New to UK Blu-ray this week is the psychological erotic thriller, Single White Female. The movie – directed by Barbet Schroeder – is based on John Lutz’s novel SWF Seeks Same and tells the terrifying story of a young woman who rents out an apartment room to the wrong tenant.
In the movie, Allison ‘Allie’ Jones (Bridget Fonda) is a software designer living alone in New York following a break-up with her fiancé. Unsure about the prospect of flying solo, Allie pops an advert in the paper seeking a flatmate.
After receiving a number of applications, and showing a bunch of potential candidates around her apartment, Hedra ‘Hedy’ Carlson (Jennifer Jason Leigh) walks into Allie’s life. Hedy appears kind, caring, and sweet natured, and seems to be handy around the home.
The pair quickly hit it off and Allie gives Hedy the go-ahead to move in. However, all is not quite what it seems with Hedy and soon she begins to display obsessive behaviour as she slides further and further into Allison’s life.
If you’re a fan of ‘80s and ‘90s thrillers, then you will have no doubt heard of Single White Female. The film sits alongside the likes of Fatal Attraction (1987), Pacific Heights (1990), and The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992), as a classic of the genre and a must-watch for anyone who adores this era.
Single White Female is dark, twisted, and tells a story about obsession. The film builds its narrative around Hedy’s attachment to Allie, and moves on from there in disturbing ways.
But what’s particularly creepy about Single White Female is the way in which Hedy’s obsession presents itself. Hedy doesn’t just want to get close to Allie, she essentially wants to become her.
Hedy starts wearing Allie’s clothes, she cuts her hair in the same style as Allie, and she even works her way into Allie’s love life. The obsession is deep, it’s troubling, and it’s fascinating to see it all play out.
Jennifer Jason Leigh is brilliant in the role of Hedy. Her transformation from meek and mild new roomie, to completely obsessed stalker is the stuff of nightmares.
Hedy displays unhinged behaviour and Leigh nails every scene. She takes the character to some uncomfortable places, including places without redemption.
One rather infamous scene (which I won’t spoil) includes the death of a very notable character. The death crosses a boundary that even the stone-hearted would shed a tear over, and demonstrates the lengths to which she will go to.
With Leigh taking on such a prominent and scene-stealing part, she does overshadow Bridget Fonda’s Allie somewhat. By comparison, the character isn’t quite as strong, and at times it’s difficult not to find yourself paying more attention to Hedy.
That said, Fonda gives it her all and delivers a solid performance. There can be no Hedy without Allie, and Fonda brings beauty and likability to the screen.
The combination of Leigh and Fonda makes for compelling viewing. Their chemistry also fills the film with plenty of subtext – enough to fill countless text books, studies, and dissertations, with lots of critical analysis about Allie, Hedy, and Hedy’s mental health.
In addition to the performances from the two leads, Single White Female showcases a sizzling screenplay from Don Roos, some excellent cinematography from Luciano Tovoli, and a great and dramatic score by Howard Shore. This is all brought together with strong direction from Barbet Schroeder who combines elements of the erotic thriller with shades of a horror-slasher.
Should you wish to check out Single White Female on physical media, the Blu-ray is now available from all good retailers courtesy of Indicator. In addition to a HD copy of the film, the Blu-ray includes a wealth of special features.
Features include an audio commentary, image gallery, and multiple interviews with actors Steven Weber and Peter Friedman, screenwriter Dan Roos, director Barbet Schroeder, and author and film critic Anna Bogutskaya. And if that wasn’t enough, the release is limited to 3000 copies in the UK and includes a 36-page booklet with a new essay, as well as extracts from contemporary articles and more.
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