90s-era Women In Peril movies

And I accidentally voted for Sleeping With The Enemy instead of Double Jeopardy.

Damn you, Robertsz

You forgot Jennifer 8

I was rooting for the husband in “Enough.”

I voted for Dead Calm with Nicole K, my second choice would be The Net.....the computer stuff in that movie looks so dated now

Who’s Jennifer 8?

Funny enough, I was actually an extra in the Net. It filmed in San Francisco in 1994. There is a close up of me, 19 years old, right after Sandra has pulled the fire alarm and we are all of the employees are standing outside waiting to get back into the building.

And yes, R4, Dead Calm was a love letter to the height of Billy Zane's beauty and body.

I have watched Double Jeopardy a million times, so it gets my vote.

I might have voted for SWTE, but the new boyfriend - Ben - just looked so goofy it takes me out of the film. Which is too bad because the guy who played the psycho husband was campy perfection. I like to think he read that shitty script and decided then and there to go all-out on the scene chewing.

Copycat!

Also the bone collector and what lies beneath

[quote]Most importantly, they each feature a heroine who looks ever more lovely with each tear that never quite falls, as some combination of husband/boyfriend/token psycho/sadistic staff sergeant/bewitched roommate attempts to destroy her life and she summons all her feminine power to fight back and stand in her truth. And she is never a villain - sorry Rebecca DeMornay in The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.

Wouldn't Annabella Sciorra instead be that 'woman in peril' in the same movie?

She's similar to Bridget Fonda in SINGLE WHITE FEMALE (i.e. heroine put upon by female antagonist/rival).

Sharon Stone in Sliver - thoughts?

Very sad what happened to the dog but Nicole got Sam Neill and Billy Zane in their prime.

I think Sally Field's "An Eye for an Eye"(1996) is more watchable than NWMD.

Keifer Sutherland is a great villain in this one.

Billy Zane's ass made me gay

More Julia in fragile distress.

What about Meryl and that movie with the boats?

The river wild!

J-lo in the cell

Gwyneth paltrow in a perfect murder

Reese Witherspoon in fear (freeway could arguably qualify for this as well)

Ashley Judd is the queen of this genre with twisted, kiss the girls and eye of the beholder in addition to double jeopardy

What about Paradise Road? Glenn Close, Frances McDormand and Cate Blanchett. They have 5 acting Oscars between them.

SWTE for the crazy husband alone. I like his wide-eyed insanity and the way his mustache covers his mouth.

[quote] What about Paradise Road?

That’s a WW2 choir film.

Double Jeopardy is my guilty pleasure, I always stop to watch it when it's on cable

R22 After Breaker Morant, I think it’s Bruce Beresford’s best film. It’s a great little thriller and the cast is so committed.

I adore Single White Female, especially for Jennifer Jason Leigh's go-for-broke performance, but the gay neighbor/friend holds up about as well as Stepin Fetchit.

[quote]That’s a WW2 choir film.

WTF? They were in an fucking internment camp! What is more PERILOUS than an internment camp overseen by the Japs? Poor Cate was tortured and Frances had to do a German accent.

They’re singing r25. As far as I’m concerned, once the altos are separated from the sopranos, it’s crisis averted.

[quote] SWTE for the crazy husband alone. I like his wide-eyed insanity and the way his mustache covers his mouth.

Tween me felt slightly debased by being attracted to a man with a moustache. I tried to convince myself I preferred Kevin Anderson.

[quote]They’re singing [R25]. As far as I’m concerned, once the altos are separated from the sopranos, it’s crisis averted.

They sang DESPITE BEING IN PERIL!!!!

Next you'll be saying the Von Trapps weren't in peril.

The Von Trapp women did not qualify as being Women In Peril heroines, no.

In order for them to qualify, the plot would need to be Maria saving Liesl from the fanatical clutches of stalker Rolf. Perhaps a poisoned strudel would be involved after the local Nazi commandant ignores their reports of his favoured Hitler Youth being a wrong ‘un. And it would be directed by Robert Aldrich or Roman Polanski.

R14 I agree. That was an underrated movie.

SWF is great and I remember jerking off to the boyfriend, especially when we saw his cock!

Connie and Carla!

