10 Lesser Known Film Noirs You Need To See
3. Black Widow (1987)
Black Widow proves that film noir is not an exclusively male forum.
Theresa Russell portrays Catharine, an irresistible psychopath with countless identities who marries numerous wealthy men before killing them, confident that their deaths will be attributed to "Ondine's Curse", a rare condition in which otherwise healthy middle-aged men simply stop breathing in their sleep.
Debra Winger plays Justice Department agent, Alexandra Barnes, who has tired of her desk job and is thirsting for some action in the field. Concluding that the victims' wives are all the same woman, Alexandra tries to prevent Catharine from killing again, but secretly envies Catharine's lifestyle. Befriending Catharine in Hawaii, Alexandra is unaware that the "black widow" is actually closing in on her.
An often overlooked, but very entertaining film, Black Widow is a fascinating character study of two women who are fascinated by each other and their escalating game of wits. The film has memorable supporting performances from Nicol Williamson, Dennis Hopper, Leo Rossi, Terry O'Quinn, James Hong, and Diane Ladd, whilst benefitting from a haunting soundtrack score by Michael Small.