Director Danny Devito and the writers are to be credited for following
this story's dark premise straight to its grim conclusion, and not
opting for a cop-out 'happy ending'. Maybe that accounts for the
movie's relatively low user rating. Whatever. Turner and Douglas are
superb here. I saw Douglas on the Carson show after the movie came out,
relating how, after a day's shoot, he and Turner would get together to
remind each other that they were still friends. Seeing the movie shows
why they had to do this.
Note how the movie begins in the openness and light of Nantucket in summer and gets progressively darker, ending in the claustrophobic closeness of the nailed-up house. Note how Kathleen Turner's hair changes from sleek at the start to straw at the end. Note the role the Baccarat crystal plays. Note the frequent emphasis on the chandelier throughout. All masterful touches.
A classic black comedy for grownups. Don't watch this one with your spouse unless you are on really good terms.
