Taglines: She mates and she kills.
Black Widow movie storyline. When the ambitious federal investigator Alexandra ‘Alex’ Barnes reads the cases of two wealthy men that have just died and left their fortunes to their younger and younger wives, she suspects that the woman might be the same. She believes that the woman might be killing the millionaires without a trace to inherit their fortunes.
Alex travels and tracks down the mysterious female inheritor Catharine Petersen but she finds nothing about her identity. Alex believes that the Catharine might have traveled to Hawai and she takes vacation to follow her instincts. Alex finds and befriends Catharine in the hotel and becomes close to her. When Alex meets Catherine’s boyfriend Paul Nuytten (Sami Frey), she has a crush on him. Will her passion for Paul and her friendship with Catharine jeopardize her investigation?
Black Widow is a 1987 American neo-noir thriller film directed by Bob Rafelson, from a screenplay by Ronald Bass. It stars Debra Winger, Theresa Russell, Sami Frey, and Nicol Williamson. Dennis Hopper has a short role at the beginning of the film.
It is a crime drama about two women: one who murders wealthy men whom she has married for their money (and keeps moving west), and the other an agent with the Department of Justice who grows obsessed with bringing her to justice.
About the Story
The story centers on two women. Catharine is a psychopathic[4] femme fatale who preys on wealthy middle-aged men, seducing them into marriage and then fatally poisoning them. Each death is misdiagnosed as Ondine’s curse, a condition by which seemingly healthy middle-aged men die in their sleep. Justice Department agent Alexandra “Alex” Barnes stumbles onto the first murder while investigating another case. As Alex delves further into the case, she uncovers a pattern which she believes ties the same woman to several similar murders.
Using exhaustive research and preparation as well as identity and appearance changes, Catharine weaves her web anew with each murder, killing a publishing magnate, a toy maker, and a museum curator, and is quickly moving on to her next victim: Paul Nuytten, an international hotel tycoon. Later, she reveals that she has been married six times, and possibly has murdered all her husbands.
After the death of the rich, lonely museum curator in Seattle, Alex’s boss Bruce gives her tacit permission to hunt down the killer, and Alex goes undercover as “Jessie Bates” to track down Catharine and identify her next potential victim. The trail leads from Seattle to Hawaii, where Catharine is moving on Paul.
With the aid of a private investigator, “Jessie” arranges to meet Catharine; the two women become friends. Catharine arranges for them to compete for Paul’s affection; he’s attracted to “Jessie,” but falls for Catharine’s charm and her stylishly executed seduction. Catharine marries him and, during the reception, reveals to “Jessie” that the “black widow” knows about the federal agent.
“Jessie” tries to warn Paul of Catharine’s murderous intentions but he is skeptical, refusing to believe she is after his money; in the event of either of their deaths, their wills both stipulate that their net worth be left to the Cancer Foundation and not to each other. The private investigator is found dead of a suspicious drug overdose, after Catharine had forced him at gunpoint to inject himself.
After Paul’s apparent death, Catharine accuses “Jessie” of killing him, and “Jessie” is arrested when the police find poison in her room. Catharine meets with Paul’s attorney, who explains that Paul was a resident of Florida, and according to state law, a spouse has the right to overturn charitable bequests stipulated in their spouse’s will. Catharine then tells the attorney that shortly before his death, Paul had expressed “profound reservations” about the Cancer Foundation.
Black Widow (1987)
Directed by: Bob Rafelson
Starring: Debra Winger, Theresa Russell, Sami Frey, Dennis Hopper, Nicol Williamson, Terry O’Quinn, Diane Ladd, Rutanya Alda, Mary Woronov, Danny Kamekona
Screenplay by: Ronald Bass
Production Design by: Gene Callahan
Cinematography by: Conrad L. Hall
Film Editing by: John Bloom
Costume Design by: Patricia Norris
Set Decoration by: Jim Duffy, Buck Henshaw, Rick Simpson
Music by: Michael Small
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: February 6, 1987
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