Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- bleak
- confrontational
- paranoid
- cult movie night
- late night viewing
What critics said
Critics generally favor the film's provocative direction and Zoë Lund's committed central performance while finding elements of the supporting acting uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Thana's assaults lead directly to her escalating revenge killings across Manhattan.
Thana is mute, so Zoë Lund's physical performance and visual behavior convey her trauma and unraveling.
Thana roams dark New York streets alone while stalking men who attempt to exploit her.
The film combines rape-revenge conventions, graphic killings, and confrontational independent filmmaking.
Films like Ms .45, and why
I Spit on Your Grave
shared rape-revenge premise, vigilante violence, and confrontational exploitation style
The Driller Killer
shared urban neo-noir atmosphere, morally unstable protagonist, and abrasive independent filmmaking
Baise-moi
shared female-centered revenge narrative, graphic violence, and stylized genre transgression
Taxi Driver
shared vigilante crime thriller structure, social alienation, and grim city-night atmosphere
Movie Details
- Director
- Abel Ferrara
- Release Date
- 1981-04-24
- Runtime
- 81 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (421)
Cast
- Zoë Lund
- Albert Sinkys
- Darlene Stuto
- Abel Ferrara
- Helen McGara
- Editta Sherman
- Stephen Singer
- Jayne Kennedy
- Jack Thibeau
- Nike Zachmanoglou
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel, Fandor, Night Flight Plus, ARROW
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Ms .45 about?
- A traumatized mute seamstress turns a .45 pistol against predatory men in Abel Ferrara’s grim, provocative New York rape-revenge thriller.
- What is Ms .45 like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ms .45 as brisk, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Ms .45 violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Ms .45 as graphic.
- What did critics think of Ms .45?
- Critics generally favor the film's provocative direction and Zoë Lund's committed central performance while finding elements of the supporting acting uneven.
- Which films are like Ms .45?
- Films with a similar feel include I Spit on Your Grave, The Driller Killer, Baise-moi, and Taxi Driver.
- How long is Ms .45?
- Ms .45 runs 81 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ms .45?
- In United States, Ms .45 streams on Criterion Channel, Fandor, Night Flight Plus, ARROW.
