The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) Movie Review

This remake of the original Postman Always Rings Twice has long been touted as the tougher, sexier, and steamier version of the film -- but other than showing a little more blood and a lot more skin, the movies are virtually identical. Both are good movies, but the remake still feels a little unnecessary. Lana Turner did a better femme fatale than Jessica Lange, and Jack Nicholson is at least John Garfield's equal. But director Bob Rafelson doesn't do much different here at all (think Gus Van Sant's version of Psycho), which ends up leaving the original to shine all the brighter.