For feminist film buffs--what do you think of the film Fatal Attraction?

[BlueIris]

I have long been a fan of this movie, especially as a feminist.

I've always thought it was very modern and feminist friendly in the sense that its plot features a man who actually, well, gets in trouble for the sort of behavior (an affair) that men are typically rewarded for, or at least, not punished for, especially in film and television. I've also always admired the fact that it scrutinizes Michael Douglas' character's questionable choices in a way typically reserved only for female characters, and I like the fact that the main character actually has to take responsibility for his actions, particularly because he is denied sympathy and support from his friends, his wife, and even the police (!).

So I was shocked to read (in the Wikipedia article on Fatal Attraction) that some feminist responses to the film were not positive. Wikipedia claims it's because some viewers felt that the portrayal of Glenn Close's independent career woman as a psychotic juxtaposed with Anne Archer's homemaker as the "healthy" female in the story reinforced traditional gender roles in a negative way.

Your thoughts?

(I realize this thread might be too banal for some, given the events of this week, but I'm really curious to know what our members think.)

[whathehell]

1. I'm glad you asked....I wouldn't necessarily call this film "feminist"

but I thought it did make some of the feminist points you mentioned above.

I agree with the fact that the Michael Douglas gets "called on the carpet" so to speak

and I like the line where Alex says "Did you think you were just going to 'bang' me and throw me away"?


Kind of illustrates the traditional differences toward sex between men and women, men often

being cavalier to a fault, IMO....On the other hand, Alex, the Glenn Close character, was

so nuts and destructive, it was hard to sympathize with her after a certain point.

As I said to a friend "I would have stopped at messing up his car".:P

I'm sure some would find me just TERRIBLE for having even that much sympathy,

but there you go!

[strangertides]

2. I don't think Fatal Attraction is a feminist movie.

I offer the following observations:

- while there is some satisfaction in seeing Michael Douglas' character receve some retribution, it is at the hands of an inbalanced and murderous woman.
- the murderous woman, who was a polished and controlled professional at the start of the movie, became unhinged through having sex (which she consented to).
- Michael Douglas' wife, stood by his side and forgave him.
- Glenn Close's character tried to woo Michael Douglas back to her with more sex

I think the above sends the wrong messages about men and women's relationship to sex, its meaning, and how they deal with having sex. men tend to think that women are overly emotional and irrational, this movie reinforces this. they think that women should be faithful and nurturing, this movie supports that. they think the man has to defend the home, with deadly force if necessary, and this movie reinforces that as well. lastly, I really don't think that women are going to turn into murderous psychos because a man had sex with them and that is not a femnist message that they might.

[iverglas]

3. hated it

(a) There wasn't actually any sense that he got what he deserved, if that was supposed to be the idea; he was the victim.

(b) The fact is that multiple times more women than men are stalked and terrorized and sometimes killed by controlling men whom they are trying to escape, but out of this film arose a vision of the crazed stalker as a woman, a phenomenon that is in fact mostly fictional.

I hadn't thought about the juxtaposition mentioned, but yes, absolutely; career woman Close was the crazy dangerous one. Like a successful woman could ever actually be that nuts and it not be obvious.

Mind you, the work world is full of male narcissists and worse who do enjoy significant success and are also controlling dangerous people in their private lives ...

But there really was nothing believable about the Close character; she was just another stereotype invented by men to justify their treatment of women. Madonna, whore, insane bitch.

[iverglas]

4. wnat to say it somewhere so I'll say it here ;)

Thank you to whoever gave me my star the other night, in case it was anyone in this forum.

Bizarrely, I was given two stars in the space of two minutes at 3:31 and 3:32 a.m.!

I took it to Ask the Admin and Skinner said he would let #2 star donor redirect the star. ;)

Both were much appreciated -- me an paypal have never reached an understanding -- and glad to be able to post in this group again.

[BlueIris]

5. Welcome back!

I guess I haven't...seen Fatal Attraction in a while. There are a lot of not so feminist things about it that didn't register with me during my viewings.

[iverglas]

6. thanks!

Is there nothing we can argue about here these days? ;)

[MountainLaurel]

7. Read somewhere once

That the screenplay had been edited a great deal, because the original intent had been to for once show a cheater who got his just desserts, to essentially turn him into a victim. Can't remember where though.

[spooky3]

8. I seem to recall reading that in Backlash by Susan Faludi.

Backlash is a oldie but goodie.

[JustAnotherGen]

10. She did

She had an entire section on it. Lyne has this thread throughout his films. And when we place the movie in the context of its times - and what other media 'hit jobs' women had to endure? Eh?

[efhmc]

9. It's goddess awful.

[JustAnotherGen]

11. I have the 20th anniversary edition

On DVD. The original ending? The audience wasn't happy that the 'bad girl' killed herself and that Michael Douglas' wife didn't get even.

So it was changed - after the film wrapped, and they went back and shot a new ending that didn't have a madame butterfly theme.

Originally - when M. Douglas puts the knife on the countertop after going over to Glenn Close's house and losing his mind on her. . . She takes the knife and cuts her own throat. I.E. His handprints are on it.

The ending was M. Douglas getting arrested then his wife finding the tape that Alex had sent earlier in the movie. She runs out of the house to take it to the police station.


When you know the 'real ending' - a lot of little shots Lyne filmed make much more sense. The whole set up.


Too me - it was a major part of the backlash of the late 80's early 90's. See down thread and read Susan Faludi's book 'Backlash'. I still have my copy from when I was at University. For some reason I think Naomi Wolf also touched on the subject in her book that came out around the same time: Beauty Myth.