Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Too much of everything

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Blistering performances.

Michael Caine is a formerly successful playwright of the macabre who has had four flops on Broadway in a row, and his latest is an absolute disaster. He sees a way for a smash hit, and it is as sinister as any of the plots of his plays. It involves murder, of course, and his ailing wife (Dyan Cannon) can't believe her eyes when right before them he seemingly murders a young playwright (Christopher Reeve). This of course leads to some surprising revelations and thanks to the presence of a nosy neighbor (the very funny Irene Worth), the twists keep coming at you like raindrops during a hurricane.There is no way to review this without giving away much, and the film should reveal its twists naturally with little being known. I will say then, that this is a clever and handsome adaption of the hit Broadway play, surprising many with a sudden kiss between two of the performers that comes out of nowhere, featuring Cannon's howling scream every time someone comes into a room. She is delightfully funny, a lot less sinister than her conniving wife in "Heaven Can Wait", yet equally as frenetic. The shot of Caine's play being performed at Broadway's Music Box Theatre reveals a play obviously so bad it is surprising that it made it there at all. Real critics come on to spoof their own television images and that gives this a realistic approach to Broadway opening night with Caine proceeding to get rip-roaring drunk, dropping a bottle as he catches a train at Grand Central Station.$52 later from his Long Island stop to his windmill home (a gorgeous set worthy of mention) and Caine is harping at his nervous wife and plotting a scheme so nefarious that you will never know what is going to come next. Reeve's character, the young playwright who becomes a "victim" of Caine's scheme, has issues of his own, and those who have any connection with the theater, whether it be professionally or like me a regular audience, will recognize the type he is playing. Caine cleverly identifies him as a sociopath, and this is where the play twists towards one up-manship, and a revelation involving the delightful North that will have you howling.A clever supporting performance by the delightful Henry Jones as Cannon's attorney is small but importantly revealing to many things going on. His high-hat pitched voice, slightly snobby nose sniffing things out around him, yet obvious compassion, makes Jones one of the more interesting character actors of his time. Actors like him can take a very small role and make their presence unforgettable.With speedy pacing by Sidney Lumet, Ira Levin's play (adapted by him for the screen) is a delightful black comedy of deception, betrayal and a surprise involving someone being exactly in the right place at the right time. Everybody is on their toes in this, sort of the murderous "Noises Off!", another comical play about the theater which would later be a movie starring none other than Michael Caine.

I went into Deathtrap expecting a well orchestrated and intriguing thriller; and while that's something like what this film is; I also can't help but think that it's just a poor man's Sleuth. The classic 1972 film is obviously an inspiration for this film; not particularly in terms of the plot, but certainly it's the case with the execution. The casting of Michael Caine in the central role just confirms it. The film is based on a play by Ira Levin (who previously wrote Rosemary's Baby and The Stepford Wives) and focuses on Sidney Bruhl; a playwright whose best days are behind him. After his latest play bombs, Sidney finds himself at a low; and this is not helped when a play named Deathtrap; written by an amateur he taught, arrives on his doorstep. Deathtrap is a guaranteed commercial success, and Sidney soon begins hatching a plot of his own; which involves inviting round the amateur scribe, killing him, and then passing Deathtrap off as his own work.Despite all of its clever twists and turns; Deathtrap falls down on one primary element, and that's the characters. The film fails to provide a single likable character, and it's very hard to care about the story when you're not rooting for any of the players. This is not helped by the acting. Michael Caine puts in a good and entertaining performance as you would expect, but nobody else does themselves proud. Christopher Reeve is awkward in his role, while Dyan Cannon somehow manages to make the only possibly likable character detestable with a frankly irritating performance. It's lucky then that the story is good; and it is just about good enough to save the film. The plot features plenty of twists and turns; some work better than others, but there's always enough going on to ensure that the film stays interesting. Director Sidney Lumet deserves some credit too as the style of the film is another huge plus. The central location is interesting in its own right, and the cinematography fits the film well. Overall, I have to admit that I did enjoy this film; but it could have been much, much better.

I do not believe all the praise for this movie. The play and movie were a ripoff of Sleuth. Michael Caine wishes he were Olivier, and Reeves wishes he were Caine. Caine even had the nerve to do a remake of Sleuth with Jude Law playing his original part. Jude Law? You mean the one that did the remake of "Alfie"? This movie was made during a period of Caine's career when it was obvious he needed to pay off gambling debts. He would do anything for money. He would star in such award winning movies such as this, and "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure". What seems to be driving the praise for this movie is Reeves death. He deserves better than to be remembered for this lousy movie. And so does Caine. This movie can be found in the $5.97 bin at Walmart. Along with gems like "The Island", and "Blame it on Rio".

Shame really - very rarely do I watch a film and am left feeling disappointed at the end. I've seen quite a few of Ira Levin's adaptations - 'Rosemary's Baby' and 'The Stepford Wives' - and liked both them, but this just didn't appeal to me.When I read the plot outline - an award winning playwright (Michael Caine) decides to murder one of his former pupils (Christopher Reeve) and steel his script for his own success - I was excited. I like thrillers, Michael Caine's a good actor, Sidney Lumet's a good director and Ira Levin's work is generally good.I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but all I'd say is there are LOADS of twists and turns. So many its kind of hard to explain the film's plot line in detail, without giving it away. I enjoyed the first ... 45 minutes, before the twists and turns began to occur and at that point my interest and enjoyment began to fade out. Though I have to give Lumet credit for the very amusing ending which did make me laugh out loud.The main cast - Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve, Dyan Cannon and Irene Worth - were all brilliant in their roles. Though Worth's obvious fake Russian accent got on my nerves slightly (nothing personal Irene, I think any actor's fake accent would irritate me). Not sure if Cannon's character was meant to be annoyingly funny but Dyan managed to annoy and amuse - at the same time.Anyone reading this - I don't want you to be put-off watching this because of my views - give it a chance, you may like it, you may not. It's all about opinion.