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A Woman Under the Influence

Play trailer 2:59 Poster for A Woman Under the Influence R Released Oct 10, 1974 2h 35m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Mabel Longhetti (Gena Rowlands), desperate and lonely, is married to a Los Angeles municipal construction worker, Nick (Peter Falk). Increasingly unstable, especially in the company of others, she craves happiness, but her extremely volatile behavior convinces Nick that she poses a danger to their family and decides to commit her to an institution for six months. Alone with a trio of kids to raise on his own, he awaits her return, which holds more than a few surprises.
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A Woman Under the Influence

A Woman Under the Influence

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Critics Consensus

Electrified by searing performances from Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk, A Woman Under the Influence finds pioneering independent filmmaker John Cassavetes working at his artistic peak.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker Cassavetes has gone so far over to the most literal-minded Laing position that the society he shows us is implausible -- a society of boorish people with such limited awareness that they're barely human. Sep 27, 2023 Full Review Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting 'Be yourself,' Nick implores Mabel. But how do you be yourself if you have no longer have a self? Rated: 4.5/5 Mar 2, 2019 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Cassavetes makes the viewer's frustration work as part of the film's expressiveness; it has an emotional rhythm unlike anything else I've ever seen. Feb 7, 2019 Full Review Jack Kapica Montreal Gazette Not a scene is wasted in 2 hours and 30 minutes of drama, and it is pure joy to watch such accomplished actors work with all the time they need for fully fleshed performances. Oct 11, 2023 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Regarded by some as John Cassavetes’ masterpiece, it’s also not a bad place for Cassavetes newcomers to start. Rated: A Nov 29, 2022 Full Review Wael Khairy The Cinephile Fix John Cassavetes’ most revered film, “A Woman Under the Influence”, is one of cinema’s exemplary works of realism. Oct 14, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Julian S A deeply frustrating story that leaves you fuming. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/10/25 Full Review Blu B All Time Classic. The acting can only be described as powerhouse and the dialouge never feels snappy or meandering but very honest. I'm not sure how else to describe it. It just feels very real like were watching a reality show if that makes sense. Like someone has a video camera and is making a home movie (not in a found footage way though) and capturing these real moments. Falk & Rowlands are incredible in this and watching them explode with emotions is amazing. It's a long film but man the drama is so deep and heartbreaking at times. My take was a woman is crazy for just wanting to be happy and spend time with her husband and be loved. And yet the husband arguably the one who is even crazier is seen is arbitraily seen as sane by family and society. A clear double standard that the film never stands on a soapbox and preaches. The family dynamics are so real and raw. Masterfully edited and paced as well. It never felt dry either and the setting of a simple house in 1974 feels so memorable at the same time. I didn't love it personally but I can't deny how well done this is. Everyone should give this a try once. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/06/25 Full Review Dolores S Very well acted and I expected to love it, but I have to confess that I thought it was deadly, only got about a third of the way through. I found it both annoying and boring. The main character is a woman with obvious mental health issues not getting the help she needs by, spinning out, and overall weird family dynamics. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/29/24 Full Review Dallas H The pacing is way too drawn out. For me, the emotional weight could have been sufficiently made in an hour and forty-five to a max of two hours, but not at two and a half hours. A few of the scenes felt like they were relentlessly long. My good heavens was Peter Falk's character an A-grade selfish asshole that pushes Gena Rowlands's character into the deep end of the insanity pool with the extreme amount of stress he places on her with all his yelling. It was tangibly evident when she returned from her six months at the mental health institution. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/17/24 Full Review Rare T A Woman Under the Influence has some of the greatest acting one could see, especially from Gena Rowlands, but that’s about it. It could’ve delved into other subplots to keep the viewer engaged, instead of relying solely on one and the same idea, especially that it spawns for about 150 minutes. This movie is not made for everyone, but rather for those with patience. If you don’t like slow-paced movies, then you most probably won’t enjoy this one - without denying its cultural significance. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/10/24 Full Review Scott M Didn't enjoy it. The acting is atrocious. The dialog is embarrassing. I think Cassavetes wanted them to improv most of their lines. That's a mistake because they sucked at it. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 05/16/24 Full Review Read all reviews
A Woman Under the Influence

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Mabel Longhetti (Gena Rowlands), desperate and lonely, is married to a Los Angeles municipal construction worker, Nick (Peter Falk). Increasingly unstable, especially in the company of others, she craves happiness, but her extremely volatile behavior convinces Nick that she poses a danger to their family and decides to commit her to an institution for six months. Alone with a trio of kids to raise on his own, he awaits her return, which holds more than a few surprises.
Director
John Cassavetes
Producer
Sam Shaw
Distributor
Touchstone Pictures
Production Co
Faces
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 10, 1974, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 29, 2011
Runtime
2h 35m
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