The Last Seduction

Linda Fiorentino is Bridget a sexy, evil dame who steals money from her abusive partner Clay (Bill Pullman) and flees to a small town. She meets Peter Berg who plays Mike. She uses him for sex and little else. She changes her name, sets up Mike to kill someone and manipulates all to her will. He we have this presented in Dahls original cut of the film.

It is often said that this film is a Machiavellian masterpiece. Many noir films deal with dark hearted and evil women but this film has a lead that is a step above. Director Dahl choice of imagery, cast and structure are three key points as to why this film works so well. Visually it plays on the dark imagery reflecting darker characteristics of both plot and themes. The cast are amazing and all delight in the savage, sexy erotic elements but play it in a way that builds empathy for anyone caught in Bridget’s way. Even with Clays nasty abusive way, Pullman has the balance right to make him human enough to connect with but awful enough that we like him being mistreated. Fiorentino however is amazing and plays her role with conviction and class. Throughout the whole film she is magnificent, cold, calculating and with an air of menace. Without this central performance the film wouldn’t have been half as solid or worthwhile and in my opinion the reason to watch.

The film is built on the duality of suffering of both male lovers. This was a staple for the genre in its original incarnation of the 40s and 50s. Post Misogynistic world and this is now a film about capitalism and the evils of money and power. As a piece of genre cinema it excels in these themes and develops ideas beyond this. It refreshed a genre that had for too long been submerged in both erotic exploitation and thriller antics. This mould had hampered any films prior and left them stale and cold. This is the real master stroke of the film and the reason it was progressed from a TV movie into the theatrical release. Sadly this also thwarted the chances of Linda Fiorentino. This is best noir of its generation by a length and a mile and possibly the best noir prior to the 1970s and Chinatown.

The 2 Blu rays also contains
The Art of Seduction, which is an interesting and informative making-of documentary, Behind-the-scenes footage which is fun, Deleted scenes that flesh out some plot points, Director's Cut with commentary and an Alternate ending with commentary