Director
Adrian Lyne
Leading Actors/Actresses
Michael Douglas, Glenn Close
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Anne Archer, Stuart Pankin
Genre
Psychological Thriller
Language
English
Awards
Nominated for 6 Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress - Glenn Close, Best Supporting Actress - Anne Archer, Best Film Editing
Date of Release
1987
Producer
Stanley Jaffe, Sherry Lansing
Setting and Context
Manhattan and Bedford, NY - 1987
Narrator and Point of View
POV is that of Dan
Tone and Mood
Serious and Dramatic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist is Beth and Dan (after his confession of the affair). Antagonist is Dan (first part of the film) and Alex.
Major Conflict
Dan begins an affair with Alex when his wife, Beth and their daughter, Ellen go away for the weekend to look at a new home to purchase.
Climax
Dan attempts to end the affair, but Alex won't allow it. She kidnaps Ellen for an afternoon and tries to kill Beth and Dan in their new home. Beth shoots Alex, killing her after Dan believed he had drowned Alex.
Foreshadowing
Jimmy saying that Alex has a "look that could kill" foreshadows the horror that is to ensue.
Understatement
It is understated as to whether Alex is actually pregnant or lying to lure Dan back to her.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
N/A
Allusions
The film is an allusion to the casual nature to which both men and women enter into an affair. That regardless of their spouses finding out about their infidelity, there is a great price one pays for adultery.
Paradox
Both Dan and Alex agree to discretion in their affair. Paradoxically, Alex is unable to be discreet as all she desires is to be with Dan by any means necessary.
Parallelism
The closing shot on the photo of Dan, Beth, and Ellen parallels the opening shot that shows their apartment from a single window outside. It's the idea that this is just one family that this is happening to among many in society.
