Review: Femme Fatale (1991)


Nature reserve ranger Colin Firth (!) meets mystery woman Lisa Zane and seemingly instantaneously falls in love with her. Soon they are married, but then she disappears on the night of their honeymoon. Distraught and confused, he tries to locate her, leading to some very seedy locations, and equally shocking revelations (drug dealing, avant-garde, softcore S&M art projects, etc) about the wife he frankly barely knew. Meanwhile, some thugs (including the intimidating Pat Skipper, clearly having fun) keep smacking him around for some reason. Lisa Blount plays an actress who claims to have been very close to Zane back in the day. Billy Zane plays Firth’s sardonic artist buddy, whilst Scott Wilson is a psychiatrist who is crucial to the mystery.

 

Directed by Andre R. Guttfreund (who has directed episodes of “Picket Fences”, “Knots Landing”, and “L.A. Law”), this 1991 thriller isn’t especially good. Lisa Zane is clearly out of her depth in an impossible role, and Colin Firth, whilst likeable, seems to stand out like a sore thumb (He also appears to have no eyebrows, strangely enough) with his Brit accent. He sure as shit is a long way from Mr. Darcy.

 

What the film does have is insanity, thanks largely to the madcap screenplay by Michael Ferris and John D. Brancato (who both scripted “Catwoman”, “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”, and “Terminator: Salvation”). This film is all over the map and has enough twists and turns that, whilst being kinda crap (the narrative is as confusing and choppy as hell), it’s also kinda watchable. The supporting cast isn’t bad either, Lisa’s brother Billy Zane (not much of an actor himself) is for a change surprisingly laidback and charismatic, whilst Scott Wilson, Pat Skipper (as a not-so smart thug who loves his work), and the late Lisa Blount (“Blind Fury”) all steal their scenes in colourful parts.

 

It’s silly as hell, there’s way too much going on, and Lisa Zane is clearly drowning, but you’ll keep watching just to see where the heck it’s all going. Disastrous ending, though, has one seriously questioning the protagonist to say the least.

 

Rating: C+

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