Scissors

source: Scissors

Moviecut—Scissors

Scissors

Who saw the script to this mess and handed over money to have it made into a film? My guess: dentists who needed the tax writeoffs. The sets are cheaper than an SCTV skit. And so is the acting, come to think of it. I've seen more gripping episodes of The Rockford Files. I bet Sharon Stone hopes nobody ever actually watches this movie. It has el-cheapo 80s written all over it, yet I see it was released in 1991. Was it in the can for a half-decade because nobody wanted to distribute it? Sharon Stone looks like she's about 23, not 33. I wonder whether the producers thought she had attracted just enough attention as the Governator's wife in Total Recall to warrant a limited release of this bowzer.

You can already tell from the rating I gave this movie that it's excellent. The reason why it's so good is because you have to consider the genre of the movie (in this case a thriller). This thriller is seriously worth your time and is one of those masterpieces that are overshadowed by lesser thrillers with lots of marketing dollars & hype to make up for the lack of great content. Don't underestimate this movie and don't underestimate Sharon Stone. I'll guarantee you'll see her in a different light after. She is truly a gifted actress and in this movie you'll come to appreciate her talents. This movie has all the ingredients of a stone cold thriller so don't rob yourself of this experience. I'm not gonna say anything about the plot all I can say is watch it!

In Scissors, Sharon Stone builds a very believable picture of a young woman whose mental health begins to shatter while trapped in a penthouse apartment of her shrink. The role is difficult and Stone pulls it off wonderfully. I think this is the one movie in which she really gets to display her talent as an actress. It is truly amazing that this little gem has never got more attention - as a thriller, it's almost in the same series as the old Hitchcock movies...

Thriller-author Frank De Felitta expanded Joyce Selznick's story and also directed this low-budget, warmed-over Hitchcock wannabe, its plot originally meant for a TV series. Hysterical, virginal 26-year-old woman (Sharon Stone, pre-"Basic Instinct"), in therapy for her frigidity, is attacked in her apartment elevator by a man with a red beard. Her neighbor, a polite television actor who wears suits, comes to her aid and finds her attractive, but his handicapped twin brother harbors a psychotic side. This is merely the first-half of the plot. The second-half involving Stone in a locked room with no exit is practically a different movie altogether. Quite a comedown for De Felitta, who displays no talent whatsoever for character development or in mounting sequences for suspense--only in stirring his plot with red herrings. This must have been an embarrassment for budding starlet Stone, who has vacant eyes and an artificial-sounding voice. * from ****

This is a very unknown Sharon Stone movie before she became kind of iconic with BASIC INSTICT. Stone is a trammed girl who locks alone in his apartment collecting scissors and making weird dolls. At the opening, she is attacked by a stranger who attempts to rape her in a elevator but her neighbor saves her. He becomes very interested on her but she just't don't keep him attention. Searching for a job she goes to a good looking, futuristic apartment and suddenly she got lock in there. There are suspense to feed you even if we have seen this before in films like REPULSION or GASLIGHT. Stone is very good in her role and all the last part in the apartment is very atmospheric and intriguing. The direction is really good and tries to innovate in a very good way. This movie is hard to find so if you find it for any chance try it.

Possible Spoilers I saw this movie several years after "Basic Instinct" came out, and this movie, although it has its flaws is interesting. It is intriguing to watch Ms Stone play a sweet, shy child woman as opposed to a sexy killer as in Basic Instinct. The apartment she is trapped in is very curious and weird, the setting keeps you wondering what will happen next. The script could have been better and the plot should have been "filled out" a bit, but overall this is a very strange and intriguing flick that stays with you. This movie is currently showing a lot on showtime, usually late at night, I would say that this flick is the perfect "late night" flick to catch on the cable.

During most of this film, Sharon Stone is trapped in a weird, large room and we, the viewers, are trapped along with her, forced to witness her slow descent into madness. She portrays it fairly well, but this whole effort just isn't a particularly enjoyable one. And when we reach the finale, expecting some sound psychological explanations, we get only generalities and trivialities (you guessed it:the key secret is another - SPOILER! - Childhood Trauma!). Didn't the director watch "Marnie" and learn his lesson? (*1/2)