"Jennifer" has some interesting ideas and an interesting cast, but try as I did to like it, I just found the film to be very goofy. The film begins with Ida Lupino playing an odd lady. I say odd because she acted a bit disconnected with the world--and as the film progressed, she acted weirder and weirder. She takes the job as a caretaker of an old house with a past--something spooky happened to the previous lady who lived there. And, as the film progresses, she seems to be connecting with the spirit of that lady. During this time, she meets a man (her real-life husband, Howard Duff) and eventually begins to suspect him of some involvement in the previous occupant's disappearance.
There are MANY problems with the scrip. First, it turns out that pretty much NOTHING that Lupino's character was channeling was true--making you think her character is more a flake or perhaps mentally ill herself. Second, repeatedly, this flaky lady seems to get stupid ideas into her head and run with them--again, making you question her sanity. Yet, in their final embrace, Duff assures her that everything is fine. No she isn't--and neither is the weird script. While it has some interesting elements, it just doesn't gel and left me quite cold. Did this film have anything to say? Not really.
There are MANY problems with the scrip. First, it turns out that pretty much NOTHING that Lupino's character was channeling was true--making you think her character is more a flake or perhaps mentally ill herself. Second, repeatedly, this flaky lady seems to get stupid ideas into her head and run with them--again, making you question her sanity. Yet, in their final embrace, Duff assures her that everything is fine. No she isn't--and neither is the weird script. While it has some interesting elements, it just doesn't gel and left me quite cold. Did this film have anything to say? Not really.