Rating of
3/4
mitchellyoung - wrote on 02/07/13
Led by two brilliant performances, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a shattering psychological thriller, centered around the intriguing relationship between two aging sisters. Grey Gardens this is not, however, as Bette Davis turns in a commanding and terrifying performance as the overpowering Baby Jane Hudson and Joan Crawford is appropriately weak and pathetic as her sister, Blanche. The film hints at Sunset Boulevard-like themes of aging starlets, but takes a dark turn into Hitchcockian noir territory, resulting in a more harrowing film. The film's scares are subtle, but work within the context of the plot, as the engrossing performances make the film's script work.
