Rebecca DeMornay gives an inspired demented performance as one of Michael Rooker's two wives. She is unbalanced right from the git-go and gets progressively more deranged as the film moves along. Mark Rolston is also good as the interested neighbor, drawn into Rooker's scheme to break away from DeMornay. The script which is not predictable, twists and turns towards a surprising conclusion. Why "Wicked Ways" is rated so criminally low on IMDb is a real mystery? It certainly is no "Fargo", but is way better than many of the higher rated potboilers. This is definitely worth checking out. Character development and acting are equally strong, and nicely compliment the unpredictable script. - MERK
12 Reviews
WICKED WAYS
eandekiess17 May 2002
My wife and I both really liked this movie. Think of it as a Tom and Jerry or Roadrunner cartoon. It is obviously over the top in believability, but it is FUN to watch. DeMornay's charater's booby traps are straight out of the Rube Goldberg school of complicationicity. Rooker's double-life husband is lifted directly from the letters to Dear Abby and Ann Landers. Throw in the wild card next door neighbor(s) and what do you have? Video Hoo Ha. Ethel (my wife, my name is Ed) and I have rented and rerented it. The plot is as goofy as anything the old Warner Brothers animators could have concocted. We took it as a black comedy the first time we viewed it and, with that in mind, enjoyed it more each time after. (Oh, jeez, did I end a sentence in a preposition?) Think funny, and this film will work for you.
True to the Art of the Late-Nighter
PeteBDawg27 December 2001
This is not a diamond in the rough. It's also not terrible. Don't go looking for this movie. However, if this movie happens to find you, and you don't have much to do, watching it may not be the worst idea.
The whole picture is very phoned in, but it's not disrespectful to the form of the phoned-in picture. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the best thing about this film is the writing. The acting is competent, but it's nothing special, and the whole thing is shot plainly, like most watchable direct to video, but the writing is just a little bit better. It's unambitious, of course, but it's artful, and it's not too heavily cliched. It plays with obvious symbols and simple tropes, but it does a generally good job of it, and the fact that the story keeps moving in novel directions and does not degenerate into porn or gunplay shows that the writer probably has it in his or her power to write for much better pictures.
There's one or two jumps in the plot, but if you're the unforgiving type, you shouldn't be watching cable TV at 4 AM in the first place. All in all, not a bad movie. Objectively, it can't be said to be of any quality, but it certainly does not offend.
The whole picture is very phoned in, but it's not disrespectful to the form of the phoned-in picture. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the best thing about this film is the writing. The acting is competent, but it's nothing special, and the whole thing is shot plainly, like most watchable direct to video, but the writing is just a little bit better. It's unambitious, of course, but it's artful, and it's not too heavily cliched. It plays with obvious symbols and simple tropes, but it does a generally good job of it, and the fact that the story keeps moving in novel directions and does not degenerate into porn or gunplay shows that the writer probably has it in his or her power to write for much better pictures.
There's one or two jumps in the plot, but if you're the unforgiving type, you shouldn't be watching cable TV at 4 AM in the first place. All in all, not a bad movie. Objectively, it can't be said to be of any quality, but it certainly does not offend.
Good Acting Can't Save Bad Writing
Ankhoryt24 February 2001
Oh, yuck. Like Lemos (see his comment), I watched this because there was nothing better to do -- though I'm glad I saw it on cable and didn't pay for it. And also like Lemos, I agree that Ms. DeMornay is wonderfully seductive, with scenes in this movie nearly precisely like those in which she enchanted Tom Cruise and the rest of us in "Risky Business" so long ago. What a shame she can't get better roles! Must she *always* play a prostitute? (sigh) Well. Not her fault that Hollywood wants her naked or not at all.
The worst thing about this movie was not its misuse of DeMornay, but rather its misuse of viewer time. Yes, she plays a nut, and is very convincingly nutty. (And yes, the movie complies perfectly with the Hollywood Rules for Mental Illness: if female, the person must be either an elderly hag who eats garbage, or a gorgeous young nymphomaniac).
But as convincing as DeMornay is, the plot just is NOT. There is no way that one, much less two, adult men would be interested in this goofball for more than a single sweaty half-hour. Both of the men are not-quite-right-in-the-head either, but the writer (who is also the director) gave them the dignity of being both less conspicuously nude and less conspicuously nuts than the female character.
Summary: a little sexy, a little creepy, a lot boring, and even more annoying. Unless DeMornay is your particular dream girl, don't waste your time.
The worst thing about this movie was not its misuse of DeMornay, but rather its misuse of viewer time. Yes, she plays a nut, and is very convincingly nutty. (And yes, the movie complies perfectly with the Hollywood Rules for Mental Illness: if female, the person must be either an elderly hag who eats garbage, or a gorgeous young nymphomaniac).
But as convincing as DeMornay is, the plot just is NOT. There is no way that one, much less two, adult men would be interested in this goofball for more than a single sweaty half-hour. Both of the men are not-quite-right-in-the-head either, but the writer (who is also the director) gave them the dignity of being both less conspicuously nude and less conspicuously nuts than the female character.
Summary: a little sexy, a little creepy, a lot boring, and even more annoying. Unless DeMornay is your particular dream girl, don't waste your time.
