Review of Play Misty for Me (1971) by Josh C — 17 Jan 2010

Play Misty for Me is one of those films that will have some people putting their hand over their mouth in surprise or awe and simultaneously have them shake their head ever so slightly in either surprise or disbelief but not at the film itself, it's characters and this is a very impressive thing for a film to be able to do. When there is a malicious or particularly gory scene in a film, audiences shuffle around or look away from the screen ? it evokes a physical reaction similarly when people laugh at a good comedy. This is enough evidence to suggest; at least to me, that Play Misty for Me works not only on this level as it got a physical reaction out of me without being too gory or too funny but also as a raw character study between two very different people.

This was Clint Eastwood's directorial debut and he plays Dave, a disc jockey who does a relatively mellow and straight forward radio show from the hours round about midnight through till dawn or something. His voice is soft, almost flat and at one point he even has to replay a previous show over his shift that he only did a few nights ago but I don't think anybody would mind or even notice since the show is so laid back. The film is anything but and descends into a quite chilling yet at times quite brilliant thriller when Evelyn's (Walter) 'fondness' shall we say for Dave grows into an unquenchable thirst since you get the feeling that marrying Dave and spending every single second of your time with him on your own in a small room for the rest of your life STILL wouldn't be enough for the girl.

Evelyn is dangerous and it's a danger that is cleverly built up over a period of time. The relationship starts off fairly customary, even harmless as they exchange dialogue and find time to discover that they both like their steaks cooked the same way but this is as close to innocent the relationship comes. Following numerous other things they have in common which at the time, you're thinking could just be coincidence, Evelyn breaks into numerous outbursts at people who don't really do anything wrong thus hinting at perhaps her true persona: something so mild and insignificant can start her off into a fit of rage.

The film plays out the classic tale of the stalker. There are a few references to modern day films you can make here; most notably The Cable Guy where Jim Carrey scared us and dared us to laugh at his actions as well as One Hour Photo where a family gets the stalker treatment from Robin Williams' creepy and very un-funny Sy Parrish. Evelyn challenges Andy Robinson's Scorpio as 'most psychotic bad guy in Dirty Harry whilst at the same time being genuinely creepy and hiding her various personas in the process.

What is really impressive about Play Misty for Me is the way it contains a sort of undercurrent revolving around one man's actions. Dave sleeps with Evelyn in a one night stand scenario and it comes back to not only haunt him but threatens his life: throw a group of sharks a piece of meat and they'll get the scent for blood. Likewise, I actually thought that the film may have been slightly better had Dave and Evelyn not slept together thus making Evelyn look even more desperate for him. If you think about it, once she'd spent the night with him and continues to hound him then what's her drive beyond that ? marriage? I feel her goal could've been played with differently but it did in no way spoil the pleasure, albeit voyeuristic, I got from watching these people?s lives unfold.