Ms. 45
A woman living in the big city finds herself marginalized after being attacked and raped. When this happens a second time, and in her own apartment no less, she retaliates with vengeance. Ms. 45 (1981) was helmed by Abel Ferrara also with a vengeance. It’s star Zoë Tamerlis Lund as Thana has a model’s stunning grace and lends the story credibility through her portrayal of a meek mute victim who decides to speak with firepower.
Thana works in the garment district, which gives the film license to get creative with costume design. Ferrara also brings a gritty realistic feel to Ms. 45 rendering New York City dangerous whether on the streets or in apartment closets.
When Thana is assaulted in her apartment she ends up getting the upper hand on her attacker and killing him. Up to this point in Ms. 45 Thana acts like any average person would. After the defensive action though Thana’s path of normality ends.
Thana drags the body to her bathtub and cuts it into pieces. Then she takes said body parts, places them in dark plastic trash bags and, with the exception of the head, which she places in the closet, puts them in the fridge. Periodically for the rest of the running time Thana takes out a bag and dumps it in various trash receptacles around the city. Meanwhile her sanity starts to wane even as she starts stalking random men and shooting them with a handgun.
There are obvious references to Repulsion and Death Wish but Ms. 45 is the kind of film that takes conceits of revenge and mental instability and owns them. Lund in particular commands the screen whenever she’s on with a performance both vulnerable and possessed. Events lead up to a Halloween party where Thana, dressed as a sexy nun, plans her ultimate retribution.
Lund also collaborated with Ferrara on Bad Lieutenant (1992), a film I consider his most important. Lund died from drug use in 1999 at age 37.
Ms. 45 unwinds exclusively starting Friday at the Alamo Drafthouse Vintage Park.
The Drafthouse website describes the version as the original director’s cut. “The film’s been remastered in HD from the original negative materials, and it’s a huge get for Drafthouse Films, who remain dedicated to bringing the furthest reaches of cinema to audiences everywhere.”
— Michael Bergeron