Although I prefer The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, I think the Director did well with his follow up, landing M as his leading lady no less

I enjoyed the disturbing sequel, too: "Married Fat Female."

All that adultery, comfort eating and culty bizarreness.

Copycat

Poor Glenn.

[quote]Wouldn't Annabella Sciorra instead be that 'woman in peril' in the same movie? She's similar to Bridget Fonda in SINGLE WHITE FEMALE (i.e. heroine put upon by female antagonist/rival).

I love AS but she’s more like Anne Archer in Fatal Attraction or Charlize Theron in The Devil’s Advocate - a supporting character in the shadow of a monstrous lead character whose psyche we were exploring. Her movie was all about De Mornay.

Whereas Fonda and Leigh were a dance of equals in terms of both being the lead characters.

R35 I think that's too acclaimed to count on this thread

DL sleeping on The Net. Expected.

The campiest - Jane March in Color of Night

Sharon Stone in Sliver

Sandra Bullock in Murder by Numbers. Good movie.

Jodie Foster in Panic Room.

As a true cinema lover I can't bring my myself to watch most of this garbage but I will offer Julianne Moore in SAFE as a contribution from my superior world of quality things

I loved Dead Calm.

Sleeping with the Enemy. Julia Roberts abusive spouse sure resembles the Master

A Kiss Before Dying

I recently revisited "Double Jeopardy", which was a film my parents rented in the early 2000s and I saw as a kid. It's beyond far-fetched in so many ways, but it is ridiculously entertaining—all around fun, well-shot, and it features some gorgeous locations. You can't help but root for Judd's character in it. Her cunty attitude toward Tommy Lee Jones throughout is a lot of fun, too. As someone else pointed out, Judd was in "Kiss the Girls" two years before she did "Double Jeopardy", and that film falls in the same genre, though it's a serial killer movie (a bit "Silence of the Lambs"-esque). Also very entertaining.

Annabella Sciorra also starred in a unintentionally funny example of the woman-in-peril genre, "Whispers In The Dark."

Without giving away too much, Alan Alda earned a Razzie nomination for his role in this.

Thinking about how skinny Bridget Fonda was in SWF makes me want to weep over her obesity.

The Long Kiss Goodnight and The Cell are 2 of my favorite movies. I nominate them.

I loved it for a few movies but the guy was always an asshole. Good way to keep the narrative of the wronged woman. It rarely showed feminist values, just retribution.

House of Games from 1987 fits into this genre. (And it's an entertaining, intelligent film.)

These became Julia's other specialty as the distressed heroine of genre pictures.

[quote]I recently revisited "Double Jeopardy", which was a film my parents rented in the early 2000s and I saw as a kid. It's beyond far-fetched in so many ways, but it is ridiculously entertaining—all around fun, well-shot, and it features some gorgeous locations.

True story: when they were shooting in the French Quarter at night Ashley Judd must have been on break because she wandered into the FQ's most notorious gay dive bar, which had a Western theme. She was perusing the jukebox when the toothless old Mississippi bartender yelled, "HEY! Put on some-a yer momma's and sister's music!"

I vote for Farrah Fawcett in The Burning Bed.

What do we think Viola could've done with these type of leading lady roles she was deprived of? Too sexy?

Viola Davis could have done High Crimes and some of those bitchy Ashley Judd roles where she gets away with being officious and nor be hated by audiences because she is so pretty.

They would be different films with Viola, but still good

I remember watching "Double Jeopardy" with my mother in the early 2000s and thinking Ashley had nice boobs. Was definitely more excited by her husband though!

R8, it's so crazy you posted CopyCat. I was an extra in that film as well. The only two major motion picture films I was an extra in are posted here. That was filmed in San Francisco the same year as The Net, 1994. The set was on Treasure Island I remember. It wasn't the best experience, but I did learn a lot. I remember congratulating Holly Hunter on her Oscar for the Piano, before realizing this is not something you do on a set as an extra. My first day they didn't use me at all. The second time there was a big scene where Sigourney is giving a lecture or something and I am in that.

R60 was Holly nice to you? Did you get to meet Sig?

Dario Argento's Opera

i feel like dario argento slashers somehow fall outside the admittedly hazy parameters of this genre. for this genre we need

1) an a to a- list hollywood leading lady 2)suspense and violence but not an overabundance of gore 3 big heads on the movie poster.

