Being a Sandy Dennis fan this movie gave me some "That Cold Day in the Park" (1969) flashbacks. (Coincidentally, Dennis' character is also named Frances.). Some scenes here are indelible: Greta in a sudden whirling dance across the room to jab the hypodermic into the neck of the detective and (cringe) injecting medicine into the meaty-looking bloody stump of her severed pinky. And the fade out on the measured, maniacal thumping of Greta insecurely locked in the box; in another kind of movie a sure set-up for a sequel.
The crux comes when Frances happens upon the stash of purses (bait); here things could have gone in a very different direction. Instead of freaking out she could have been overcome with sympathy and affection; like Greta she seems to have an emotional void that wants filling. She might have taken a couple of purses and gently confronted Greta with them, something like -you don't need to do this anymore, please give me a chance to be what you need, i might be falling in love with you, etc. ( As well as the stereotypical womanly "I can fix you, i just know i can".) This might have been my reaction; i don't think Greta was completely around the bend at this point; Frances' rejection, fear and contempt put her over the edge.
Or maybe Greta got off on reprising "The Collector"; she'd hate this role reversal, the would-be stalker being stalked in her turn. What a twisted, tangled psychodrama would have ensued - especially given Huppert's scary talent for such.
Interestingly, in the DVD extras Moretz saw this movie as having feminist overtones; the three female leads, the fact that Frances is rescued not by her father or the detective but by the redoubtable Erica.
The crux comes when Frances happens upon the stash of purses (bait); here things could have gone in a very different direction. Instead of freaking out she could have been overcome with sympathy and affection; like Greta she seems to have an emotional void that wants filling. She might have taken a couple of purses and gently confronted Greta with them, something like -you don't need to do this anymore, please give me a chance to be what you need, i might be falling in love with you, etc. ( As well as the stereotypical womanly "I can fix you, i just know i can".) This might have been my reaction; i don't think Greta was completely around the bend at this point; Frances' rejection, fear and contempt put her over the edge.
Or maybe Greta got off on reprising "The Collector"; she'd hate this role reversal, the would-be stalker being stalked in her turn. What a twisted, tangled psychodrama would have ensued - especially given Huppert's scary talent for such.
Interestingly, in the DVD extras Moretz saw this movie as having feminist overtones; the three female leads, the fact that Frances is rescued not by her father or the detective but by the redoubtable Erica.
Tell Your Friends