The ending is undeniably bad and it feels like a weird studio note but I can't find anywhere online that says it's true. The film also inspired the song "Helena" by The Misfits from their album Famous Monsters. I thought that this film was very weird but at the same time i couldn't help but like it. The film was referenced in the television series Gilmore Girls (S3:E7 “They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They?”). "Boxing Helena" was originally rated "NC-17" by the MPAA. Directed by Jennifer Lynch. Lynch's camera is so unsettling as we always feel his gaze everywhere in the film. To the disgust of Anne, Helena strips to her underwear, and dances in a fountain upon arrival. —Rob Hartill. Yes, halfway through this I was ready to give it a moderately favourable review. helena got in an accident (possibly near his house). Herb Dorfman, Orion Pictures Home Video Executive, Dies at 77, 04 February 2020 On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 17% score based on 35 reviews, with an average rating of 3.68/10. They didn’t see her as broken, they saw her as beautiful. For along time I have avoided this movie because I was told it was so bad! Hint: it's this one. Wow. The plot is bizarre and perhaps sick at times, ending abruptly and with a twist. Of course, she disagrees, but when she barely survives a horrible accident, she wakes to find herself at his mercy. it was upsetting. The cut footage in the UNRATED DVD version is as follows: $787,724 There is ONE redeeming quality who deserves a full star and that's Bill Paxton and only because he is Bill Paxton. Don't get the hate for this. It's operating in that balance between art and exploitation, which is a place I enjoy spending time. A surgeon becomes obsessed with the seductive woman he once was in an affair with. Boxing Helena is a 1993 American mystery thriller film with horror elements directed by Jennifer Lynch, and starring Sherilyn Fenn, Julian Sands and Bill Paxton. Variety A surgeon becomes obsessed with the seductive woman he once was in an affair with. What follows next is an almost indescribable, surreal love story of sorts. Your email address will not be published. The main character has an English accent, even though neither of his parents (both of whom are heard speaking) do, the story takes place in America, and it is implied that he grew up there as well. Yes, yes, some of the performances range from wooden to hammy. I can handle the truth. The score heard during the scene where Helena showers in a fountain, while a party crowd watches, was originally composed by Graeme Revell and based on the "Love Theme" used sparsely elsewhere in the film, with vocals by Bobbi Page. The DVD contains 1 minute of sexually explicit footage that had to be cut for the "R" rating. just needed to make sure my hate was justified! Nick is taking care of her at his home. Back in 1993 a little film studio called Main Line pictures was financing the screenwriting and directorial debut of Jennifer Chambers-Lynch. It's well-acted, with Julian Sands an optimal 90s mad surgeon, and Sherilyn Fenn straight out of Twin Peaks, a convincing object of desire. And a manic Bill Paxton in tight leather pants lurking in the bushes. traces of an actual creepy beloved-prisoner type movie, with the phones, but not nearly enough of that. Nick Cavanaugh (Sands) is a … When Nick fantasizes about Helena and Ray having sex we see a shot of most of Helena's butt in her thong underwear; Helena removing Ray's pants where we see part of his bare butt; Ray kissing up Helena's body where we see one of her breasts; and finally one last shot that shows Helena's breasts very briefly. Favorite film featuring an amputee or amputation? View production, box office, & company info, Philippe Caland (story), Drama, Mystery, Romance. Helpless. [2], The film received negative reviews from critics upon release and was widely considered to be of poor quality,[15] despite garnering praise at Sundance. The plot is bizarre and perhaps sick at times, ending abruptly and with a twist. If you haven’t seen it check it out you might enjoy it if you embrace the oddness! Taglines Beautiful. It's...Boxing Helena. I have been a Sherilyn Fenn fan since she first appeared on Twin Peaks. Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Synopsis submission guide. It's directed by David Lynch's daughter and I'm sad to say she shows zero talent in either her film writing or direction. The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival. not funny enough to be cult but an oddball worth its controversy, i believe. Auburn Wanderer 202 films 3,079 342 Edit. I thought I was broken and that maybe someday someone would find me beautiful. but easily my favourite part is when she gets a silent call and is hung up on and is so pissed off by this…. yeah i just watched this bc of this misfits song but honestly? You're all aware of this one, yeah? And the ending, though it's not perfect, at least excuses a…, While painfully making my way through Boxing Helena I couldn't help but think of David Lynch and what he thought of his daughter's directorial debut the first time he had to sit and pretend to pay attention to the events unfolding on screen. At the producers' request, "The Fountain Song", written and performed by Wendy Levy, replaced Revell's score in the DVD and subsequent releases. Helena discusses with Nick, and is hit by a car in front of Nick's mansion. To be honest I didn't really care for it so not only wouldn't I watch it with dear old mom, I wouldn't watch it with anyone! Wish we got more out of Lynch before her 15-year retirement and her return making cheap direct-to-video thrillers and Bollywood movies, because her direction