Two things to remember when watching this film: it was the 1970's and it was a TV movie. Once you get that out of the way, one can watch this film in context and see it is way above average for what was offered as a TV Movie Of The Week back then. This film had many things going for it from the start: An amazing director (John Badham), a stellar cast (Tuesday Weld, Sam Waterston and Joan Hackett), a dreary location (Seattle and North Washington State in Autumn, need I say more?) and haunting music themes (adapted from Bach's Well Tempered Clavier). All of this set a stage that is perfect for a plot containing mystery, insanity and murder. And because this TV movie was based on an already masterpiece of film noir (Les Diaboliques), the only thing that could go wrong would be bad acting and bad production, neither which this film has. Because of that, it succeeds, especially for 1974.
As with many others, I was traumatized by the film as a child, glued to the TV watching the much talked about bathtub scene at the end. I remember my mother waltzing past the TV set during that scene (timing was her thing), casually announcing, "Oh, it's Les Diaboliques!" Uh, what? Years later, however, thanks to mom, it was Les Diaboliques that helped me find this version of the film, because where I grew up, 'Reflections' was called 'Angustia de un Crimen.' Needless to say, the title did not translate well enough to help me find it, especially in pre-internet days. And when find it I did, I was in heaven because there was a VHS edition (one does wonder if a DVD or Blu-ray of it will ever see the light of day....). Re-watching it so many years later, it was as amazing as the first time I saw it. 'Reflections of Murder' stood in my mind all those years, much like another forgotten TV classic MOW, the 1969 "Daughter of the Mind."
Possible spoiler alert. Sam Waterston plays an abusive husband (Michael) who is out for money and cannot stand his wife Claire (played by Joan Hackett), who owns a large estate where they run a school for boys. It does not take long to realize Michael was in it for the money from the start. Michael urges Claire to sell the school, split the earnings and walk away. She refuses. But there's more. Tuesday Weld plays Vicky, a seemingly supportive teacher in the school, who is out to help Claire not only survive the abuse, but get even. The plot: let's kill Michael and dump the body in the winter's murky swimming pool. No one will find him until the body floats on the surface. Of course, things do not turn out as planned, especially when the body disappears from the swimming pool, and especially when people are not who you think they are. Not even in the end. And even after the film is over, you're left wondering. That helps the film with you long after it is over -- in my case, even almost 40 years later!
As with many others, I was traumatized by the film as a child, glued to the TV watching the much talked about bathtub scene at the end. I remember my mother waltzing past the TV set during that scene (timing was her thing), casually announcing, "Oh, it's Les Diaboliques!" Uh, what? Years later, however, thanks to mom, it was Les Diaboliques that helped me find this version of the film, because where I grew up, 'Reflections' was called 'Angustia de un Crimen.' Needless to say, the title did not translate well enough to help me find it, especially in pre-internet days. And when find it I did, I was in heaven because there was a VHS edition (one does wonder if a DVD or Blu-ray of it will ever see the light of day....). Re-watching it so many years later, it was as amazing as the first time I saw it. 'Reflections of Murder' stood in my mind all those years, much like another forgotten TV classic MOW, the 1969 "Daughter of the Mind."
Possible spoiler alert. Sam Waterston plays an abusive husband (Michael) who is out for money and cannot stand his wife Claire (played by Joan Hackett), who owns a large estate where they run a school for boys. It does not take long to realize Michael was in it for the money from the start. Michael urges Claire to sell the school, split the earnings and walk away. She refuses. But there's more. Tuesday Weld plays Vicky, a seemingly supportive teacher in the school, who is out to help Claire not only survive the abuse, but get even. The plot: let's kill Michael and dump the body in the winter's murky swimming pool. No one will find him until the body floats on the surface. Of course, things do not turn out as planned, especially when the body disappears from the swimming pool, and especially when people are not who you think they are. Not even in the end. And even after the film is over, you're left wondering. That helps the film with you long after it is over -- in my case, even almost 40 years later!
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