Directed by:
Abel FerraraScreenplay:
Nicholas St. JohnCinematography:
James LemmoComposer:
Joe DeliaCast:
Zoë Lund, Abel Ferrara, Steve Dash, Nicholas St. John, Michael Minard, Jack Thibeau, Evelyn Smith, Jayne Kennedy, Stephen SingerPlots(1)
This early 1980s cult classic still stands as a potent and uniquely feminist entry in the urban revenge subgenre. Mute fashion seamstress Thana (Zoë Tamerlis) is raped on her way home from the grocery store and then raped by a second attacker who has broken into her apartment, all within the first 15 minutes of the film. She kills the second rapist with an iron and, after recovering from the shock, starts dismembering his body. Thana then wanders the New York streets at night in a sexy black dress with her attacker's gun strapped to her garter belt, blowing away any man who tries to pick her up. What begins as a revenge film gradually becomes a disturbing portrait of urban alienation and sexual fear. New York director Abel Ferrara (THE FUNERAL, BAD LIEUTENANT) directed this, his second film, from a religious-symbol-soaked script by longtime friend Nicholas St. John. Joe Delia composed the eerie EXORCIST-style score. Highly regarded by both audiences and critics, MS. 45 is that rare breed of exploitation film--intensely disturbing yet sexy, clever, intelligent, and even funny. Tamerlis delivers an astonishing performance as Thana, and Ferrara brilliantly captures her character's distorted perspective. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Zoë Lund
USA
Best movies:
Bad Lieutenant (1992)
Ms .45 (1981)
Hand Gun (1994)
Abel Ferrara
USA
Best movies:
Daddy Longlegs (2009)
Ms .45 (1981)
Black Butterfly (2017)
Steve Dash
Best movies:
13 (2005)
The Jazz Singer (1980)
Julie & Julia (2009)
Nicholas St. John
Best movies:
Ms .45 (1981)
9 Lives of a Wet Pussy (1976)
Michael Minard
Best movies:
Ms .45 (1981)
Jack Thibeau
UK
Best movies:
Lethal Weapon (1987)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
Evelyn Smith
Best movies:
Permanent Vacation (1980)
Ms .45 (1981)
Jayne Kennedy
USA
Best movies:
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
Let's Do It Again (1975)
Ms .45 (1981)
Stephen Singer
Best movies:
A Perfect Murder (1998)
A Price Above Rubies (1998)
The Sunshine Boys (1996) (TV movie)