The Fox

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Dave S Other than some lovely winter landscapes and some controversial subject matter (at least for its time), there's really no reason to waste energy in watching The Fox. The story? A pair of seemingly mismatched lesbians struggle to operate a farm and find themselves in a battle with a wily fox who seems quite comfortable wandering into the henhouse to steal what is not his. Suddenly, a handsome young man saunters into the house and, like the fox, decides to steal what is not his. Clearly, there's nothing subtle about The Fox. On top of that, the story is ludicrous, the ending is laughable, the score sounds like its from a 70s police drama, and the message, if that's what it is, seems a bit insulting. And by the way, watch out for falling trees. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 05/09/23 Full Review steve d Unpleasant story that tries to shock more than entertain. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The best romance movie ever made! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Only Heywood seems suited to her complex role. And even her competent performance is wasted in the haze of the film's self-consciousness. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review eric b A three-actor movie (well, minus a brief character at the end and one train conductor), "The Fox" is about a wintery power struggle between two isolated female farmers (Sandy Dennis, Anne Heywood) and a sexually potent drifter (Keir Dullea). Its main importance is its stature as a vanguard lesbian film, but it pulls its punches and keeps the couple's relationship ambiguous except for one quick scene. It's probably not coincidence that the film arrived during the peak of Ingmar Bergman's renown, because its small cast and determined focus on intense, psychological interplay certainly reflects the director's influence. But this approach comes with a grave risk of turning heavy-handed, and "The Fox" fully stumbles into this trap. Dennis is just the same rheumy, babbling character she always plays, but Heywood and Dullea really go over the top with all their tortured stares and portentous silences. And the obvious "fox in the henhouse" metaphor is hammered, hammered and hammered again. Lalo Schifrin adds a pretty score and the lovely cinematography takes advantage of the snowy, woodsy setting, but the central problem is that Dullea's character is so sullen, cruel and unpleasant that the women's attraction to him doesn't seem plausible. One outdoor scene has a strange, avant-garde insertion with freeze frames and flashes of orange, and it is anyone's guess what director Mark Rydell (who also helmed the structurally similar "On Golden Pond") intended here. Heywood grants some wholly unnecessary nudity for spice, and sensitive viewers may object to two disturbing moments of animal violence. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Chopping down a 2' diameter tree in a few minutes with warning to get out of the way was off. Apologizing for not marring this jerk made little sense. The winter setting was a nice tone. It is not close to being a masterpiece. Maybe in its day it was ground breaking. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Fox

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