Two can play that game
kosmasp5 March 2023
Or is it three? Four? No pun intended of course ... there are quite a few twists here ... some are really out there. And I reckon you have to suspend your disbelief quite a lot to say the least. Rebecca De Mornay is... well her character that is ... is quite crazy. And you may wonder why Michael Rooker is giving in to her ... or sticking with her ... well I have an inkling, but make up your own mind.
They are not the only ones here .... having Mark Rolston as "neighbor" ... I mean genius move, right? Yes is the answer. The being crazy part is or can get a bit annoying, but if you stick with it, the movie will reward ... well sort of ... you may not like the "reward" ...
They are not the only ones here .... having Mark Rolston as "neighbor" ... I mean genius move, right? Yes is the answer. The being crazy part is or can get a bit annoying, but if you stick with it, the movie will reward ... well sort of ... you may not like the "reward" ...
4am and what to watch...Hmmmm....
Luv_2_b_scared12 January 2002
Ok... It's 4am and I'm up. So what's on TV? 150 channels on the air (flip-flip-flip) Well What's this? I know her and look he's in this too. Oh what's their names? I'll have to remember to look. But I never knew they did anything together. Hmmmm... I'll watch this for a few. Well, now she's a nut. Oh but wait he's what? Why is she like this? Oh I see. Maybe? No-yes-well-maybe... She's a nut with help. Oh and her neighbor is too. COOL!!! ^ That is how I came across this movie. ^ But this is A GREAT MOVIE if you like erotic psychological thrillers with a twist. It has everything: love, sex, adultery, a heathy dose of fear, hatred, a mentally unsound woman with a reason that been pushed too far and murder plot(s). It's got it all. Everything for a good late night movie. It's not big budget but it is big names. (Rebecca DeMornay and Michael Rooker) With a small tight cast of characters who's lives and mental states interlock smoothly with each other. Everything as to why is explained with the unfolding of the movie. There are several psychological twists. The suspense makes you hold your breath, look around every corner and behind every door. The only thing left untold is what happens to the people left after all is said and done. But great and well worth the price to rent the movie or the time to set the VCR to record it. A MUST SEE for psychological thriller lovers!
ENTERTAINING FILM !
whpratt15 January 2004
It was very enjoyable watching this film and trying to figure out just what direction the director was taking the audience. Rebecca DeMornay (Ruth),"Backdraft",'91, was very attractive and very sexy as a suspecting wife and went to all kinds of expense to trap her husband in any way that she could. Michael Rooker(Matt),"The Replacement Killers",'98, tried to satisfy two wives and I must say he did a pretty good job of making both of them smile and laugh at times! Mark Rolston(Tom),"Blade Runner",97, Ruth's next door neighbor soon got the hots for her and turned out to be quite the lover. If you love Rebecca DeMornay and good acting by Michael Rooker and Mark Rolston, this is a must see film. The actors must have had their LAUGHS acting in this film!
A true dark comedy/suspense
MsDivine6 June 2002
This movie was much better than the mainstream "hand that rocked the cradle." The story and the good acting is what kept me watching this movie. I liked it because all actors had unique characters. Rebecca's character as the lonely housewife whose husband leads a double life, is one that was portrayed very well. Michael Rooker as the manipulative 2 timing husband who tried to fake his own death. And of course the killer who lived next door. This movie was packed with drama, suspense and what I would refer to as dark comedy. I don't mind that this came straight to video. It's not easy for some to watch movies that stay away from the mainstream. I give this movie a perfect score!
Bravura performance for DeMornay
geraldclare15 December 2001
This was an excellent picture with an outstanding performance by Rebecca DeMornay as a a psychotic married to a bigamist. DeMornay's performance as the mercurial Ruth was very convincing, I say this having known people like her personally and professionally. Well Done!
Good and unpredictable
john_roslyn26 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Well RdM really is a superb psychotic. The plot may not be entirely likely, but it is certainly unpredictable and unlikely things happen in real life.
I think some reviews are very uncharitable. Compared to some of the nonsense that finds it's way onto Prime this is really good.
One point - another reviewer said we don't find out what happens to those left behind, but wasn't the last shot about "finding the other half"?
I'd hate to think!
I think some reviews are very uncharitable. Compared to some of the nonsense that finds it's way onto Prime this is really good.
One point - another reviewer said we don't find out what happens to those left behind, but wasn't the last shot about "finding the other half"?
I'd hate to think!
Looks and feels like it was made for Video. Oh ... it was?
Lemos20 November 2000
Well okay it was a cold wet Sunday and I did not really feel like taxing the brain cells so ... I sat down and watched this on DVD. Rebecca de Mornay is usually worth a look at so all I can say is I tolerated it. I am biased as you will later see. A few twists and turn at the end add a little spice to this okay thriller. Otherwise Ms. Rebecca just carries on type-casting herself that is; see "The Hand that Rocked the Cradle". This I lament has done her no good at all. Oh yes ... a few sexy scenes from Ms. De Mornay are always nice to watch. After all I was a teenager just like Tom was, about the time she did Risky Business and she was a big part in many a dream then. After this credit to her she is still somewhere in my dreams.
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