In a "riveting performance" (The Hollywood Reporter) that stunned critics and audiences alike, Farrah Fawcett is the heart and soul of this "edge-of-your-seat suspense drama" (The Film Journal) about a woman who turns the ... more »tables on a would-be rapist. Nominated* for a Golden Globe, Fawcett "is genuine, pathetic and heroic here" (Los Angeles Times) and her "unadorned artistry singes" (Time)! After narrowly escaping an attempted rape, Marjorie (Fawcett) is haunted by the fact that her attacker (James Russo) knows where she lives. But when he appears on her doorstep and subjects her to a non-stop barrage of physical and mental assaults, Marjorie manages to disarm and capture him. Filled with fear and hostility, she conspires with her roommates (Diana Scarwid and Alfre Woodard) to take the law into their own hands. But as her rage consumes her, Marjorie shocks her friends with a proposal that challenges the perilously thin line between justice and vengeance. *1986: Actress in a Leading Role« less
""Extremities" has been my favorite film since I first viewed it in 1986. Although there are a number of excellent performers out there, Farrah Fawcett's portrayal of Marjorie; an attempted rape victim who turns the tables on her attacker, is the best on film. Her excellent two note performance evenly weighs both the victim and victor perfectly. If you have never seen this movie or even if you just haven't seen it on DVD--don't miss out. It originally was produced on the New York stage & it was so real they had to have guards on hand to prevent people from jumping on stage to help Farrah. As the title of this article states--simply the best."
A Character Study of Violence and Submission
Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 07/27/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Extremities" is almost like a filmed play, with a marvelous 4-person cast, and it keeps one's interest even though most of the action takes place in 2 rooms of a small house. This very low budget production may have many flaws, but it is at times riveting viewing. Farrah Fawcett followed her critically acclaimed "The Burning Bed" with this film, and once again proved that she was much more than a "Charlie's Angels" pin-up. Along with Fawcett, James Russo is Joe, a truly creepy villain, and Alfre Woodard and Diana Scarwid are both terrific as Fawcett's housemates. Woodard is one of Hollywood's most beautiful and underrated actresses, and gives yet another wonderful performance, and Scarwid is very moving as she tells her personal history, and how she dealt with a similar trauma.
This is a character study of a depraved man who sets his mind on terrorizing a woman, first by assaulting her in a car, and then in a home invasion. The violence that ensues sometimes feels quite real, and the interest in the film lies mostly in the reactions by the 3 women affected by the psychological rape, and the fear of being killed by this monstrous man. It is a curious film about power and submission that doesn't always work, but the parts that do are excellent, and definitely worth watching.
Written by William Mastrosimone based on his play, and directed by Robert M. Young, "Extremities" is 89 minutes long, is often intense, and has great interaction between its 4 fine actors.
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A pretty good movie
Phillip Neumann | Winter Park, Florida United States | 11/02/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Farrah Fawcett and James Russo are outstanding for the characters they portray. The movie description: James Russo is a serial rapist and Farrah Fawcett plays the victim who manages to escape her would be (masked) rapist in the beggining of the movie. However, he still has her purse carrying her personal information and address. Marjorie goes to the police to report her attempted rape and the police inform her "it would be hard to press charges on an unknown assailant" Basically James Russo returns a week or so later back into Marjorie's life at her home to finish what he started. (now he is unmasked, and enters her home). The scenes are brutal: however if you manage to stomach Farrah Fawcett being attacked mentally, and physically you will then witness how she manages to turn the tables on her would be rapist. After the tables are turned though the movie starts to slow down and We wonder what will be the outcome? What will she do with her would be rapist.. Turn him over to the police who he says will let him go since she (yet again) has no proof of sexual assault? Or burry him alive in the back yard? I reccomend this film, but definitely not for children!! Also, the co-stars in this movie make the most of their small roles!!"
Tough, brutal film with Fawcett deserving of Award
blondeguy10 | South Africa | 10/25/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What is it going to take for Hollywood to recognise the artistry of Farrah Fawcett and give her the accolades and awards she is due?. No I am not biased being a fan. Here she is stripped of ALL glamour and make up and performs from the gut. If Charlize Theron could win an Oscar for Monster then surely Farrah deserved to be recognized for this performance, a repeat of a role she took in the Off Broadway production. Extremeties is the story of a woman to exacts revenge on a would be rapist and traps him in her fireplace. Much of the first half of the movie focuses on the abuse that Marjorie (Fawcett) endures at the hands of the 'rapist' (brilliantly played by James Russo) before she turns the tables on him and 'captures' him. Excellent support is provided by Alfre Woodward and Diana Scarwid as the room mates who become embroiled in the saga of whether to kill the rapist or call the police.
Its a tough and brutal film which is hard to watch at times. But, its Fawcett who drives this movie with a solid gut wrenching performance that the influential TIME MAGAZINE described in their REVIEW thus: " her unadorned artistry singes" High praise indeed.
It would have been great if MGM could have added 'extras' to this dvd...where are the commentary tracks or deleted scenes?"
Farrah at her best!
Mark H. Martel | Crawley, West Sussex United Kingdom | 03/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A must see film starring Farrah Fawcett. I feel she is never given enough credit as an actress. This film is intense and shows another side of the ex Charlie's Angel. She orginally performed on broadway for a year with the play of the same name. One of her best films along with Burning Bed and Poor Little Rich Girl and Beate Klarsfeld "Nazi Hunter"."