films of post-1970 often reverse this role. Unconventional camera movements and plot progression remind them that they are merely watching the film and not partaking in the story.

Modern themes employed in neo-noir films include identity crises, memory issues and subjectivity, and—most importantly—technological problems and their social ramifications. Because these fundamental elements are as ambiguous in practice as their definitions, film theorists argue that the term "neo-noir" can be applied to other works of fiction that similarly incorporate such motifs. Robert Arnett states that "Neo-noir has become so amorphous as a genre/movement, any film featuring a detective or crime qualifies." It is because of this genre's ambivalence that neo-noir is still shaped and interpreted so malleably today.

The story of Black Widow revolves around two women, one the femme fatale Catherine (Theresa Russell) whose true name is never revealed. She preys on wealthy middle-aged men, seducing them into marriage and killing them by a mysterious means of poisoning. Each death is misdiagnosed as Ondine's curse, a condition by which seemingly healthy middle-aged men die in their sleep. The other woman is Justice Department agent Alexandra Barnes (Debra Winger) who stumbles onto the first murder while investigating another case. As Alexandra delves further into the case, she uncovers a pattern which she believes ties the same woman to several similar murders.

Using exhaustive research, elaborate disguises, and identity changes, Catherine weaves her web anew with each murder, killing a publishing magnate, a toy maker (Dennis Hopper), and a museum curator (Nicol Williamson), and is moving quickly to her next victim: Paul Nuytten (Sami Frey), an international hotel tycoon. Later in the film she reveals she has been married six times, which suggests that she may have committed as many murders.

Receiving grudging permission from her boss Bruce (Terry O'Quinn), Alexandra decides to go undercover to track down first Catherine's background and then her next potential victim. She trails the murderer to Seattle, where Catherine kills husband number three (the museum curator), and finally to Hawaii, where the two women meet and eventually engage in a sexually intense war of wits and wills.

They both compete for the affection of wealthy Paul Nuytten, and Catherine eventually marries him. Alexandra is arrested for Paul's murder when the police find a poison in her room. Catherine visits Alexandra in prison, and while they talk, Paul shows up with Alexandra's colleagues. Alexandra tells the shocked Catherine, "yes, we know — we found the poison before he did."

This is a very good movie that reminds one what we lost when Debra Winger slowed down her movie-making. She gives an honest, heartfelt performance as an investigator chasing a woman who marries rich and whose husbands wind up dead every time. The widow then remakes her appearance, gets a new identity, and dupes another man. Only Winger is convinced that this trail of murders is the work of one woman.

Theresa Russell has the right detachment for this role. One suspects the character is a real man-hater and is, in fact, attracted to Winger. Winger is admiring of Russell's constant flirtation with danger. This is a complex relationship that the two play out.