Reflections of Murder

That "Reflections of Murder" is a cut above the average should come as no surprise with a strong cast under director John Badham. It's well paced with the suspense nicely controlled and underlined cleverly with the music of Bach. However the hazy filter through which it seems to have been filmed is out of character and unnecessary.

While fairly enjoyable, not much remains other than the enigma that is Tuesday Weld. Weld's previous film had been "Play It As It Lays" in which her underplayed but haunting performance was to have brought her the recognition her talent deserved. The movie flopped and vanished into oblivion. This turn of events seems to mark a turning point in Weld's career. It had become clear that major stardom would be something that would elude her.

Weld brings to her character in "Reflections of Murder" a complexity and intelligence not written in the script. She's played characters of weakness and vulnerability, strength and cunning, as well as the occasional psychotic; always with intelligence and conviction. Not to mention her natural beauty, which in "Reflections of Murder" is very reminiscent of Jean Seberg, a fellow enigmatic cinematic presence.

All the elements that go toward the making of a cult star are in place. For those among that following, "Reflections of Murder" is compulsory viewing.

I saw this as a very small boy. A very early memory for me is of not being able to sleep for days, thinking that some dead bloke was rising out of the bath. Nice. Still, that'll teach me for pleading to stay up past bedtime. I can't imagine it would have the same effect on me now, but I'd love to see it again sometime

First of all, for those of you who don't know this already, this movie is a remake of the classic French film DIABOLIQUE. Secondly, I completely empathize with all the previous reviewers who claimed that this movie traumatized them as a child. I, too, could never quite shake the image of Sam Waterston rising out of the bathtub with those "dead" eyes...John Badham's direction is terrific and highly modern. It has a timeless look, unlike most 70s films with their washed-out, day-for-night cinematography and CHEESY use of the zoom lens. The performances are all solid. The story is taut and suspenseful. Fans who live in or near Los Angeles can rent this movie at Vidiots; everyone else will have to rely on eBay, amazon.com or some other source...

As a huge fan of Sam's, I came across this movie while doing a search of Sam-related items on ebay...my curiosity was piqued, and so I came here, liked what I read from others who had seen it, and ended up bidding on the movie, and winning it. I watched it as soon as I got it in the mail, and wow--what a movie!!!(Keep in mind that I've never seen the original version, "Diabolique"). I was hooked from the very beginning...and everything that I'd read about the bathtub scene near the end was true-- totally awesome!!! (In fact, I watched that part twice...and for those of you who saw this film as a child, and were subsequently traumatized, I completely understand why...great creep-out job on Sam's part!!) I can say honestly that this is a movie well worth checking out- I myself will be watching it several more times to come.

As a great admirer of the late Joan Hackett's work, I came across this film so I had to see it. The performances are outstanding. Sam Waterston is hateful and eerie, I cant believe it's the same man I watch on Law and Order. Tuesday Weld and Joan Hackett are riveting in their performances. The suspense never stops. For a film that was done in 1974 - it can hold up to any suspense film written today. I saw the original movie and it was quite good, but, the way John Badham directed this film, it tops all the other remakes, including the most recent with Sharon Stone and Isabelle Adjani.