R56, Is The Burning Bed trashy though? Because I remember it being quite upsetting. Farrah's Extremities would be closer to me. It bypasses the zeitgeist feeling of the play it was based on because it was given a bit of a trashy, exploitative makeover for film.

Sharon Stone in Scissors.

R61, you don't really MEET anyone as an extra, you just see them, in close proximity to them. But as far as extra work, you get to see them working, acting for hours on end sometimes, while you sit and watch. It wasn't that Holly wasn't nice, I think I just got too close to her for comfort on a work set. We were passing in a hallway and she was talking to an assistant or something. This was after the first day of the shoot wrapped. In passing I congratulated her, but her reaction was more of a stranger approaching her unexpectedly. She looked concerned first, then sort of smiled, and that was it and I kept it moving.

The scene that Sigourney was in, where I was actually used, I was suppose to have a "big moment" crossing in front of her in a hallway and exiting out the door of the university, if I remember correctly (it was 30 years ago), where she was giving the lecture. I blocked all the movements with the director - something extra's never really get, one on one direction from the director. But at the end of it all, they realized that "business" wouldn't actually work for the shot they wanted to get of Sigourney. So I was just a member of the large audience in the lecture hall watching her.

It was on this movie that I realized the hierarchy on a set. When it came time to eat, they made a big deal of allowing the leads and the director and above line crew to go through first. Then the supporting actors and day players were next. Then the rest of the crew and assistants. As an extra you're just sitting there watching all of the food disappear. They might have even had the cleaning staff line up before us. Then finally like 35 minutes later they let the extras come in and get something to eat.

Howards End

I'm going to show my boobies...

R10 - Goldie in Deceived is really miscast. I can see she was trying to go out of her comfort zone but it didn't work.

Jane Fonda in The Morning After. she is a drunk and framed for murder. Directed badly by Sidney Lumet with an awful music score.

I like Copycat and Sigourney and Holly are great together. But we know Sigourney is gonna be ok. She defeated the aliens FOUR times so she can handle one serial killer.

R37 Annabella Sciorra is in no way a mere supporting wife role in THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE.

She is the main protagonist, the one being terrorized by Rebecca De Mornay.

In fact, Sciorra, has more screen time than De Mornay, who doesn't appear until like 15 minutes into the film.

Sciorra is in it from beginning to end.

In fact, I would say that Claire's psyche is the one being explored, as she gradually becomes disillusioned with Peyton when she finds out the truth about the "perfect nanny."

Peyton is pretty one-track minded and has no metamorphosis. Her main goal is revenge and takeover of Claire's family.

Anne Heche in Psycho!

People say it was a pointless remake but the Julianne Moore walkman scene was iconic.

[quote] Is The Burning Bed trashy though?

I don’t think so. Farrah’s performance was more along the lines of Angela Bassett’s and Kathy Bates’ as an abuse victim. We watched it a decade after it’s release at school.

is Dead Again a woman in peril movie? Emma Thompson and those scissors

I love The Cell. Ridiculous, but Jennifer Lopez looks amazing.

[quote] is Dead Again a woman in peril movie? Emma Thompson and those scissors

Possibly but you know Ken and Em would be simply aghast at the suggestion

[quote] Goldie in Deceived is really miscast

I can’t bear her acting. She one of those people who got roles because of her popularity among her peers as opposed to real talent.

Does Candyman count?

Sure, why not?

R79 that's a good one, with some very nice hooters if I remember correctly!

Enough and Double Jeopardy both came out in the early aughts you dumb cunt.

Who’s gonna tell Teacake?

I enjoy "Double Jeopardy", but "Single White Female" is my all-time favorite.

[quote]r6 Funny enough, I was actually an extra in the Net. It filmed in San Francisco in 1994. There is a close up of me, 19 years old, right after Sandra has pulled the fire alarm and we are all of the employees are standing outside waiting to get back into the building.

You. Are. A STAR ! !

The Morning After is barely a thriller. I watched it again recently and it felt like it was always on the verge of being exciting but then falls back into movie-of-the-week melodrama.

[quote] "Who’s Jennifer 8?"

One of the 8 Beautiful Girls 8, R5.

