At first glance, with it’s stage to screen adaptation and battle of wits, Sidney Lumet’s Deathtrap could easily be passed off as ‘diet-Sleuth‘, the film even stars Michael Caine (who is not as good as he is in either adaptation of Schaffer’s play). In some ways this is a pretty good description but it also sells the film short as it has an ace up its sleeve in the form of Christopher Reeve – an actor that I think I have underrated.
Reeve is, of course, best known for his role in the Superman movies. When Superman Returns was released people wondered if new comer Brandon Routh could match Reeve’s turn as the iconic Man of Steel / bumbling Clark Kent. To be honest I couldn’t figure out what they were talking about as far as I was concerned Reeves was pure wood. His turns in The Great Escape II, Somewhere In Time and Remains Of The Day also failed to convince but Deathtrap just shows that given the right script this man could be dynamite.
…obviously I don’t want to spoil the film but I think it is fair to say that Reeves easily outshines Caine playing a role that demands absolute conviction in order to keep the audience onside. The film passes the time but Reeves makes it a pleasure and in this regard, for me, Deathtrap captures one of the pure joys of cinema – genuine surprise.
