BLACK WIDOW

title: BLACK WIDOW

year: 1987

cast: Debra Winger, Theresa, Russell, Dennis Hopper, Terry O'Quinn

rating: ***1/2

Bob Raefelson's stylish 80's Film Noir has Debra Winger as a federal agent with a dull job, till she realizes how many millionaires are dying of sudden "accidental heart attacks": all over forty and married to young brides. Turns out there's only one bride in the form of gorgeous Theresa Russell, intricately wielding each distinct murder (hubbies include Dennis Hopper and Nicol Williamson) with Winger on her trail: then colliding in the third act as both leads meet in Hawaii, where spider's found a new, and very sympathetic, fly. An underrated yarn, using key elements of Noir and (more  specifically) Hitchcock, never loses sight of how fun it is to root for the villain.