Extremities (film)

Extremities
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Robert M. Young
Written by	William Mastrosimone
Based on	Extremities by William Mastrosimone
Produced by	Burt Sugarman
Starring	Farrah Fawcett Alfre Woodard Diana Scarwid James Russo
Cinematography	Curtis Clark
Edited by	Arthur Coburn
Music by	J.A.C. Redford
Production company	Atlantic Entertainment Group
Distributed by	Atlantic Releasing Corporation
Release date	August 22, 1986 (1986-08-22)
Running time	89 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$13.4 million^[1]

Extremities is a 1986 American drama film directed by Robert M. Young and written by William Mastrosimone, based on his 1982 off-Broadway play of the same name. The film stars Farrah Fawcett, Alfre Woodard, Diana Scarwid, and James Russo.

Both Fawcett and Russo had appeared in the stage play (Fawcett taking over a role originated by Susan Sarandon), and Fawcett received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her performance in the film.

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Plot

While getting into her car one night, Marjorie is attacked at knifepoint by a masked assailant who forces her to drive to a remote location, where he tries to sexually assault her. She manages to flee but leaves her purse behind. While at the police station, she is told that without a positive identification of her attacker, it will be her word against his, and he will likely not face any criminal charges. In the following days, Marjorie lives in continued fear. Meanwhile, her attacker, revealed to be Joe, uses the information from her purse to find out where she lives and also steals mail from the home she shares with her roommates, Pat and Terry, to gain insight into their lives.

One morning, while Pat and Terry are away at work, Joe casually enters her home, claiming he is looking for someone who owes him money. Marjorie quickly realizes he is the man who attacked her and tries to escape, but Joe overpowers her. Throughout the day, Joe repeatedly physically and psychologically abuses her. As he attempts to rape her, Marjorie manages to subdue him by spraying wasp repellent into his eyes.

As she tries to flee once again, Joe taunts her by saying that since he did not actually rape her, the police will let him go, and he vows to come back and kill her. Marjorie binds him, confines him in the fireplace, and plans to murder him. When Pat and Terry return home, they try to convince Marjorie to think of the consequences of her decision and to go to the police. Joe tries to manipulate them into turning against Marjorie and believing that he is the victim; Terry immediately falls for his lies and tries to get Patricia (who doesn't believe Joe but is terrified that Marjorie will get them all arrested if she kills or maims him) to call the police.

As Marjorie tries to force Joe to confess to what he has done to her, he claims that he and Marjorie were lovers and that she attacked him when he came to end their relationship. Marjorie removes the knife he previously used on her from his jacket, as well as the mail he stole. She threatens to castrate him if he does not admit the truth. Defeated, Joe confesses that he intended to kill Marjorie, as well as Pat and Terry. He also confesses to raping and murdering three prior women. Marjorie tells Patrica to call the police, and tells an abjectly apologetic Terry not to stay with her while she watches over a broken, defeated Joe. She looks off with a relieved expression, knowing she has defeated this monster.

Cast

Farrah Fawcett as Marjorie
Alfre Woodard as Pat
Diana Scarwid as Terry
James Russo as Joe / "The Assailant"
Sandy Martin as Officer Sudow
Eddie Velez as Officer #1
Tom Everett as Officer #2
Donna Lynn Leavy as Woman on Phone (voice)
Enid Kent as Mother at Police Station
Michael Hennessy as Pizza Man
Danika Hendrickson as Joe's Daughter
Clare Wren as Racquetball Player
James Avery as Security Guard

Reception

Extremities received mixed reviews from critics. The film holds a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on ten reviews.^[2]

Award nomination

For her performance, Fawcett received a 1986 Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a film drama.

The film was named one of the Worst Films of 1986 by Siskel and Ebert.^[3]

Home media

Extremities was released to Blu-ray and DVD on May 19, 2015 as a Region 1 widescreen disc.

References

^ "Extremities". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
^ "Extremities (1986)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
^ "Worst of 1986". Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.