This film had a lot of potential,
and because of that, I was very
disappointed by it.

The cinematography and music
are excellent.
The acting is not and the plot
does not develop well.

If the psychological breakdown of Melanie
were developed even a little bit
and the subsequent murders were presented
in a manner that gave them gravitas,
it would have made quite a difference.

As it is, the film opens with Melanie
finding her husband in a sexual relationship
with a neighbor, and, as a result, he dies
from the crabs, that is, the crab meat
that his long suffering wife served him
for dinner.

It seems that Melanie and her husband
were incompatible.
He did not believe in the Sixth Commandment
and she did not believe in the Fifth.

Melanie moves to an apartment building
and starts her new career as a landlady
and mass murderer, obsessively pursuing
the object of her desire, a tenant whom
she thinks is the perfect husband she
has been searching for.

The film is a blend of horror, humor
and social satire, much like "The Dentist"
that was produced by the same folks and
is far superior.
Perhaps they should have employed the dream
team of Yuzna and Gordon for this one as well.

This is still a pretty good film,
but with a little bit more attention
to the details of good story-telling,
it could have been great.

note bene: Explicit sexual content:
Melanie sees her husband having a
sexual affair and so does the viewer;
it is a gratuitous soft-core porno
moment.
I think those 10 seconds ought to place
the film in the X-rated category.
I know that the envelope on that sort
of thing is in flux toward the more
liberal, but it is best to be forewarned.
This film had a lot of potential,
and because of that, I was very
disappointed by it. The cinematography and music
are excellent. The acting is not and the plot
does not develop well. If the psychological breakdown of Melanie
were developed even a little bit
and the subsequent murders were presented
in a manner that gave them gravitas,
it would have made quite a difference. As it is, the film opens with Melanie
finding her husband in a sexual relationship
with a neighbor, and, as a result, he dies
from the crabs, that is, the crab meat
that his long suffering wife served him
for dinner. It seems that Melanie and her husband
were incompatible. He did not believe in the Sixth Commandment
and she did not believe in the Fifth. Melanie moves to an apartment building
and starts her new career as a landlady
and mass murderer, obsessively pursuing
the object of her desire, a tenant whom
she thinks is the perfect husband she
has been searching for. The film is a blend of horror, humor
and social satire, much like "The Dentist"
that was produced by the same folks and
is far superior. Perhaps they should have employed the dream
team of Yuzna and Gordon for this one as well. This is still a pretty good film,
but with a little bit more attention
to the details of good story-telling,
it could have been great. note bene: Explicit sexual content:
Melanie sees her husband having a
sexual affair and so does the viewer;
it is a gratuitous soft-core porno
moment. I think those 10 seconds ought to place
the film in the X-rated category. I know that the envelope on that sort
of thing is in flux toward the more
liberal, but it is best to be forewarned.