"Black Widow" (1987): A Slow Burn I Appreciate

Okay, so I finally got around to watching "Black Widow" (1987) the other night. I'd heard mixed things, mostly about it being kinda slow, and yeah, it's definitely not a rollercoaster. But as someone who focuses on pacing in editing, I actually appreciated the deliberate build-up. It's all about the rising tension. Debra Winger as Alexandra Barnes is great as the no-nonsense agent who's convinced Petersen is the killer, even with zero concrete evidence, and Theresa Russell as Catherine is mesmerizing. You're never quite sure what she's thinking or feeling. What I liked most was the structure. Building up the case based on circumstantial suspicion rather than hard proof. I'm a sucker for legal thrillers that don't rely on DNA evidence. The scene where Barnes first encounters Petersen in Hawaii really sets the stage. You see Petersen effortlessly charm her way through a crowd, and you get the immediate sense that she's not just beautiful - she's a master manipulator. That moment where Barnes realizes Petersen spotted her is great! The plot does meander a bit, especially when Barnes starts going all undercover herself to get closer to Petersen. The pacing slows down even more, and I'm ngl, I almost lost interest. The movie could have probably been 15 minutes shorter, but there's a certain atmosphere that the director built that is really cool. Overall, it's a solid thriller if you're patient and enjoy character-driven stories. Not a perfect film, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, especially admiring the tension they created.