Watch Defenseless
- R
- 1991
- 1 hr 44 min
-
5.5 (1,217)
Defenseless is a 1991 thriller film directed by Martin Campbell and starring Barbara Hershey, Sam Shepard, and Mary Beth Hurt. The movie revolves around a young and beautiful lawyer named Alex, played by Barbara Hershey. She has just recently moved to San Francisco with her husband Jack (Sam Shepard), who is also a lawyer. Jack is more established in his career, and he has received an offer to work with a prestigious law firm, which is why they decided to move.
Alex is assigned to defend a high-profile wealthy client named Michael, who is accused of murdering his wife. Alex takes on the case, and as she starts to dig deeper into the case, she realizes that things are not as simple as they seem. Alex begins to discover shocking truths about her client and his past, which makes her question his innocence.
As Alex continues to investigate, she finds herself being followed, and at one point, she is even attacked in her own home. She becomes increasingly paranoid and scared for her life. Her husband Jack is of little help, as he is caught up in his own workload and does not have enough time to offer her any support. Alex must rely on herself and her own instincts to uncover the truth and expose the real killer.
Throughout the movie, the tension steadily increases, and the audience is kept on edge as they try to piece together the clues. The cinematography is stunning, and the movie's San Francisco setting is expertly captured. The entire cast delivers excellent performances, but it is Barbara Hershey's portrayal of Alex that stands out. She perfectly captures the vulnerability and strength required of the character.
Mary Beth Hurt also puts in a great performance as Jack's ex-girlfriend who reappears in their lives just as Alex begins her investigation. She adds a layer of mystery and intrigue to the story, making it difficult to know who can be trusted. Sam Shepard does a good job as Jack, though his character is not as fleshed out as Alex's.
The themes of power and corruption are explored throughout Defenseless, particularly in the scenes set in the law firm where Jack works. The cutthroat atmosphere leads to some tense interactions between the lawyers, and Alex finds herself navigating a system that seemingly rewards winning at any cost.
Overall, Defenseless is an excellent thriller that keeps the audience hooked until the end. It expertly blends mystery and suspense, and the strong performances make it stand out from other movies in the genre. The twists and turns in the plot keep the viewer guessing until the very end, making it a movie worth watching.
Defenseless is a 1991 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5.