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Black Widow

Black Widow

Thriller · 1987

Federal agent Alexandra Barnes believes that Catherine Petersen is a serial killer who marries rich men and then murders them for their money. But since Catherine is seemingly a master of disguise and has multiple identities, Alexandra can't prove anything with conventional detective work. With no other option, she goes undercover, pursuing the same man as Catherine, and hoping that Catherine will slip up and reveal her true identity.

Movie details

Black Widow

“She mates and she kills.”

1987 Thriller 1h 42m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.2 / 10

Community rating

Federal agent Alexandra Barnes believes that Catherine Petersen is a serial killer who marries rich men and then murders them for their money. But since Catherine is seemingly a master of disguise and has multiple identities, Alexandra can't prove anything with conventional detective work. With no other option, she goes undercover, pursuing the same man as Catherine, and hoping that Catherine will slip up and reveal her true identity.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Black Widow?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Indemnity

Indemnity

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Strange but True

Strange but True

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A woman surprises the family of her deceased boyfriend by telling them she's pregnant with his child.

No Name on the Bullet

No Name on the Bullet

Action · 1959

When hired killer John Gant rides into Lordsburg, the town's folk become paranoid as each leading citizen has enemies capable of using the services of a professional killer for personal revenge.

Hostile Takeover

Hostile Takeover

Action · 2025

Follows Pete, a professional hitman, as he faces a group of assassins after the boss of a crime syndicate suspects disloyalty due to his attendance at Workaholics Anonymous meetings.

Overdrive

Overdrive

Thriller · 2017

Master car thieves square off against French gangsters in the South of France with money, women and lives all on the line.

The Man Who Cheated Himself

The Man Who Cheated Himself

Crime · 1950

A veteran homicide detective who has witnessed his socialite girlfriend kill her husband sees his inexperienced brother assigned to the case.

Gotcha!

Gotcha!

Action · 1985

A student on a trip to France is tricked into smuggling secrets across the Iron Curtain by a sexy spy.

Deception

Deception

Thriller · 2008

As a corporate auditor who works in a number of different offices, Jonathan McQuarry wanders without an anchor among New York's power brokers. A chance meeting with charismatic lawyer Wyatt Bose leads to Jonathan's introduction to The List, an underground sex club. Jonathan begins an affair with a woman known only as S, who introduces Jonathan to a world of treachery and murder.

Eradication

Eradication

Horror · 2022

When an unknown disease wipes out most of the world’s population, a man with unique blood is isolated for study. Fearing for his wife’s safety, he breaks his quarantine – into a world overrun by monstrous Infected and a shadowy agency hunting them down.

The Late Show

The Late Show

Mystery · 1977

An over-the-hill gumshoe in Los Angeles seeks to avenge the killing of an old pal, another detective who was involved in a case concerning a murdered broad, stolen stamps, a nickel-plated handgun, a cheating dolly, and a kidnapped pussycat.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Bob Rafelson

Written by

Ronald Bass

Debra Winger

Debra Winger

Alexandra

Theresa Russell

Theresa Russell

Catharine

Sami Frey

Sami Frey

Paul

Dennis Hopper

Dennis Hopper

Ben

Nicol Williamson

Nicol Williamson

William

Terry O'Quinn

Terry O'Quinn

Bruce

James Hong

James Hong

Shin

Court is in session

Put Black Widow on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.