Extremities Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Woman escapes attacker, then when he shows up at her house, she somehow manages to trap him in the fireplace and has to decide if she should become a fireplace-jailer or just call the maybe-useless cops.

🍿 Extremities: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Close Call and a Lost Purse

Marjorie, a young woman, is brutally attacked in a parking lot but manages to escape before being seriously harmed. In the struggle, she loses her purse, containing identification that reveals where she lives.

Seeking Help, Finding None

Shaken by the assault, Marjorie reports the incident to the police. However, she is told that without physical evidence or witnesses to the attempted rape, there is little the authorities can do. She is left feeling vulnerable and unprotected.

The Attacker Returns

Days later, while Marjorie is home alone, her attacker arrives at her house. He tricks his way inside and attempts to finish the assault he started earlier. A desperate and terrifying struggle ensues.

Turning the Tables

Midway through the brutal home invasion, Marjorie finds an unexpected opportunity. Using quick thinking and household items, she manages to overpower her attacker. She subdues and ties him up.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Marjorie (Farrah Fawcett): An attempted rape victim who fights back against her attacker and faces a moral dilemma after capturing him.
• Joe (James Russo): A violent man who attempts to rape Marjorie, is captured by her, and then tries to manipulate her roommates.
• Patricia (Alfre Woodard): Marjorie’s sensible roommate who urges caution and considers the legal consequences of holding their attacker captive.
• Terry (Diana Scarwid): Marjorie’s other roommate, who is emotionally reactive and shows unexpected empathy towards the captured attacker.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Joe: “Look at her, and look at me… who did what to who?” – Said cynically by Joe after Marjorie has turned the tables and severely injured him, attempting to manipulate her housemates and twist the narrative.
• Joe: “I never raped you and it’s my word against yours.” – Joe states this to Marjorie, highlighting the legal system’s limitations and lack of proof for attempted sexual assault, fueling her dilemma about what to do with him.
• Marjorie: “Why don’t you just f… him. That’ll make him feel better.” – Said in a moment of intense rage and frustration towards her roommate Patricia, who is showing a degree of sympathy or concern for the tied-up attacker.
• Marjorie: “This is where it ends.” – Stated with grim determination by Marjorie, emphasizing her resolve to take matters into her own hands and ensure the attacker can no longer harm her or anyone else.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: $13,418,091
• Worldwide Gross: $13,418,091

💥 Extremities Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, this movie was intense from start to finish. I went into it knowing it was based on a play, and you can definitely feel that contained energy, especially in the house scenes. Farrah Fawcett is just incredible here. I knew she had range from other roles, but seeing her go through such a terrifying experience and then turn the tables with such raw fury was something else. James Russo was chillingly effective as the attacker. The part where she actually manages to overpower him and tie him up in the fireplace is wild. It feels so desperate and visceral. Then, when her roommates come home and they have to grapple with what to do, I felt completely torn along with them. It really makes you think about what ‘justice’ means when the system fails you. The arguments felt real, portraying different reactions to an impossible situation. Even with some dated elements, the core dilemma and performances stuck with me long after the credits rolled.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of intense psychological thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in films about challenging moral dilemmas”
  • “Those looking for strong female-led dramas”
  • “Fans of stage play adaptations”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic depiction of attempted sexual assault and violence”
  • “Themes of rape and victim trauma”
  • “Intense and disturbing scenes”
  • “Strong language”

Professional Reviews

• Inspired by User Reviews: “While the intense lead performances, particularly Farrah Fawcett’s raw portrayal of a woman pushed to the edge, are commendable, the film sometimes feels hampered by its stage origins. The tension is undeniable, especially in the core confrontation, but supporting characters and certain plot points strain credulity. It’s a challenging watch that sparks debate, even if the execution occasionally falters.
• Inspired by User Reviews: “An unsettling premise exploring trauma and justice, ‘Extremities’ features a committed performance from Fawcett, effectively capturing her character’s fear and rage. However, the transition from stage to screen feels clunky, with uneven direction and some supporting portrayals leaning towards melodrama. The film sacrifices realism for dramatic convenience, diluting the power of its central dilemma.
• Inspired by User Reviews: “This film grabs you and doesn’t let go, largely thanks to Farrah Fawcett and James Russo’s harrowing performances. The claustrophobic atmosphere in the house is palpable, drawing you into the central conflict. While the debate with the roommates introduces an important moral dimension, it occasionally disrupts the raw intensity built between the two main characters. A powerful, albeit difficult, viewing experience.

