In Episode 13 we peel back the layers of Brian De Palma's 2002 thriller Femme Fatale. Known for its twisting narrative and visual flair, it's a quintessential De Palma work — suspense, sensuality, and the director's signature style — and a film that rewards a second viewing.
What Is Femme Fatale About?
Rebecca Romijn stars as Laure Ash, a woman involved in a daring jewel heist during the Cannes Film Festival who tries to escape her past only to be ensnared in a web of deceit, identity, and seduction. The film is a labyrinth of time shifts and narrative twists that keeps you guessing to the very end.
The Slept-On Cinema Case
Femme Fatale is not a thriller that accidentally becomes dreamlike; the dream logic is the organizing principle. Stan, Grobe, and guest Cam Sully defend the abrupt turns, doubles, visual clues, and apparent contradictions because Brian De Palma is building a movie that changes shape the way a dream does. Rewatching is not homework here—it is where the construction becomes even more pleasurable.
The first pick
Cam takes the cluster of late plot twists. Stan drafts the dream design and the clues hidden through the movie, while Grobe uses his first-round turn on De Palma himself—writing and directing without a leash—then follows with Rebecca Romijn’s ability to play several emotional and deceptive registers.
BOLOs
- People being thrown from elevated places, matching watches, and deliberate déjà vu.
- A lamp wearing a wig, bearer bonds, a bloody tuxedo, and a truly excellent paper cutter.
- Rebecca Romijn’s face appearing on other faces, sleight of hand, and a shadow fight.
- French techno, relentless rain, an eye dart, and a MiniDisc.
Worth watching?
Yes—and then watch it again. Bobby says he immediately returned to it multiple times; the first viewing supplies momentum and sensation, while later passes reveal how carefully the “nonsense” has been planted.
Production observation
The hosts contrast the film’s craft with its weak release: it opened ninth with roughly $2.75 million and made about $17 million worldwide. They frame the later streaming reassessment as the right environment for an idiosyncratic De Palma movie that marketing and opening-week expectations could not easily categorize.
Keep the movie night going
- Snake Eyes for another De Palma camera showcase.
- Y2K Thrillers Worth Rewatching for turn-of-the-century paranoia and style.
- Paycheck for another puzzle-box thriller driven by clues.
- Shop Movie Optimist gear for the official tee and cap.
Why Critics Were Wrong
De Palma uses the film to play with noir conventions — especially the femme-fatale archetype — reimagining it in a story that's as much about destiny and morality as theft and double-crosses. Critics who wanted a straight thriller missed how deliberately it bends the form.
Why It Works
Romijn walks a fine line between vulnerability and calculation, making Laure compelling and genuinely enigmatic. Antonio Banderas, as a paparazzo pulled into her orbit, adds depth to the twisting plot. And De Palma's elaborate set pieces — several signature sequences — are both visually arresting and integral to the story.
BOLO
Be on the lookout for the Cannes heist sequence, the dream-logic time shifts, and De Palma's split-diopter shots.
The Bumper Sticker
Femme Fatale: every twist was hiding in plain sight.
Keep Rewatching the Cluster
FAQ
Who directed Femme Fatale?
Brian De Palma directed the 2002 thriller, starring Rebecca Romijn and Antonio Banderas.
Is Femme Fatale underrated?
Yes — it has grown into a cult favorite among De Palma and noir fans for its complex structure and stylistic boldness.
Tune in to our Slept-On Cinema episode on Femme Fatale on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Into this era? Continue with our Y2K Thrillers Worth Rewatching guide.
Hear the Full Femme Fatale Reappraisal
Start spoiler-free, watch the movie, then come back for the Draft, BOLOs, one-change ideas, and the full case from Stan Steamer and GrobeStreet.
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