Mesmerized

Rating:
Summary: Cheaper at Wal-Mart
Review: It's in the $5.88 bin or you can buy it online for that same price.

Rating:
Summary: SHOCKED THAT THIS FILM WAS EVER RELEASED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Review: The premise for the film is intriguing. It is based upon the Victoria Thompson murder trial that took place in New Zealand during the late nineteenth century. Victoria is raised is some sort of orphanage from birth. At the age of seventeen, it is arranged for her to marry Mr. Thompson, a weird, older man whom she has never before met. She dutifully marries him, and when she comes of age goes to live with him in his home, which is run by his two creepy servants. Victoria soon discovers just how weird her husband really is. She ultimately takes the bull by the horns and finds herself standing trial for his murder by the time she is nineteen years old.

Jodie Foster places the role of Victoria Thompson, as if she were doing so under duress. She takes a character that is potentially sympathetic and makes her merely pathetic, leaving the viewer cold. John Lithgow fares somewhat better, as he does a credible job playing the weird Mr. Thompson, doing the best he can with the material with which he has to work. The film, unfortunately, is choppy and poorly edited, the story so muddled as to be nearly incomprehensible. The direction seems to be almost nonexistant, as it looks like it is every man for himself.

This film was originally released under the title, "Mesmerized". Word about the film must have traveled fast, as bad news so often does. When the DVD was released, it was retitled as "Shocked". The only thing shocking about this film is that it was ever released in the first place. It is a complete travesty.

The DVD itself has no meaningful special features of which to speak. The quality of the film is very poor, grainy and fuzzy. Even the cover art of the DVD has nothing to do with the film. It is simply a photograph of a contemporary Jodie Foster. All in all, this DVD is not worth buying. The only reason this film was not rated one star was due to John Lithgow's performance. If you are not a John Lithgow fan, deduct one star.

Rating:
Summary: A LOVE TRANGLE OF PASSION AND MURDER
Review: This Gothic melodrama features Jodie Foster as a naive young bride, and John Lithgow as her mysterious, voyeuristic husband.Victoria, an orphan with neither home nor money, suddenly wins the attentions of Oliver Thompson, a prosperous, older businessman. He weds her, but they continue to live apart while she remains in school. When Victoria does finally move into his home, she finds her husband has some strange habits -- including the desire to spy on her undressing, while never consummating the marriage.Increasingly uneasy and unhappy in this situation, Victoria unsuccessfully tries to escape -- only to find Oliver ready and waiting to bring her back home again.Now the desperate woman believes she has just one option left: to murder her husband...

Rating:
Summary: Slow and boring
Review: This movie is very slow and boring! John Lithgow's character is so unappealing and frankly doesn't even make any sense. Jodie Foster is "dead", and the plot is so uneffective. Some things are never explained, such as why those two got married in the first place....but it's not like you'll care.

Rating:
Summary: Slow and boring
Review: This movie is very slow and boring! John Lithgow's character is so unappealing and frankly doesn't even make any sense. Jodie Foster is "dead", and the plot is so uneffective. Some things are never explained, such as why those two got married in the first place....but it's not like you'll care.

Rating:
Summary: Orginally titled Mesmerized
Review: This movie was orginally titled Mesmerized and was a 1984 movie. While I don't recall it being released in theatres, it is out on video and now DVD under the name Shocked. It is a strange twisting plot, but the acting of Foster and Lithgow is, as usually, very good.

All in all, though, I'd have to say it is not one of their best works, but if you are a fan of either, it is worth viewing.