Deathtrap (1982)
Genre: Comedy / Mystery
Duration: 116 minuten
Alternative title: Moordkuil
Country:
United States
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Stars: Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve and Dyan Cannon
IMDb score:
7,0 (17.709)
Releasedate: 19 March 1982
Deathtrap plot
"The trap is set... For a wickedly funny who'll-do-it."
Clifford Anderson is a playwright and has just finished his first play called Deathtrap. He takes his idea to Sidney Bruhl to ask his opinion. He thinks the play could be good, but doesn't let Anderson know that he wants to use this script, as his most recent play flopped.
Actors and actresses
Sidney Bruhl
Clifford Anderson
Myra Bruhl
Helga ten Dorp
Porter Milgrim
Seymour Starger
Burt - the Bartender
Handsome Actor
The Minister (as Rev. Francis B. Creamer Jr.)
Stewart Klein
Reviews & comments
scorsese
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- 13232 messages
- 11124 votes
Good film about a playwright who invites one of his pupils to discuss his first work. Clearly based on a stage play (the movie takes place mostly in one location and with only a handful of characters). The fact that the two main characters also write similar thrillers makes the plot all the more intriguing. Good acting, but a bit on the long side.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Mescaline
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- 7095 messages
- 3256 votes
As far as I'm concerned, it can easily match Sleuth, with the difference that I liked the plot twists better here, but that Sleuth has a better atmosphere thanks to the beautiful film location.
The first part only takes quite a long time, this normally wouldn't have been a big deal but I found Dyan Cannon rather annoying and overacting, this may also have been due to her character but she was clearly the weakest between Cain & Reeve.
After this the film becomes a lot stronger and more interesting and the ending was fitting, original and unpredictable.
Due to the slightly too long playing time and structure, I can unfortunately not give this 4 stars, but 3.5 are more than appropriate. Same grade I gave Sleuth.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Collins
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- 7346 messages
- 4342 votes
After half an hour of watching this black humorous murder mystery with great pleasure, I thought for a moment that the film had already shot all its powder. That turns out not to be the case. Many well-timed plot twists follow in the course to keep you pleasantly entertained. Even after that half hour, Deathtrap remains a light-hearted thriller with double meanings and with dry and prickly humor.
Outstanding acting from Michael Caine and Cristopher Reeve. The game with constantly changing power relations that is performed by both is fun to follow. Murder obsessed Michael Caine struggles to hide his true colors under a layer of British charm and dry humour. Reeve is technically not inferior to him. An underestimated actor who convincingly transforms his character from sweet and naive to unpredictable. Their interplay is very good.
The film is based on a play by Ira Levin. The film therefore has stage-like accents. There is a lot of dialogue and the setting in the form of a large living room hardly changes. With the announcement of these elements you might expect a static movie, but that term doesn't apply. Although the characters do not often move outside the living room, they are constantly walking in the living room or busy with something trivial or with something that contributes elementary to the mystery. The dynamics prevent collapse moments.
The playing time of 115 minutes sounds long in advance and I really hated that, but the time passed surprisingly quickly. I had a good time.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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