Lady Beware (1987)

Very disappointing...

Too much of everything

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

This has something of the feel of being a TV movie and I see that is where most of this lady directors work is shown, though this was a straight to video feature. The big difference is that this has moments of sex and violence and particularly language that would not have endeared it to TV in the 80s. Set I believe in Pittsburg, we see a fair amount of the city and if the story surrounding a window dresser and the stalking it attracts is not particularly original this certainly has a decent edge to it with SM inspired arrangements of the mannequins. We are led to believe that it is this element that prompts Woods' character to become so obsessed but as a gay seeming married with daughter guy, this is never properly dealt with or exploited. Diane Lane acts her socks off and sheds everything else as well, several times while Michael Woods poses about the place rather moodily and never until the end with much conviction. Revenge is sweet, but it takes a long, long time here, though it has to be admitted there is some decent suspense and thrills along the way, again particularly towards the end. If I'm making this sound rather dull, I'm afraid that's because largely it is, despite the potential offered by the visuals and the frightening situation we are presented with. (80s music doesn't help!)

I actually saw this film as a kid in the Wakulla Motel, while waiting for a space shuttle blast. We all learned to bodyboard and watched this film late at night while our minders went to bed. Having searched for 25 years for this film, I can honestly say that it is FREAKING AWESOME!!! It's the adult version of the Kim Cattrall film "Mannequin". No, Really, it is. The story is that a hot girl dresses up windows, complete with "Hollywood" as played by Meshach Taylor and a boyriend as played by John Cusack. This film represents everything that was awesome about the 1980's. Diane Lane is hot without being gratuitous. Lots of ridiculous panty shots (Diane gets home after getting her job and strips down to a satin teddy) but you so buy the character that it dosen't seem outlandish. Believe me, I have actually known girls in Austin that behave exactly this way. The whole film is a warning to women who feel liberated enough to display their sexuality in public. You may very well pick up a guy like this.

It is hardly believable for most of its running time, but at least it keeps you watching. It begins when Lane sort of pushes her way into a job as a window dresser. This was the second film of '87 to feature one following the Andrew McCarthy comedy "Mannequin" (this one is even replete with a flamboyantly gay co-worker, too). But, ooh boy, is this a much different movie. Lane's gutsy and provocative displays get her noticed in good and bad ways, one of which is by a perverted x-ray technician, played by Woods. First we get the typical stalking; she's followed home; he steals her mail; harrassing phone calls. But at one point the perv scales the wall of her apartment/loft, takes a bath, and does something rather gross to one of her nighties. All the while talks to the police are mostly kept off-screen an d Lane keeps putting up with everything. Which, again, is one of the many implausible elements of the film. Only in movieland would the victim accept the challenge and begin playing cat and mouse games with the wacko. Plus the MANY unintentional laughs, like Woods dancing around her place in a bathtowel, him doing a Spiderman impression by climbing down the side of her building on a rope so he can break in, and Lane cursing her mirror while she repeatedly spits on it. The ending is a downer, too, kind of a letdown. Though different, it's mostly ineffective. And what the hell happened to Smith's character? All of a sudden he's dropped and never mentioned again (I'm sure he didn't care considering that love scene he got to do with Lane, hubba hubba). I must say the performances are there big time. Lane, aside from being absolutely gorgeous, which is saying nothing of her eye-popping (among other things, hehe) topless shot, really conveys her loss of freedom. At times the stuff she spouts is a little over the top, but is delivered nice enough. And if Woods is indeed James Woods brother, talent is definitely in the bloodline. His characters' only mis-step is not being more agressive with Lane. Early on she talks suggestive to Smith on the phone, appearing to be open sexually about herself (which is also indicated by her window displays). But Woods approach is more scary, which just makes her pissed. This was one of only a few good movies from the quickly defunct Scotti Bros. before they withered away and is too bad. Though pretty much unknown, it's a decent little thriller.

Despite some plot implausibilities and a mildly excessive running time, this is an interesting erotic thriller that will maintain your attention with its solid acting and its straightforward directing. The villain here is a married man and a doctor, which only makes the contrast between his "normal" life and his perverse side much more sharp. If you're looking for a thriller centered on sexual fixation, this may not be your only choice, but it is among the good ones. (**1/2)