It's Not Just the Weather That's Frightful

No wonder there seem to be few decent roles for actresses nowadays. Mary Steenburgen used them all up back in the 1980s. For example, in the 1987 thriller Dead of Winter, she plays not one but three roles.

The main role she plays is that of Katie McGovern, an aspiring actress who thinks she has gotten her big break when she is hired by the mysterious Mr. Murray (played by Roddy McDowall) to film a part for an equally mysterious Dr. Lewis (played by Jan Rubes). She is told that the part requires her to travel out to Dr. Lewis's rural estate and when she arrives, she discovers that it is just her, the not so good doctor and Mr. Murray.

For a smart woman, Ms. McGovern takes an awfully long time to catch on to what is really going on. Then again the not so good doctor and Mr. Murray prove throughout the movie that it is not just Katie whom they are good at fooling.

This film is supposed to be the remake of a 1945 thriller called My Name Is Julia Smith. Unfortunately, that film is not available on DVD so I can't really tell you whether or not Dead of Winter is an improvement. But it does tell its story well and actually got me rooting for Ms. Steenburgen -- even when she was fighting against Ms. Steenburgen.

Confused by that last sentence? See the movie and find out what I am talking about. It is hardly the worst way to spend a cold winter night.