The plot of this movie moves at a slower pace than most film noir, devoting more time to character development and background than expected. This is only for the good. The childhood scene that opens the movie at first seemed unnecessary but serves to anchor the characters, making them people you can care about. For once the femme fatale seems realistic, she has motives and emotions besides the obvious. The ending scene is made far more powerful by the build-up in the rest of the film. Overall a surprisingly tsrong and engaging movie.
Review of The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
