I was surprised that I hadn't heard of this film until recently, being a Jennifer Jason Leigh fan. It's not for all tastes and this may account for why so few have heard of it. The recent release on Blu- Ray may remedy that. Many reviewers here are not sure what genre it falls into, as it seems to have elements of several. That makes it all the more fascinating and compelling to see the directions it could go.
Carol Rivers (Leigh) is hoping for a fresh start after a history of mental instability and the club that her uncle Fletcher left to her seems the ideal place to start. Despite her mother's (Brenda Vaccaro) objections, Carol feels that this may be her last chance at independence and goes for it. Although her uncle had been estranged from the family, Carol has a few fond memories of him, despite the fact that the nightclub, "The Midnight" had a seedy and dark reputation. She has contractors working, and hopes to turn it into a respectable place, but she gets more than she bargained for, in more ways than one. The place is filled with strange rooms, lurid videos that seem to play on their own, and Carol begins to feel uneasy as she senses that she's not alone. Is it all in her head or is someone or something out to get her? After being attacked by three of the construction workers (lead by Steve Buscemi), Carol is dismissed and ridiculed by police lieutenant Ledray (Frank Stallone) who throws her history of mental instability in her face. Only social worker Mariana (Denise Dumont) shows Carol any compassion. Ledray does make a point of saying that they will send an officer, Detective Sharpe, over to check on Carol, and not long after, a mysterious man (Peter Coyote) shows up and claims to be the said policeman. He seems to know much more than he's willing to reveal to the traumatized young woman. Who is he and what does he know? As the film progresses, Carol begins to realize that she and Uncle Fletcher had a "special" relationship, and that it was far more disturbing than she initially thought.
It's not a perfect film, as some have stated, the low-budget often shows, and there are some plot holes, but writer/director Matthew Chapman keeps you guessing, and the use of sound and colors (particularly red) have a significance to the story. All of the actors do excellent jobs but it is Leigh who holds it all together, and as always, she does a magnificent job. She carefully researches her roles and here she creates a character who has been so damaged by something in her past that is buried in her subconscious mind, and the movie serves as a reminder that even suppressed memories can manifest in other ways. Carol struggles with low self-esteem and recoils at physical contact with others, particularly men. Emotionally fragile and very vulnerable, Carol is a sympathetic figure and Leigh has the quality that often makes audiences want to protect her.
Although the similarities between this movie and Roman Polanski's "Repulsion" (1965) cannot be denied, "Heart Of Midnight" has a unique quality all its own. You may find yourself jumping at the slightest noise after seeing this, but more than that, it will make you think, and maybe look at some things differently. Jennifer Jason Leigh should be commended for portraying a character whose past experiences and issues are unfortunately very relevant today.
Carol Rivers (Leigh) is hoping for a fresh start after a history of mental instability and the club that her uncle Fletcher left to her seems the ideal place to start. Despite her mother's (Brenda Vaccaro) objections, Carol feels that this may be her last chance at independence and goes for it. Although her uncle had been estranged from the family, Carol has a few fond memories of him, despite the fact that the nightclub, "The Midnight" had a seedy and dark reputation. She has contractors working, and hopes to turn it into a respectable place, but she gets more than she bargained for, in more ways than one. The place is filled with strange rooms, lurid videos that seem to play on their own, and Carol begins to feel uneasy as she senses that she's not alone. Is it all in her head or is someone or something out to get her? After being attacked by three of the construction workers (lead by Steve Buscemi), Carol is dismissed and ridiculed by police lieutenant Ledray (Frank Stallone) who throws her history of mental instability in her face. Only social worker Mariana (Denise Dumont) shows Carol any compassion. Ledray does make a point of saying that they will send an officer, Detective Sharpe, over to check on Carol, and not long after, a mysterious man (Peter Coyote) shows up and claims to be the said policeman. He seems to know much more than he's willing to reveal to the traumatized young woman. Who is he and what does he know? As the film progresses, Carol begins to realize that she and Uncle Fletcher had a "special" relationship, and that it was far more disturbing than she initially thought.
It's not a perfect film, as some have stated, the low-budget often shows, and there are some plot holes, but writer/director Matthew Chapman keeps you guessing, and the use of sound and colors (particularly red) have a significance to the story. All of the actors do excellent jobs but it is Leigh who holds it all together, and as always, she does a magnificent job. She carefully researches her roles and here she creates a character who has been so damaged by something in her past that is buried in her subconscious mind, and the movie serves as a reminder that even suppressed memories can manifest in other ways. Carol struggles with low self-esteem and recoils at physical contact with others, particularly men. Emotionally fragile and very vulnerable, Carol is a sympathetic figure and Leigh has the quality that often makes audiences want to protect her.
Although the similarities between this movie and Roman Polanski's "Repulsion" (1965) cannot be denied, "Heart Of Midnight" has a unique quality all its own. You may find yourself jumping at the slightest noise after seeing this, but more than that, it will make you think, and maybe look at some things differently. Jennifer Jason Leigh should be commended for portraying a character whose past experiences and issues are unfortunately very relevant today.