Audience Reactions

Viewers were captivated by Farrah Fawcett’s surprisingly fierce and dramatic performance.: Many praise the raw intensity of the confrontation scenes and James Russo’s unsettling portrayal of the attacker.

The film’s moral dilemma regarding revenge versus law sparked significant debate among audiences.: The claustrophobic atmosphere and powerful lead acting are frequently highlighted as strengths.

Some viewers found the storyline intense and thought-provoking, while others felt it was unrealistic or hampered by its stage origins.: There’s general agreement that the performances by the core cast, especially Fawcett and Russo, are compelling.

Overall Consensus: An intense and challenging psychological drama praised for Farrah Fawcett’s powerful performance and its thought-provoking moral questions, though some find its transition from stage to screen uneven and plot points debatable.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “During filming, Farrah Fawcett and James Russo reportedly slapped each other for real to enhance the realism of the violent scenes, similar to the intensity of the original stage play.”
• “The off-Broadway stage production of ‘Extremities’ was so intense that guards were sometimes required on hand because audience members occasionally tried to intervene during the violent sequences.”

🖥️ How to Watch Extremities?

Explore ‘Extremities’ for purchase or rent. You can often find this intense drama available on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check major digital retailers for current availability and pricing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Extremities, you might like these similar films:

• The Accused (1988): Explores the brutal aftermath of sexual assault and the victim’s struggle for justice within a flawed legal system, sharing a similar focus on the systemic challenges faced by survivors.
• Death and the Maiden (1994): A psychological drama where a woman confronts a man she believes was her torturer, trapping him and seeking a confession, mirroring the central premise of a victim turning the tables on her suspected attacker.
• The Burning Bed (1984): Also starring Farrah Fawcett, this TV movie depicts a woman enduring abuse and ultimately taking extreme action against her tormentor, showcasing Fawcett’s dramatic range in roles dealing with domestic violence.
• Promising Young Woman (2020): A modern film dealing with the trauma of sexual assault and a woman’s calculated efforts to confront perpetrators and address the failures of those around them, resonating with ‘Extremities’ themes of justice and accountability.
• Misery (1990): While a different dynamic (fan vs. author), it involves a captor holding a victim prisoner in a confined location, featuring intense psychological conflict and power reversal elements that would appeal to fans of ‘Extremities’.

🛒 Extremities Related Products

• Extremities (Special Edition Blu-ray): Own the uncut, high-definition version of this controversial classic. Features include interviews with the cast and crew, exploring the film’s production and themes.
• Extremities: The Play Script: Read the original stage play by William Mastrosimone that inspired the film. Experience the raw dialogue and minimal setting that defined the production.
• The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us From Violence: A critically acclaimed book by Gavin de Becker that teaches how to recognize warning signs from potentially violent people, relevant to the film’s themes of predator and victim.
• 80s Psychological Thrillers Film Collection (Digital): A curated digital bundle featuring other intense and thought-provoking thrillers from the 1980s that delve into the human psyche and dangerous situations.

🎧 Soundtrack

Extremities features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Stand Up to the Night” – performed by Bonnie Raitt

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Farrah Fawcett BBC FILM ’86 ‘EXTREMITIES’ interview

Ever wonder what Farrah Fawcett thought about tackling such an intense role? This vintage BBC interview captures her discussing ‘Extremities’ right when it came out, giving you a real sense of the film’s immediate impact – fascinating stuff!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=6LuX2vphPZw

TRAUMATISING DISTURBING MOVIES THAT WILL STICK WITH YOU | Spookyastronauts

If ‘Extremities’ stuck with you, you’re not alone! Check out this video that includes the film in a list of truly disturbing movies – it’s interesting to see how it stacks up against others and get a fresh take on why it’s so unsettling.

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