Kiss of the Spider Woman

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Christian M @chriss17eu May 19 A good sleep stimulant. A film that should have impacted me far more than it did. I ended up falling asleep watching it, not from physical exhaustion, but because the first hour feels painfully slow, distant, and emotionally uninvolving. Despite liking the concepts behind the characters and the "film within a film" structure, I never truly connected with what the movie was trying to convey. The second half improves things and finally offers moments that hold my attention, but by then I was already detached from the experience. Its political and romantic themes feel more theoretical than emotional, which becomes a major issue for a film so dependent on its discourse. The characters, especially those played by William Hurt and Raúl Juliá, come across more as symbolic ideas than fully human people. The performances are excellent, particularly Hurt’s, but the film’s themes and symbolism never affected me enough emotionally to leave a lasting impact. See more Drew M. @Stonehands211 Apr 3 The score to this is gorgeous. The set design is so good too for a film that mainly takes place in a single cell. The two main performances though are the real reason to see this film. Extremely transfixing and touching little film that’s also very transgressive in its little ways that definitely won’t sit well if you’re over fixated on PCness. See more Kathy V. @RT64332554 Apr 2 Excellent movie and acting. See more Kyle M @RT77296778 Mar 25 Downplayed by intentional design in blending reality with flamboyant escapism of ambiguous parallels towards emotional impacts that tenderizes the humbly engaging drama, anchored by Hurt’s mesmerizing conviction complemented by Julia’s conflicting stature. (B) See more TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch Oct 23 Watching the 1985 version of Kiss of the Spider Woman after seeing the 2025 remake was a frustrating experience because, honestly, both films suffer from the exact same problems. The story, tone, and presentation feel nearly identical — which makes the remake seem even more pointless. When you remake a film, there should be growth, innovation, or at least a reason to revisit the material. Instead, this feels like the same unpolished script told twice with different coats of paint, neither of which work. The original 1985 version, while more grounded in its time, is shockingly messy. The direction is uneven and overindulgent, almost as if the filmmaker couldn’t decide whether the movie wanted to be a bold art piece or an offbeat drama. The pacing drags, the tone wobbles, and the dialogue feels stilted — leaving the audience unsure what they’re supposed to feel. The screenplay doesn’t help either; it’s meandering, pretentious, and never commits to a consistent narrative or emotional core. What really ruins it, though, is the main character. His portrayal feels completely off balance — not layered or complex, just exaggerated and unconvincing. From the wardrobe choices to his mannerisms, everything comes across as absurd rather than intentional. The performance doesn’t give you someone to empathize with or even understand. It’s as if the filmmakers had a vague idea of what they wanted him to represent but never figured out how to make it believable or human. Even when trying to view it through the lens of its era, the film doesn’t hold up. The 1980s setting could’ve offered a bold and atmospheric backdrop, but instead, it feels artificial and disconnected. There’s no authenticity in how the story unfolds or how the visuals support it — it’s simply chaotic. The modern version might update the look, but it inherits the same hollow structure and lack of purpose, making both versions equally uninspired. Ultimately, Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) is a cinematic misfire that never needed to be revisited. Its flaws were already set in stone, and instead of being a hidden gem worth rediscovering, it’s a film best left untouched in the vaults of movie history. Neither version delivers on story or emotion, and both feel like exercises in style without substance. Watching them back-to-back only reinforces how little either one has to offer. See more Alec B @Alec97 Oct 11 A movie about two men learning to embrace the worldview of the other. The ending always feels emotionally satisfying and moving. See more Read all reviews

Kiss of the Spider Woman

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