The Seduction

Stalker thriller is really just a softcore exploitationer, but almost transcends its trappings due to fine performances and generally good production values and direction (use of widescreen differentiates it from a TV go-round). Too long, with a third act that needlessly spills over into a fourth, but surprisingly enjoyable, especially as a time-capsule of the hideous fashions of the turn of the 70s to the 80s!

I swear around 57:24 I actually saw Morgan Fairchild's hair move. I love the 80's.

Decent enough formula thriller that, cleaned up just a bit, could almost have been a better-than-average TV movie. For time-capsule value, though, it's huge fun. The tony early-'80's interiors are hysterical, and I guess I'll have to accept on faith that people really did dress that way... I somehow remember it looking perfectly normal at the time.

Fairchild's beauty got me through most of this because the first 80? minutes feels derivative of all the stalker stories (both real & fiction) we've heard since this film. But I assume it felt fresher at the time. It also now seems dopey for her character to be so wary of becoming a "vigilante". The interesting part is that reluctance turns into a kind of empowering Death Wish for women, but many feminists loathe anything suggesting a woman might actually be able to do something to help herself.