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Wicked
1998 88 min United States of America R 18+
★5.4
Thriller
Director: Michael Steinberg
Trailers
Description
A cul-de-sac in an oppressive suburb becomes a literal dead end for wife and mother Karen Christianson when she is brutally murdered in her own home. In the wake of the event, Karen's teenage daughter Ellie begins to exhibit bizarre behaviors as she slowly acquires her mother's demeanor and mannerisms. Meanwhile, Karen's husband Ben nurtures a less-than-innocent interest in the family's sultry live-in nanny, Lena.
Budget:
$4M
Starring
Louise Myrback
Actor
Julia Stiles
Actor
Chelsea Field
Actor
Awards
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 1998
— Best Actress
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 1998
— Crystal Globe
Key opinion
Wicked (1998) is a quintessential 90s 'Lethal Lolita' thriller that offers a compelling, star-making performance by Julia Stiles. While the film captures the aesthetic and thematic tropes of the genre, it struggles to maintain its tension, ultimately shifting from a suspenseful whodunnit into a more sluggish, uneven drama.
| Acting | Julia Stiles delivers a magnetic and commanding lead performance that anchors the film's premise. | |
| Originality | The film effectively carves out a niche within the 90s 'Lethal Lolita' genre, offering enough unique stylistic nuances to stand apart from contemporaries like The Crush. | |
| Pacing | The narrative trajectory is inconsistent, beginning as an engaging whodunnit but devolving into a sluggish and methodical drama. | |
| Ending | The film's conclusion is regarded as weak and somewhat foolish, undermining the tension built throughout the thriller. |