‘Deathtrap’ Perfectly Balances Camp and the Macabre [The Overlooked Motel]
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Today on The Overlooked Motel, we are fondly recalling an under-seen single-location comedic thriller from the early ‘80s that doesn’t get enough love. I’m talking about Sidney Lumet’s Deathtrap.
Deathtrap is a macabre thriller with a winding narrative that’s rarely predictable and endlessly amusing. The core cast serves up quirky, memorable showings that result in a mixture of chills and chuckles.
This unpredictable dark comedy unfolds like this:
Sidney Bruhl (Michael Caine) is a legendary playwright whose best years are far behind him. His last four plays have bombed, and he’s currently living off his ultra-wealthy wife Myra’s (Dyan Cannon) laurels. When Clifford (Christopher Reeve), a former student of Sidney’s, reaches out asking the celebrated playwright to look over his script, Sidney can’t believe his eyes. The writing is nothing short of brilliant. Sidney begins making macabre jokes with Myra about offing Clifford and releasing the play as his own before inviting Clifford over to discuss a possible collab. Before long, Sidney, Myra, and Clifford find themselves embroiled in a series of macabre mishaps. Who will live to tell the tale? And will the play ever see the light of day? You’ll have to watch Deathtrap and find out for yourself.
Deathtrap has an impressive pedigree. The film is adapted from an Ira Levin play of the same name. Levin is surely familiar to horror fans as the author of the iconic novel Rosemary’s Baby. Screenwriter Jay Presson Allen adapts the proceedings effectively for the silver screen. The (primarily) single location setup sees a sense of isolation setting in quickly. That suits the storyline rather well. As the narrative becomes more unhinged, it starts to feel as if the walls are closing in.
This is a film that hinges upon a twist. Actually, the film hinges on a series of twists. The plot winds and circles back numerous times throughout the feature’s runtime, making for a jarring and intense viewing experience. It’s rarely clear where any of the characters’ true loyalties lie, with each character having their own agenda.
The narrative builds to a finale that is more than a little unexpected, yet it perfectly fits the quirky proceedings. Some films that hinge on a twist render a rewatch pointless. That’s not the case with Deathtrap. Knowing where the narrative is headed allows the informed viewer to more easily see how effectively the twists are supported by the narrative in which they are embedded.
Don’t believe the negativity.
The Golden Raspberry Awards nominated Dyan Cannon for Worst Actress, which seems harsh and misguided. It’s almost as if the nominating committee completely misunderstood the difference between deliberately hamming it up and bad acting. Cannon is written as over-the-top and larger than life. She’s merely playing the character as directed, adding a quirky flair that works well with the feature’s decidedly campy tone. I chuckle every time she screams bloody murder when startled by even the most innocuous noise. Myra provides comic relief while bringing a quirky charm to the setup.
It’s hard to say why the Razzies singled out Cannon. Myra is far from the only eccentric character here. Irene Worth is almost as over the top in her turn as nosy psychic Helga Ten Dorp. Helga barges into the Bruhl home on a couple of different occasions, convinced that something nefarious is afoot. Helga cuts the tension with comedic asides while simultaneously creating a sense of unease with her inability to mind her own business.
Christopher Reeve as Clifford and Michael Caine as Sidney are slightly more grounded than their co-stars, providing a nice counterbalance to keep the proceedings tethered. Watching their dynamic play out is really engaging as they play remarkably well off one another. You’ll see what I mean when you watch the film.
Despite a handful of negative reviews, lackluster box office performance, and an undeserved Razzie nom, the flick remains well-regarded by those who have seen it. In fact, it has a respectable critical approval rating of 74% on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score is almost as positive at 70%.
Where is Deathtrap available to watch?
If I’ve successfully piqued your curiosity and you’d like to check out the film, you can catch Deathtrap streaming via Plex as of the publication of this post. The flick is also available on DVD and Blu-ray. For the maximum benefit, make sure to watch Deathtrap late at night with all the lights out.
That’s all for this installment of The Overlooked Motel. If you would like to chat more about under-seen and underrated films, feel free to hit me up with your thoughts on Twitter, Threads, or Instagram.
Categorized:Editorials The Overlook Motel
