A revisit to Pauline Kael’s 1980 rave review of Brian De Palma’s Dressed to Kill highlights why her criticism still draws attention. The piece reflects on Kael’s lively response to the film while also focusing on the director’s recurring use of women as central visual subjects.
According to the review, De Palma’s style repeatedly places women in vulnerable, exposed moments, including scenes set in the shower and other states of undress. That emphasis becomes part of the larger conversation around how the filmmaker frames female characters on screen.
The article underscores how Kael could praise a movie’s energy and craft while still observing the unsettling patterns within it. Her writing on Dressed to Kill remains notable for mixing enthusiasm with clear-eyed commentary on the film’s imagery and themes.
Even decades later, the review and the film continue to invite debate. The renewed attention shows how Kael’s perspective on De Palma never settles into simple approval or rejection, but instead captures the tension that makes her criticism memorable.
