A married man's one-night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family.A married man's one-night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family.A married man's one-night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family.
Ellen Latzen
- Ellen Gallagher
- (as Ellen Hamilton Latzen)
Sam Coppola
- Fuselli
- (as Sam J. Coppola)
- James Dearden(screenplay) (short film)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaGlenn Close still has the knife she used in the movie hanging in her kitchen, stating: "It's beautiful, made of wood and paper. It's a work of art! And it's nice for our guests to see it. It lets them know they can't stay forever."
- GoofsWhile Dan is in his attic study listening to a tape, Beth can be seen reflected in the window, waiting just out of shot for her cue.
- Quotes
Telephone Operator: Operator. May I help you?
Alex Forrest: Operator, I've been trying to get 555-812-9212? The recording says its been disconnected.
Telephone Operator: Just a moment please.
[pause]
Telephone Operator: I'm sorry, the number's been changed to an unlisted number.
Alex Forrest: Operator, this is a real emergency .You need to give me that number.
Telephone Operator: I'm sorry. We're not allowed to give out that information.
Alex Forrest: Well, fuck you!
Telephone Operator: My place or yours?
[Alex slams phone]
- Crazy creditsBarbara Harris is sometimes credited under the name Barbara Iley. In the final credits here, under 'Party Guests,' she is credited under both names.
- Alternate versionsIn the network version shown on TNT in the scene where Alex phones Dan at 2:13 a.m., there is additional dialogue between Dan and Beth after Dan hangs up the phone that is not in the theatrical/DVD version. Beth asks, "Who in the hell was that?" Dan says that it was a client calling and that this happens when you're a lawyer (being called at odd hours). Beth says that it's the middle of the night, still wondering why someone would call at 2:15 a.m. Dan justifies this by saying it's only 11:00 or so in L.A.
- SoundtracksSelections from Puccini's Madama Butterfly
Music by Giacomo Puccini (as Puccini)
Performed by Mirella Freni, Luciano Pavarotti & Christa Ludwig
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan (as Herbert Von Karajan)
Courtesy of London Records, a division of Polygram Classics, Inc.
Review
Featured review
"It scared the living daylights out of every man in America!"...
... so says Tom Hanks in 1993's "Sleepless in Seattle" to his son in reference to this movie and comparing its outcome to a strange woman who has been writing the widower (Hanks) as a result of him appearing on a radio show. But that's another movie.
The point is, its lesson was still easily recognizable in popular culture six years after it was made. What looks like an easy lay with a beautiful single woman can easily turn into an object lesson on Murphy's law. Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) is a successful NYC attorney, and on a weekend when his wife and daughter are away from home at his in-laws' house, he has a work meeting that includes Alex Forrest (Glenn Close), an editor for a publishing company. This leads to a drink at a bar, and that leads to a passionate one night stand that turns into a two night stand when Alex attempts suicide when Dan tries to leave.
Dan thinks it's over. Alex has seemed to come to her senses. But then she tells him she is pregnant, and no she is having this baby because she is 36 and it may be her last chance. When Dan insists he is not leaving his wife for her, that he does not love her - well, let's just say that the opposite of love is not hate it's indifference, and Alex at first stalks Dan and gradually turns up the heat until his entire family is at risk. The suspense builds until the harrowing end.
The thing is, Dan always loved his wife, subtly played by Ann Archer. She is beautiful, supportive, and he still has passion for her. They have a little girl and are a very happy family. But he just could not say no to what looked like a one night adventure that nobody need ever know about that turns into a nightmare.
There is more to the film than the cautionary "Don't cheat on your wife" message. I think it's because Glenn Close does such a fantastic job playing Alex. There's something about her portrayal that, to me, paints Alex as ultimately powerful, not just outright insane. Until the end she mostly dominates what happens to Michael Douglas' character's life. I think this one has aged well and would still recommend it.
The point is, its lesson was still easily recognizable in popular culture six years after it was made. What looks like an easy lay with a beautiful single woman can easily turn into an object lesson on Murphy's law. Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) is a successful NYC attorney, and on a weekend when his wife and daughter are away from home at his in-laws' house, he has a work meeting that includes Alex Forrest (Glenn Close), an editor for a publishing company. This leads to a drink at a bar, and that leads to a passionate one night stand that turns into a two night stand when Alex attempts suicide when Dan tries to leave.
Dan thinks it's over. Alex has seemed to come to her senses. But then she tells him she is pregnant, and no she is having this baby because she is 36 and it may be her last chance. When Dan insists he is not leaving his wife for her, that he does not love her - well, let's just say that the opposite of love is not hate it's indifference, and Alex at first stalks Dan and gradually turns up the heat until his entire family is at risk. The suspense builds until the harrowing end.
The thing is, Dan always loved his wife, subtly played by Ann Archer. She is beautiful, supportive, and he still has passion for her. They have a little girl and are a very happy family. But he just could not say no to what looked like a one night adventure that nobody need ever know about that turns into a nightmare.
There is more to the film than the cautionary "Don't cheat on your wife" message. I think it's because Glenn Close does such a fantastic job playing Alex. There's something about her portrayal that, to me, paints Alex as ultimately powerful, not just outright insane. Until the end she mostly dominates what happens to Michael Douglas' character's life. I think this one has aged well and would still recommend it.
helpful•413
- AlsExGal
- May 21, 2017
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- 1 hour 59 minutes
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