Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense, sexual, violent tale of worst roommate ever.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Single White Female
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
SINGLE WHITE FEMALE is the kind of person Allie (Bridget Fonda) advertises for when seeking a new roommate, having kicked out Sam (Steven Weber), her cheating fiancé, from her huge rent-controlled New York City apartment. From among numerous neurotic and weird applicants, she invites Hedy (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to move in. Hedy seems nice at first, but it starts to look like she's trying to turn herself into a clone of the attractive Allie, maybe replace Allie in her own life. Or perhaps she's trying to turn Allie into Hedy's "lost" twin. Soon Hedy dresses like Allie, cuts and dyes her hair like Allie's, calls herself Allie, comes on to Allie's boyfriend, and even performs oral sex on the guy, disguised as Allie. It's a roommate-from-hell, horror film so no spoiler alert is necessary in describing the mayhem and murder inevitable from frame one.
Is It Any Good?
Horror fans may tolerate this movie, with its generic pacing, music, lighting and other alarm bells signaling bad things to come, but the plot doesn't work even on the most basic level. The material here is suitable only for older teens and adults, but viewers of any age won't miss the clear sense that in the face of threat and danger, over and over, seemingly reasonable and intelligent characters refuse to act to defend themselves, to prevent looming disaster, or to expose a wrongdoer. If anyone did anything that sensible, it would bring the threat, and the movie, to an abrupt end. Under those circumstances, Single White Female's constant tension and frequent scares become annoying rather than dramatic. The action lumbers along until the final half hour, which is simply a chore to get through.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about mental illness. How does Single White Female portray this issue? Do you think it fairly depicted it or added to existing stigma attached to mental issues?
How does the movie's slick and realistic style affect the audience's perception of unrealistic behavior? Does that style work against the audience questioning the plausibility of unreasonable behaviors?
Is this movie still relevant? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 14, 1992
- On DVD or streaming : March 17, 1998
- Cast : Bridget Fonda , Jennifer Jason Leigh , Steven Weber , Peter Friedman
- Director : Barbet Schroeder
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 107 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : for strong sexuality, and for violence and language
- Last updated : August 25, 2022
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