The Stepford Wives

The domestic life melodrama isn't compelling, which makes the sci-fi plot (already spoiled in the poster) boring. Also, it isn't well made: the music mocks the suspense, the editing uses 70's sitcom transitions, and the photography--including an out of focus shot signaling a knockout--is almost a parody. Rosemary's Baby is a stronger adaptation of the same author's work just via Polanski's continual tension. The only redeemable aspect is Jordan Peele later ripping off entire scenes for Get Out.

Creepy 70s sci-fi flick with some actual substance. The film comments on the problem of chauvanism by satirizing it. We're aligned effectively with the female main character, as her fears about losing what makes her an individual grow and she starts to question her own sanity in the weird town of Stepford where the sci-fi/horror genre stable of being taken over, literally, by something unknown or monstrous becomes a very real threat. It's a neat idea, and the execution is terrific.

Superb chiller and one of the few films to successfully advocate feminism without succumbing to shrill hyperbole or bifurcation. Also, it is one of a few handful of films to effectively use the horror genre as a vehicle for satire. None of this would matter, though, if the end result wasn't as exciting and watchable as it is. As it stands, what we have here is a finely acted, sensitively directed 70ies treasure that comes highly recommended.

One of those films that has become ingrained in our culture as allegory. Fair share of 70s camp but it's a creepy and enjoyable watch. Fun fact: two of the women in this movie played Ginger Grant from Gilligan's Island. Tina Louise played the role in the initial television series and Judith Baldwin took over the role in the made-for-television movies a decade later.

A great example of the slow build failing. 90% = freaking boring. Too much disjointed chitchat and unimportant characters. If you want me to watch a 1hr55min film at least do something, or can women only gab and later freeze up then panic when faced with (cue scary music) A Man? Plus people don't just turn into raving sexists. The husband went from jerk, to slightly more jerky, to total freaking psycho. The premise was practically gift wrapped with bow and everything and they still botched it.

This film appears to have ingrained itself into pop culture to the extent that I pretty much knew what was going to happen all the way through. Despite this, I found this very watchable, and quite enjoyable. Ross and Prentiss play well off one another, and the feeling that the men are up to something sinister creates an effective undercurrent. While it doesn't take itself too seriously, it is well handled, and it becomes quite chilling towards the end. Worth a look if it pops up on TV.

While knowing the twist takes away some of the mystery it alternately amps up the horror of the situation. The 70s sensibility of both the characters and the visual style work really well at heightening the artificiality. Great performances too.

Amongst the best of those old school horror movies, that can unnerve as well as carry a satirical message, without showing the latter down anyones throat. Too bad, then, that it advocates silly feminism. Women that think! Ha! I find the meer thought offensive! Kidding.

After 10 minutes I was bored to tears. If your film is so boring that 10 minutes of nothing is painful to watch then you're doing something wrong. The problem is knowing the plot twist removes any reason to suffer through the longueurs

Sadly a film that I enjoy the remake better than the original.

The premise is so deeply disturbing that I can't believe the remake somehow managed to turn it into a comedy. (3.5/5)

a boring man moves his wife & kids to a boring town full of other boring men who are turning their wives into boring automatons (because that's what men do. Am I right Sisters or am I right?) and....oh sorry,am I boring you?

Katharine Ross is a Hippie Nature Goddess. Oh, the movie? Yeah it's good too.

"Critical of the suburban milieu as a petri dish where regressive sexist fantasies are cultivated." - Ed Gonzalez

Effectively creepy.

Sorry, I prefer the remake. The original is unfocused (comedy? horror? sci-fi? drama? feminist rant? social satire? boob fest?) and suffers from taking itself too seriously with material that is just too silly to work well. Could've been scary, or at least suspenseful, but wasn't.

This is a good movie, especially when you compare it to the stupid remake.

I had a huge crush on Katherine Ross after seeing this movie. Otherwise, kinda mediocre.

Great spooky feminist thriller that will keep you up nights long after you watch it. (If you're not that scared you'll still be thinking about it.)

As suspense, it belabours every step of buildup and reveal with tedious repetition. As social commentary, its frankly banal point that selfish, sexist men prefer robot servants to thinking, feeling partners should have been a starting point, not the single thing the movie went for. And as horror, being murdered and replaced with a robot double isn't as terrifying as the actual reality of people being pressured into normative social roles and masks, forced to live on as things they are not.

It's too bad the last 20 minutes or so are pretty good (albeit painfully stupid at a point or two, she should have bashed more faces), because the rest of this fucking sucks.

Thematically strong though it kind of blends together until the final few minutes which are surprisingly excellent.

Graceful and stylish. Various touches build and consolidate the mood makes us see through the eyes of the main character. Subtle feminism at its best.

Creepy 70s suspenseful thriller. Although the feminist overtones could’ve derailed the plot beats I feel it’s saved by Ross’ genuinely good and energetic performance. A deliciously dark ending to boot.

I really like the premise and story but I found the acting to be fairly mediocre and the whole theme was a bit too in your face and obvious for my taste.

An iconic film that still sends a shiver down the spine, especially the final moments. The denouement could have been better handled but this is a satisfying thriller with touches of jet black comedy. Great work by Ross and Prentiss.

Watching Katharine Ross in "The Graduate" or "Butch Cassidy," portraying characters who are mostly objects, you may dismiss her as bland. Here she drives the story forth and you realize what a deeply talented actor she is. And what a story, too: satire so sharp that, despite being very 70's-attuned, could've been written yesterday. Beautifully filmed, genuinely creepy, and awesomely feminist. And why can't Paula Prentiss be in everything??

https://letterboxd.com/ladyspiggott/film/the-stepford-wives/

Catches you in a hypnotic haze while subtly revealing its politics and finer plot points. As an aside, anyone ever notice that no one in 70's movies ever seems to give a shit about their children?

***SPOILERS*** Great dialogue throughout, and some brilliantly funny-sad scenes. The men of Stepford seem almost as repressed as the women, and I'm surprised it wasn't revealed in the end that they were robots too.

68.500

Incredibly good and effective as a mystery, for a feminist allegory, at least up until the final act where the inevitable patriarchy card is laid on the table. I sort of wish it could have broken loose from itself and gone somewhere more interesting and scarier. I mean, the feminism is subtly there all along, anyway.

Superb feminist horror

Oh the delightful 70's, era of campyness, feminism and bad haircuts. There are plenty of these and many other things that belong to the 70's in this film. I saw remake prior to this, but from what I remember it wasn't nearly as ballsy, entertaining or simply good. I like stories of Ira Levin.

Shocking!

Filled with lots of social angst, this couldn't have come out at a better time. Socially and sexually provacative--this is an amazingly terrifying movie! Highly recommended!

A pretty good satire with a hint of paranoia and suspense. Somewhat of a suburban Rosemary's Baby in its cruelty towards the female protagonist. Paula Prentiss stands out.

Rather flat as a satire (even for its time), but still effective as a suspense story, and Paula Prentiss is a hoot. The tone is well-balanced between comedy and horror. I only wish it were as subversive as I had heard.

What a turn on

"...contains a number of timeless scenes that are the essence of women's fears about the patriarchal society in which they live."

Much better than the second time around and pretty faithful to the book. A gut wrenching climax.

Would you believe this was a horror story originally. More than a little surprised at how much better the remake is

Damn near classic which introduced a new expression into the language. You can totally see this kind of thing coming to fruition, too -- look at this: http://www.realdoll.com/