What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a slow-burning psychological thriller set in a decaying old Hollywood mansion where two aging sisters—former child star Jane “Baby” Jane and her wheelchair-bound sister Blanche—are trapped together in a poisonous web of envy, resentment and violence. The film follows Jane as she grows ever more controlling and unhinged: she isolates Blanche by intercepting mail and visitors, humiliates and terrorizes her, and obsesses about resurrecting her own show-business past while Blanche, fading but still proud, endures and plans for a reckoning. Viewers can expect a claustrophobic, tense atmosphere that alternates between grotesque cruelty and simmering suspense; the mood is gothic and oppressive, with moments of dark humor and shocking violence that make the rivalry feel both intimate and monstrous. Strong, scene-stealing performances drive the emotional stakes—this is less about plot twists and more about watching a psychological power struggle escalate until long-buried secrets and resentments explode. If you like character-driven thrillers with a vintage Hollywood setting, chilling interpersonal terror, and an uneasy, haunting tone, this film delivers a deeply unsettling experience.
Actors: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Victor Buono
Director: Robert Aldrich
Runtime: 134 min
Genres: Drama, Horror, Thriller
8.2
/10
75
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8.0
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7.9
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