Watch While She Was Out
- R
- 2008
- 1 hr 28 min
-
4.8 (7,391)
While She Was Out is a 2008 thriller film directed by Susan Montford and based on a short story by Edward Bryant. The movie stars Kim Basinger as Della, a homemaker and mother who is struggling to cope with her troubled marriage. Lukas Haas plays Chuckie, a teenage gang leader who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Craig Sheffer appears as Kenneth, Della's abusive husband.
The movie is set on Christmas Eve when Della heads out to the mall to run some last-minute errands. As she navigates the crowds and chaos, she becomes increasingly frustrated with the materialistic nature of the holiday season. When her car is accosted by Chuckie and his gang of thugs, she finds herself in a nightmarish situation.
Della is forced to flee into the nearby woods, pursued by Chuckie and his gang. Armed only with a toolbox and her wit, she must do everything in her power to stay alive. Along the way, she seeks refuge in a construction site, where she uses her tools to fashion deadly traps and weapons.
Meanwhile, Della's husband Kenneth is desperately searching for her, determined to bring her back home at any cost. As Della fights for survival in the woods, she begins to realize that her homemaker persona has given her vast reserves of strength and resilience.
One of the central themes of the movie is the social pressures that lead people to act against their own best interests. Through Della's ordeal, we see how materialism and consumerism can warp people's priorities, encouraging them to place their possessions above their own safety and wellbeing. While She Was Out also explores the ways in which gender roles are enforced in our society, as Della defies expectations and thrives in an adversarial environment.
The film features standout performances from Basinger, Haas, and Sheffer, who expertly convey the emotional pain and moral complexity of their characters. Montford's direction keeps the tension high throughout the film, with expert use of sound, editing, and camera work to accentuate the suspenseful nature of Della's journey.
Overall, While She Was Out is a gripping and thought-provoking thriller that explores important themes while maintaining an intense, pulse-pounding pace. With its strong performances and expert direction, it is a film that is sure to stay with viewers long after the credits roll.
While She Was Out is a 2008 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.8 and a MetaScore of 40.