The Morning After was 1986

Double Jeopardy and The Pelican Brief would be a good New Orleans WIP double feature. "Everyone I've told about the brief is dead!"

[quote] Double Jeopardy and The Pelican Brief would be a good New Orleans WIP double feature

Ashley Judd never looked more beautiful in that Armani dress she charged to some bitch’s room when gatecrashing the party.

Reviving this thread to remind DL that “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle” is now on YouTube for free viewing.

Cheap whores rejoice!!!

Kim Basinger in Final Analysis

I can watch The Net all day, every day.

I know it's cheesy. I know it's bad. But it's just so satisfying.

Ditto Sleeping With The Enemy.

I can watch The Net all day, every day.

I know it's cheesy. I know it's bad. But it's just so satisfying.

Ditto Sleeping With The Enemy.

I can watch The Net all day, every day.

I know it's cheesy. I know it's bad. But it's just so satisfying.

Ditto Sleeping With The Enemy.

Not without my daughter just for that insane scene where she asked for help and all that women of the family start attacking and screaming at her like rabid apes. Double jeopardy because Ashley Judd was such a badass especially when she's not like hello Nick.

I also liked I for an eye with Sally Field because it was pure scenery chewing the whole time and Ed Harris was particularly hot in this room.

I also like the one that I can't remember right now the name of the Reese switherspoon and Kiefer Sutherland where he's like some kind of sex maniac and she's the sociopath and I really don't remember it other than when she's in the courtroom testifying and she says he was going to do sex to my dead body good. Oh yeah I think it was freeway and when I used to be obsessed with the news I'd watch the world news now overnight ABC News broadcast but at the time is anchored by Mark Mullen and Asha Blake. They had some movie reviewer Leah something and they were talking about this movie and she tried to make some credible tagline about making a U-turn for freeway or something like that. I think about that often for some reason. Also I wonder what happened to Asha Blake it's weird how sometimes these news anchors would blow up but it was always so fast and over so quickly. Just a few I can think of her that scud stud whose name I can't remember, Libby Weaver, Jane Clayson, Elizabeth Vargas Lisa McGrae and so many others.

Why are you all talking about J.Lo? She’s way too young to have movies in the 90s. In the 90s, she was still on In Living Colored.

R97 in living color was over by the mid-90s and she had several hit movies from 95 through 2000 including Selena anaconda and out of sight not to mention money train.

But all the movies you guys are talking about here are from the 2000s.

R99. But that isbt what you were complaining about.

The Pelican Brief also has DL love-to-hate-her fave Cynthia Nixon!

The movies weren't great but these movies made a ton of money in the 90s

Tori Spelling in “Mother, May I Sleep With Danger?” from 1996 (notto be confused with the later remake with Tori Spelling).

R99. I think you skipped over the part where OP said, “DL - let’s discuss our favourite Women In Peril films from the mid-80s to the mid-00s.”

Gwynnie in "Hush."

[quote]The Pelican Brief also has DL love-to-hate-her fave Cynthia Nixon!

Ashley Judd in Double Jeopardy for sure!

I love Demi Moore in GI Jane, but it wasn’t your traditional Woman In Peril movie - though I agree her character was suffering

Today's equivalent are true crime podcasts and Netflix series-- fraubait.

R107, I don't think G.I. Jane is a Woman in Peril movie. It's a relatively straight drama about overcoming adversity, and Moore isn't really in mortal danger throughout the movie. It's more about enduring boot camp.

The Juror is her true Woman in Peril entry from that era.

SWF was barely a 90s movie, but was quite good, as was Hand that Rocks the Cradle. Also loved Unlawful Entry, and liked Cape Fear, (DeNiro can do psychotic better than most, IMO, also was campy), Fear would also fall into this genre, but has a cheesy teen element (in my defense I was 15/16 when it came out).

The River Wild, I tried getting into it, but it just seemed like the least likely place to be worried about getting raft-jacked by some criminals running from the law.

Ashley Judd was seemingly always in distress, from the Alex Cross series.

GI Jane was interesting, full of Scientologists.

I saw Sleeping with the Enemy on a first date with my boyfriend. I remember when Julia is still living with her husband and he asks if he can get anything for her out shopping. My date whispered to me, Yeah, a gun.