The Play's the thing in which murder will occur. This is 1982's Deathtrap (aka Ira Levin's Deathtrap). I get that Levin wrote some good Stories (an understatement, I know), but giving him that Title feels...odd. Did they think I'd confuse this for Stephen King's Deathtrap?
Granted, the Film was made 40 years ago, so maybe it's just a generational thing. From what I read, this was a successful Play at the time, but, again, that was 1982.
The Plot involves a Playwright, a Student, his Wife and a random Psychic. It gets very, very META. The only way they could make this more META is if the Cast walked out and did a bow for the Audience. They stop just short of that.
With a then-current Superman- Christopher Reeve- and a future Alfred- Michael Caine-, can this deliver? Let's find out...
A Playwright- Caine- has his FOURTH Play in a Row come out to bad Reviews and it's sure to bomb.
Time to get drunk and take the train home.
He explains to his Wife that he needs a good Play and a hit...and he has something that will be both.
Deathtrap.
The problem- he didn't write it. Reeve- as a Former Student from a Symposium- did.
His plan- kill the guy and steal it.
Despite his Wife's attempts to stop him, he chokes Reeve to death and the pair get rid of his body.
She's not happy.
Earlier, she mentioned a Psychic living next door. Said Psychic shows up after the (off-screen, since this was a Play) burial to make everyone nervous.
See you in Act 3.
Reeve attacks them that night, revealing that he's not dead!
During his attack, he corners the Wife and she dies of a heart attack.
Now here's the twist- it was all a trick!
Since this is early '80s, the duo are secretly (and completely-off-screen) Gay and planned to kill her for the money.
Now that they've committed murder together, nothing can stop their implied love.
…except that now Reeve (who actually is a Playwright-to-be) wants to adapt THEIR PLAN into a play. The Title...
Deathtrap (duh).
Caine does not want that, leading to some tension and both sides secretly plotting against each other.
Act 3 has the pair trading control and advantage in their game.
Caine has a gun...but it has no bullets.
Reeve has him locked up...but Caine escapes.
Showing nimbleness that you wouldn't expect for a 49-year old Caine, he sneaks out of the House and back in to shoot Reeve in the back.
In the aftermath, the Psychic appears one more time (having scared Reeve earlier and then Caine)...to be targeted by Caine. He's attacked by a not-quite-dead-yet Reeve...
...when we cut to a Play. Deathtrap did become a Play...by the Psychic.
To add another layer of META, they used the set from THE PLAY 'Deathtrap' (the real one this is based on) for the fake Play...in the Movie based on the Play.
My head hurts. The End.
A fun, complex tale of revenge and murder. It's complicated. It's biting. It's funny. It's intense.
Regardless of how I might feel about Ira Levin's star power, he did write a good Story. The Acting helps. Even Dyan Cannon- who was apparently up for a Razzie for this!- is good in small doses. She's clearly in over her head (the character, to be clear) and can't keep up. It works in contrast to the cool confidence of Caine and, eventually, that of Reeve.
The twists and turns are what makes this one work. They feel set up. They feel established. They feel 'real.' All of the build-up is paid off. There's even fun, META stuff with set-up/pay-off as well. For instance, Reeve says that he would 'have the Psychic come back in Act 3.' She does show up again.
If you can find yourself drawn into this mostly-one-location Play-turned-Film, it's a winner. They have some nice furniture too.
B
No comments:
Post a Comment