STRANGE IMPERSONATION is an odd and unsatisfying little slice of film noir that plays havoc with established genre elements. The main characters in this film are all women who take the moniker 'femme fatale' to the extreme: they're far more violent than the men, and willing to take part in schemes often dangerous and deadly.
The story bears more than a passing resemblance to the British crime film RETURN OF A STRANGER in the tale of a leading scientist who ends up being horrifically scarred in a laboratory accident. A hefty dollop of plastic surgery follows, at which point the woman decides to wreak revenge on the various characters who have ruined her life - with deadly results.
While this film can be quite watchable at times, overall it's a disappointment. The acting is a bit too shrill for my tastes, and Brenda Marshall is hardly the type of heroine who it's easy to identify with. But the worst thing about it by far is the twist ending, which is a real kick in the teeth to anybody who's bothered to waste their time watching this.
The story bears more than a passing resemblance to the British crime film RETURN OF A STRANGER in the tale of a leading scientist who ends up being horrifically scarred in a laboratory accident. A hefty dollop of plastic surgery follows, at which point the woman decides to wreak revenge on the various characters who have ruined her life - with deadly results.
While this film can be quite watchable at times, overall it's a disappointment. The acting is a bit too shrill for my tastes, and Brenda Marshall is hardly the type of heroine who it's easy to identify with. But the worst thing about it by far is the twist ending, which is a real kick in the teeth to anybody who's bothered to waste their time watching this.