New York City provides the backdrop for this 1970s thriller in which gruesome murders, psychic visions and offbeat characters feature strongly. The motivations of a serial killer whose victims are all associated with one of the city's top fashion photographers, are a complete mystery and the plot which produces plenty of surprises, suspects and suspense (as well as some supernatural elements), builds up to a conclusion that's suitably twisted.
Laura Mars (Faye Dunaway) is the trendy photographer whose images regularly juxtapose sexual and violent content in a way that's edgy, provocative and attention-grabbing. Her innovative work has made her both highly successful and controversial but when she starts to experience psychic visions of murders which she can "see" through the eyes of the killer, she understandably becomes very distressed. When it also becomes apparent that the victims are all associated with Laura and the detective who's assigned to the case notices strong similarities between her photographs and the scenes of some unsolved murders, he naturally starts to suspect that she may be criminally involved. Laura's anxiety then increases when she starts to sense that someone is stalking her and thinks that she may be the killer's real target.
Detective Lieutenant John Neville (Tommy Lee Jones) has an easy-going manner and tries to establish who the killer may be by speculating on the types of people who may have been offended by Laura's work. As the couple continue to discuss various issues relating to the case, they fall in love and Neville gives her a handgun and arranges for her to have round-the-clock protection. Following a chase which culminates in the police shooting dead one of Laura's colleagues, it appears that the culprit has finally been caught but soon after, it becomes clear that this isn't the case when Laura finds herself confronted by the real killer in circumstances that leave her shocked and traumatised.
Faye Dunaway does a great job of portraying Laura's fear, desperation and sophistication and Tommy Lee Jones is absolutely superb in his role. Rene Auberjonois as Laura's agent, Brad Dourif, as her chauffeur and Raul Julia as her husband are also all excellent in their important supporting roles.
With its strong focus on fashion and a soundtrack which features lots of disco music, this is very much a movie of its time. The violence is often horrific with the murder victims being stabbed in the eyes by an ice-pick and the photo-shoots are deliberately exploitative, decadent and misogynistic. Overall, however, this is a slick, sleazy and stylish thriller that's consistently involving but let down to some extent by its conclusion which leaves some things unexplained
Laura Mars (Faye Dunaway) is the trendy photographer whose images regularly juxtapose sexual and violent content in a way that's edgy, provocative and attention-grabbing. Her innovative work has made her both highly successful and controversial but when she starts to experience psychic visions of murders which she can "see" through the eyes of the killer, she understandably becomes very distressed. When it also becomes apparent that the victims are all associated with Laura and the detective who's assigned to the case notices strong similarities between her photographs and the scenes of some unsolved murders, he naturally starts to suspect that she may be criminally involved. Laura's anxiety then increases when she starts to sense that someone is stalking her and thinks that she may be the killer's real target.
Detective Lieutenant John Neville (Tommy Lee Jones) has an easy-going manner and tries to establish who the killer may be by speculating on the types of people who may have been offended by Laura's work. As the couple continue to discuss various issues relating to the case, they fall in love and Neville gives her a handgun and arranges for her to have round-the-clock protection. Following a chase which culminates in the police shooting dead one of Laura's colleagues, it appears that the culprit has finally been caught but soon after, it becomes clear that this isn't the case when Laura finds herself confronted by the real killer in circumstances that leave her shocked and traumatised.
Faye Dunaway does a great job of portraying Laura's fear, desperation and sophistication and Tommy Lee Jones is absolutely superb in his role. Rene Auberjonois as Laura's agent, Brad Dourif, as her chauffeur and Raul Julia as her husband are also all excellent in their important supporting roles.
With its strong focus on fashion and a soundtrack which features lots of disco music, this is very much a movie of its time. The violence is often horrific with the murder victims being stabbed in the eyes by an ice-pick and the photo-shoots are deliberately exploitative, decadent and misogynistic. Overall, however, this is a slick, sleazy and stylish thriller that's consistently involving but let down to some extent by its conclusion which leaves some things unexplained