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Death and the Maiden

Play trailer Poster for Death and the Maiden R 1994 1h 43m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Paulina Escobar (Sigourney Weaver) is convinced that the guest (Ben Kingsley) her lawyer husband (Stuart Wilson) brings home is the same man who kidnapped, tortured and raped her years ago. Holding him captive at gunpoint, she repeatedly attacks him and demands that he confess his crime. Her husband tries to stand by his wife and her claims, but he begins to doubt her story and her claims. She forces her husband to represent the guest in a mock trial that she devises.
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Death and the Maiden

Death and the Maiden

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Critics Consensus

With its claustrophobic setting heightening the tension and seasoned stars doing excellent work, Death and the Maiden is prime Polanski.

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Critics Reviews

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Kim Newman Empire Magazine Feb 19, 2010
4/5
Even by their high standards, the performances of Weaver and Kingsley here are impressive, and Polanski ratchetts up the tension nicely. A chilling and thought-provoking piece. Go to Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Feb 19, 2010
Polanski certainly gets the maximum voltage and precision out of his story and actors, keeping us preternaturally alert to shifting power relationships and delayed revelations. Go to Full Review Todd McCarthy Variety May 26, 2008
Kingsley shrewdly tantalizes the viewer about his identity, and gets to deliver the text's most riveting monologue at the end. The lesser-known Wilson may be the first among equals, impressing strongly as the equivocating husband. Go to Full Review Tom Hutchinson Radio Times Nov 11, 2025
4/5
Outstandingly well played by Sigourney Weaver and Ben Kingsley, the effective three-hander succeeds because of a dreadful electricity sparking between the two leads, while Stuart Wilson, as her husband, tries not to get burned. Go to Full Review Quentin Crisp Christopher Street Apr 21, 2022
Miss Weaver plays the victim with quite astonishing intensity, and deals with Mr. Kingsley in a manner that is quite convincing. Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia Jul 20, 2020
6/10
Polanski manages to size the fundamental components of the mystery and suspense so that the atmosphere of the film is sinister in some scenes. But what I see hardly captivates me. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alejandro E @Alex970 Jan 4, 2026 The story of three characters trapped in an extreme situation is somewhat reminiscent of Polanski's early works. It may not be on a par with his greatest achievements, but seeing Weaver and Kingsley together makes it well worth the effort. See more Ricardo C. @ricneo14671929 Jan 3, 2026 Intense . With 3 Solid Performances from the only 3 leads . See more Romas M @Romas Nov 10, 2025 Greetings from Lithuania. "Death and the Maiden" (1994) is a thriller staring Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley and Stuart Wilson, It is set in one location and focuses on one key event, which i won't spoil for everyone who haven't seen this movie yet. This is a tense thriller with great performances by all three involved - they all did terrific job. Directing by Roman Polanski was also good as it at its running time 1 h 40 min i wasn't bored and was involved into it. This movie isn't an action thriller by any means and is more of a character study movie. The ending was very good and not generic in my opinion. Overall, i liked "Death and the maiden" because it is not a typical thriller. It is based on a popular play that run many decades ago, and you can feel that it is all based on a play - one location, hand of characters and plenty of dialogs. See more Alain E @AlainE Sep 12, 2025 Three people in an isolated house, with the electricity coming and going, close to the raging sea, are struggling to clarify the complex relationships they had in the past and which threaten their current existence. Polanski at his best! Appears to have been nicely restored. Not a date movie, unless you are in a sadomasochistic relationship. Ben Kingsley deserved an Oscar for assholiness. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Jul 11, 2025 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Alonso V @RT41985820 Dec 31, 2024 Sigourney Weaver is amazing in this dark thriller directed by the master Polanski. Great ending. Ben Kingsley is impressive. See more Read all reviews
Death and the Maiden

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Cast & Crew

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Roman Polanski

Director

Sigourney Weaver

Paulina Escobar

Ben Kingsley

Dr. Roberto Miranda

Stuart Wilson

Gerardo Escobar

Karen Strassman

Actor

Carlos Moreno

Actor

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Death and the Maiden

Death and the Maiden (1994) Death and the Maiden (1994) Death and the Maiden (1994) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Paulina Escobar (Sigourney Weaver) is convinced that the guest (Ben Kingsley) her lawyer husband (Stuart Wilson) brings home is the same man who kidnapped, tortured and raped her years ago. Holding him captive at gunpoint, she repeatedly attacks him and demands that he confess his crime. Her husband tries to stand by his wife and her claims, but he begins to doubt her story and her claims. She forces her husband to represent the guest in a mock trial that she devises.
Director
Roman Polanski
Producer
Josh Kramer, Thom Mount
Screenwriter
Ariel Dorfman, Rafael Yglesias
Distributor
Fine Line Features
Production Co
Fine Line Features, Capitol Films
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 23, 1994, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 14, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.1M
Runtime
1h 43m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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