is creative and fascinating. this movie rules. Doctor Nicholas "Nick" Cavanaugh is a successful surgeon, who lives with his colleague Anne Garret. Feels like the essential formula of a genuinely freaky melodramatic thriller from the 50's (think What Ever Happened to Baby Jane or Leave Her to Heaven) as filtered through the 90's erotic thriller. Later, he amputates her arms above the elbow after she tries to choke him. letterboxd.com/naughty/list/scavenger-hunt-2/, ___________________________________________________________________. It's a damning look at those who have control and who like to take away the control of women. Refusing to accept that she has moved on, he amputates her limbs and holds her captive in his mansion. Made by fans in Auckland, New Zealand. In writing Lynch was inspired by some elements from her own childhood, stating to Vice that her being born with club feet, and her grandmother owning a Venus De Milo replica, influenced her insight into the characters,[5] explaining: It always struck me the way people looked at the Venus. All rights reserved. Instead of heading back home to his girlfriend, Anne (Betsy Clark), Nick climbs a tree, and peeps on Helena. What universally reviled film came out to little fanfare, terrible critical reviews, even worse audience scores, turned the film industry against itself and just so happened to change the way Hollywood contracts are negotiated? Unfortunately, I am just seeing this now and so all of the things that would have seemed original or pushing the limits in 1993, just feel tired and cliché today. Movies. R Not wanting to live life without her, he tries to convince her that they are perfect for each other. | But anywho, this movie is good. There's way more explicit sex in a Jane Campion movie than in this. Of course, she disagrees, but when she barely survives a horrible accident, she wakes to find herself at his mercy. I kinda loved it?! Based off the insane one sentence description, it seemed like it would be body horror. Parents Guide. It felt predictable and very amateurish in the end...my opinion would have most likely been different had I actually seen this when it was released and not nearly…. [16] Metacritic reports a 26 out of 100 rating based on 14 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". I wish I had another dozen films from Jennifer Lynch like this. helena got in an accident (possibly near his house). A woman is something soft; something warm when you feel her. The next day, Helena calls Nick to retrieve her bag she accidentally left there. On February 1, 2021, MHM's Film Reviews will only be available on our YouTube Channel. Design and text © 1996 - 2020 Jon Sandys. but evidently the surgeon and helena had a fling together and she dumped him. Boxing Helena: 1993: 107: R: Ending: Doctor Nick is the best in his surgical field, but he's a bit on the obsessed sort of way with a woman who once dumped him after one night together. You see that things happen inside of her. With Julian Sands, Sherilyn Fenn, Bill Paxton, Kurtwood Smith. Directed by Jennifer Lynch daughter of David Lynch. Laura Saladino 457 films 1,393 40 Edit, Buzzfeed once published a list of all the movies referenced in Gilmore Girls, which was great, but also not entirely…, mattyfastwheelz 1,344 films 3,774 111 Edit, Fight Professor 1,052 films 2,543 12 Edit, The film noir genre generally refers to mystery and crime dramas produced from the early 1940s to the late 1950s.…, Jayce Fryman 18,689 films 2,950 99 Edit, This list collects every film from the Starting List that became They Shoot Pictures Don't They's 1000 Greatest Films. [11][12], Meanwhile, Sherilyn Fenn, who had previously worked with Lynch's father on Twin Peaks, was chosen for the title role of Helena in December 1991. She intends to get married with him, but Nick is obsessed by the tramp Helena, with whom he had some kind of shallow relationship in the past. Boxing Helena is a 1993 American mystery thriller film with horror elements directed by Jennifer Lynch, and starring Sherilyn Fenn, Julian Sands and Bill Paxton. a morbid curiosity since i was a teenager....i hadnt yet started indulging in laughable 90s erotic thrillers but i guess in my heart that love was still there, unfed. And the ending, though it's not perfect, at least excuses a… Review by Hollie Horror ★ 6 While painfully making my way through Boxing Helena I couldn't help but think of David Lynch and what he thought of his daughter's directorial debut the first time he had to sit and pretend to pay attention to the events unfolding on screen. [5] At first Lynch didn't take to the concept, reportedly telling him "Well, that sounds kind of terrible. Julian Sands Sherilyn Fenn Bill Paxton Art Garfunkel Betsy Clark Kurtwood Smith Nicolette Scorsese Meg Register Bryan Smith Marla Levine Kim Lentz Lloyd T. Williams Carl Mazzocone Sr. Erik Shoaff Lisa Oz Ted Manson Adele K. Schaeffer Amy Levin Matt Berry D. Taylor Loeb, Philippe Caland Larry Sugar Carl Mazzocone James R. Schaeffer, Dane A. Davis Todd Toon Ken S. Polk Robert Thirlwell Kini Kay, Encaixotando Helena, 情碎海倫娜, Елена в ящике, 107 mins I think if she was directing it again, she would do much better. really weird movie. After receiving an NC-17 rating by the MPAA, the film was given an R-rating on appeal and released in the United States in September 1993, but received critical backlash and was a financial failure. Not so much Lynchian, more Verhoevenesque, but all the better for it. One day while jogging in his neighborhood, Nick spots Helena’s car. 1993 Comment suggestions of what other films to add. This is certainly as flawed as EWS (and just as stupidly 90's), if not more so, but in ways I ultimately prefer.