Customer Reviews

Lady Beware [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lady Beware is an interesting and imperfect film, and yet I gave it 5 stars for two reasons: the tour-de-force performance by Diane Lane and the resolution, which is refreshingly non-violent and yet still exciting. Beautifully filmed on location in Pittsburgh, this film starts off well, lags a bit about 3/4 of the way through, but then picks up again for a great finale. I love the way Michael Woods, who plays the stalker, gets uglier both physically and emotionally as the film goes on, and I also enjoy the symbolism that the female director throws into the mix. But the reason to watch this film is Diane Lane, whose rage and breakdown and ultimate victory is achingly real. She truly carries this movie.

Diane Lane stars at Katya, a window dresser for a big city department. However, her displays are borderline erotica, and she unintentionally attracts the attention of Jack, a married man who has developed an obsession with Katya as he believes her displays are speaking to him, telling him of her wanton desires for him. Inevitably, Katya tells Jack's wife about him, cracking his madness wide open into homicidal rage.

Next to some of the erotic scenery in this video flick, Diane Lane is (as always) the only thing watchable. Everything else is formula ... watered down.

I wouldn't call this movie great but it's an OK thriller. Thank goodness this movie has the beautiful Diane Lane nude but without violence. I easily give her 5 stars but the storyline barely gets 1 star for an overall average of 3. There are too many unbelievable situations here that could have played out OK with a little more character development in the writing. As it's written we are led to believe that she arrives new in town, gets off the bus at a department store, walks in with some drawings and gets the job as the window dresser. (Maybe her beauty did it). In another scene after the pervert calls her many times, breaks into her apartment, etc. etc, etc. she meets him alone on a dark railroad bridge at night to talk with him. Is this reality??? Nice acting, beautiful people, dream like photography but unreal writing summarizes this movie.

I found this film disturbing, but extremely watchable. I've always admired Diane Lane and it's great that her career is back on track. LADY BEWARE is a bit ahead of its time, just before the crime of stalking became, sadly, an all too common offense. What I really enjoyed about the movie is how Lane's character Katya turns the tables on her sicko stalker Jack (the very creepy Michael Woods) in the climax, letting him know how it feels to be trapped. And there are some funny moments with her department store coworker Lionel (who is obviously gay) and Froggie, the teeth happy Doberman. Katya's life and home becomes a prison of fear because her privacy and life has been so invaded by this psycho. Her boyfriend Mac (Cotter Smith) disappears from the scene as her life spins more and more out of control (what happened to him?). One of the attitudes prevalent in cases such as these is, "Did she invite this person into her life? Did she ask for it?" Because of Katya's window-dressing, provocative and unique, it seems that many of the viewers at the time and the other characters may have thought so, there was absolutely nothing that she did to make her a victim. It seems that the victims of this crime are the ones that are punished, and Katya is no exception. She has to bar her windows, change her telephone number, stay inside all the time for fear of something happening to her, give up family and friends, and most of all, her sense of security. This is the sad and harsh reality of what stalking victims face. But the turning of the tables is what makes this movie. I recommend this to people who want a different view of stalking and feminism. I love the feminist slant!!! Worthwhile viewing, but don't watch it at night or alone, and be glad there are now anti-stalking laws, because at the time the film was shot, there wasn't. Don't pass up "LADY BEWARE"!!!!!

I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS MOVIE IN YEARS. I ONLY REMEMBERED BITS AND PIECES, BUT WATCHING IT AGAIN WAS LIKE WATCHING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT'S ON VHS, THE MOVIE ITSELF IS OF GOOD QUALITY.
IF IT EVER COMES OUT ON DVD, I WILL PROBABLY BUY IT AGAIN.
THERE'S SOME NUDITY AND LANGUAGE, BUT IT'S A PRETTY GOOD STALKER THRILLER.

Thilling movie!! A little "Risque", but was entertained. Diane Lane is GREAT in this movie. The end is worth waiting for. Nothing bloody or gross, just bad language and some nudity.
Gail M. McGuire...Peace On Earth!!!!!

This movie definitely has a Grade B feel to it. Diane Lane is only "star" actor in here and she wasn't that big a name in '87 anyway. In fact, she was just starting out in the business.

The story is sleazy one about a window dresser (Lane) who exhibits almost-pornographic displays with her window mannequins.These semi-erotic dressings attract a stalker to Lane and that's where the suspense come in....good suspense.

Lane is great to ogle and is not modest in showing herself to us. Actually, this film seems to be only a vehicle or an excuse for the pretty actress to show off her breasts. Otherwise, it's standard "B" fare, because the story isn't much. I'm not surprised it never made it to DVD. Lane has gone on to more modest roles.

This is one of those movies that I was hoping to add to my funky favs library. Unfortunately, it is only available on VHS and not available NEW. The tape I received was damaged and had to be returned. Maybe, I will try again sometime.

The complete obsession that Jack had for the desiner was therillimg. It took you inti his mind and way of thinking while the chase was on. Diane Lane played a terrific oart as the obsession of his love and lust.She turns the tables and he becomes the hunted.

i know that the vhs tape is old but it was in poor condition parts of the movie were garbled