Deathtrap (1982)

Strong and Moving!

Not even bad in a good way

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Sidney Bruhl (Michael Caine) is a struggling playwright. His latest Broadway play is a critical flop. He retreats to his Long Island home with his wife Myra (Dyan Cannon). He has a copy of a play called Deathtrap written by his student Clifford Anderson (Christopher Reeve). He's bitterly jealous. She wants him to produce it. The question is would he kill for a new play. He invites Clifford to the remote house and bring the original drafts. The discussion breaks down and Clifford wants to send copies of the play to various agents.There is a bit of tension with Clifford in handcuffs. The story meanders after that. It needs to build on that tension. Then comes the twists. The twists are fine but I need more tension. Sidney Lumet may be more concerned about the kiss which is not so shocking nowadays. This may work better as a play. There are some fair back and forth in the last act but I don't care about which ever way it could turn out.

...so how do I write a review without one? I'll try. I saw this when it first came out in the theater, and it was so much fun, with so many plot twists and double-crosses--some you can see coming and some not.I've recently seen it on Turner Classic Movies a couple of times, and it is still entertaining as far as the performances, even if you know what is coming. The set-up is this: Sidney Bruhl (Michael Caine), a playwright, has just written a flop. He returns to his country home from Broadway after phoning his wife, Myra (Dyan Cannon), about the bad news. He has been giving seminars on writing for aspiring playwrights, and when he gets home he opens a package sent to him by one of those students. It is a play entitled "Deathtrap", and the student sends a note asking if Sidney thinks it is any good. Sidney's analysis is that it is excellent, a sure fire hit, and then he starts to do and say little things that make the audience - and Myra - think that maybe Sidney is contemplating stealing the play, and doing away with the student who sent it in order to score a success for himself after a long stretch of flops. He calls the student and asks him to come to his house and in such a way that nobody will know where he has gone. Past that point I'll let you watch and see what happens.Now the student turns out to be played by Christopher Reeve, and given his devastating injury 13 years later that eventually took his life, seeing him walking around so young so healthy and never showing even a glimpse of his Superman persona - the only role he was really known for at the time - is worth the price of admission. Dyan Cannon is excellent as the nervous and hovering wife Myra. Michael Caine, who has given so many good performances over the years, seemed to work an awful lot during the 1980's, sometimes in good films sometimes in bad ones. This is one of the good films and he gives a very good performance. No doubt all of these good performances had something to do with director Sidney Lumet.Some people say the first half is great, the second half not so great, that it bogs down. I beg to differ. The pace between the two halves is just very different, but the whole thing keeps you on your toes. Make sure you notice everything that is going on.If I had to say anything negative it might be that the German psychic, Helga ten Dorp, is overdone and campy just a little bit. Plus it is a stretch that she makes a habit of shining flashlights through her neighbors' windows at night during rainstorms, and then wandering through their houses uninvited. If she is so psychic, can't she perceive she has overstayed her welcome from the minute she said hello? The original trailers had a Rubik's Cube with the faces of the cast members on different sides of the cube. I'd say that's an excellent visual description. Do give it a try. It's one of my favorite thrillers.

The first time I watched this movie was in my high school drama class, and I must say I enjoyed it very much. Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve do great performances in their roles. The film does a great job of capturing that "play" sorta feel, because of the way most of the movie takes place in one location, plus the long monologues and direction make it seem like a play.It also has a subtle sense of dark humor in it, which I really liked. And I have to admit, it did make me jump a few times. Without spoiling too much of the plot, I will say it's one twist after another. A good film that's both funny and scary.

I do not believe all the praise for this movie. The play and movie were a ripoff of Sleuth. Michael Caine wishes he were Olivier, and Reeves wishes he were Caine. Caine even had the nerve to do a remake of Sleuth with Jude Law playing his original part. Jude Law? You mean the one that did the remake of "Alfie"? This movie was made during a period of Caine's career when it was obvious he needed to pay off gambling debts. He would do anything for money. He would star in such award winning movies such as this, and "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure". What seems to be driving the praise for this movie is Reeves death. He deserves better than to be remembered for this lousy movie. And so does Caine. This movie can be found in the $5.97 bin at Walmart. Along with gems like "The Island", and "Blame it on Rio".