Watch The Praying Mantis For Free
The Praying Mantis
Trixi Jancik leads a risky double life. At home, she is an obedient housewife. But when she puts on a disguise and goes to the racetrack to indulge in her secret passion, she catches a glimpse of a better life. Although she blows her grocery money, she has tasted the kind of luxury she can normally only dream about. A minor squabble at home brings the situation to a head and marks a turning point in her life: Trixi fixes her husband a lethal cocktail of pills.
| Release : | 2001 |
| Rating : | 6.4 |
| Studio : | Allegro Film, ORF, |
| Crew : | Art Direction, Costume Design, |
| Cast : | Christiane Hörbiger Udo Kier Jan Niklas Simon Schwarz Klaus Ofczarek |
| Genre : | Comedy Thriller |
Watch Trailer
Cast List
Reviews
Good concept, poorly executed.
To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.
I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible
It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.
None of the characters in this film are pleasant individuals and Trixi (Christiane Horbiger) is as bad as any of them.Because she finds herself heavily in debt, she embarks on a desperate journey to recover her losses. A rich husband on medication can quickly be put out of his misery and Trixi finds it quite a profitable undertaking. I am not sure where the police hang out or what the coroner is supposed to be doing. There seems to be no hindrance to any of Trixi's plans whatsoever. One husband succumbs after another. And be prepared for a dismemberment scene in which a hungry cat assists in destroying some of the evidence; and later, a dog helps out too.I suppose the fascination about this film is to anticipate what tricks Trixi will get up next as she seduces one husband after another. She knows what men enjoy and she gives them what they want. Little do they realise when they propose marriage their fate is sealed.Gambling on the race course is the least effective way of augmenting the bank account, but Trixi's methods are not recommended either. I think it's a wise man who insists on preparing his own medication. And spiked drinks are becoming rather too popular these days for people wishing to gain their own ends.If you don't take this film too seriously you'll probably enjoy it. And you'll understand why some men prefer to remain bachelors.
I watched it at the movies and enjoyed it very much. Austrian film directors learned how to use striking sound effects and spectacular photography after all. In my opinion, there are too different scenes of action. Some of them, e.g. the artist's castellum, are banal and clichés. There is a single reason why you can shut your eyes to some implausible plot turns and partial bad casting, it's Christiane Hörbiger. Her part is convincingly natural yet worked out to the last detail. Am I wrong or did she get much better over the years?
