Kiss of the Spider Woman Review
Every once in a while, there’s a need to get treated to a fun, fantastical musical. Yet, as the Halloween season is in full swing, everyone else seems to be focused on the bluntness of the horror genre as a whole. However, there are many different sides when it comes to exploring the horror of things, like the actual troubles of the real world. For Jennifer Lopez, she’s bringing her musical genius to an innately sociopolitical story in her retelling of Kiss of the Spider Woman. Her ambitious efforts result in a blend of flashy, fun numbers that keep you pulled in and a harrowing, yet optimistic, outlook on the importance of representation.
Lopez’s Kiss of the Spider Woman, directed by Bill Condon, comes in a long line of previous adaptations. Following two prisoners, the politicized Valentín (Diego Luna) and the more innocent Molina (Tonatiuh), this story sees a close bond blossoming between both of them. Driven by Molina’s vivacious retelling of a Hollywood musical led by his favorite star, Ingrid Luna (Lopez), Valentín and Molina try to survive their prison’s harsh conditions while Molina is trapped in a moral conundrum of his own.
What really makes Kiss of the Spider Woman an entertaining watch is all of the glamorous musical numbers intricately placed throughout the film. Every number, from their bright and huge set pieces that feel ripped straight out of an artbook to the jazzy and orchestral tracks, are put together in such an exquisite way. They’re well-paced out throughout the film, even if some of them feel misplaced in the final act.
Although, the best number I’d stick around for would be “Where You Are” as it encompasses Lopez’s ideals surrounding the historical state of things nicely with this energetic pizazz. As a mid-act piece, the intricate choreography and camerawork around Lopez’s imaginary Luna and Tonatiuh’s Molina carries the entire moment as the whole jail is visualized with this neon-lit aesthetic. It gives the entire situation our two leads are in a further interesting perspective as they’re trapped in this single space for most of the film.
Speaking about that space, since most of Kiss of the Spider Woman revolves around Valentín and Molina, the film heavily relies on Luna and Tonatiuh’s performances. Fortunately, both of them really give an inspired performance even though both of them are on completely different ends of the spectrum. Luna’s Valentín admittedly does have similar motivations to Cassian Andor, made clear by his need to overthrow Argentina’s dictatorship (which was real.)
Although, as Tonatiuh’s Molina begins to reveal his unique theatrical tastes to Valentín, there’s a tonal shift, both in-character and an overarching way, that might throw some off. Sure, this way of storytelling was already present in the previous adaptations, yet for a modern retelling, it feels like it follows too closely to that structure. At points, Valentín and his situations can go from being empathetic and open to too brash and serious, which are defined by the character’s priorities. Still, it can shake up the film’s tone to the point where it can feel like whiplash.
That said, the way that Kiss of the Spider Woman handles its more sensitive topics regarding Latin American history and LGBTQ+ themes is mostly delicate and well-thought out. The film makes it clear that it’s against oppressive systems, both external and internal. The imaginary Technicolor movie world and the bleak events contained in that cell show that, with Molina’s retelling literally placing these two leads into the feet of those representative ideals.
Given how the film relies on the blossoming dynamic between Molina and Valentín to work, it fleshes this relationship out in bits and pieces that leave you genuinely surprised come the climax. There are certain moments, whether it be trying to get rid of poisonous food to the brutal cell invasions, that want to make you feel sympathetic for them albeit in their own dramatized manner. However, the more conversational moments between the two really nail in the emotional undertones of it nicely.
Kiss of the Spider Woman is a visually striking and flamboyant adaptation that’s optimistically rooted in social change through the wonderful performances by Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, and Tonatiuh. Lopez and company have truly captured their message about hope in a way that highlights their own artistic skills nicely, even if some parts need to be better connected. Still, Kiss of the Spider Woman proves to be a worthy modern retake of a musical theater classic.
Kiss of the Spider Woman releases in theaters on October 10.
Rating: ★★★½
_
Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.