Uma Thurman Is Hunted In This Forgotten ’90s Serial Killer Thriller On Streaming
These days, Uma Thurman is best known for her killer collaborations with Quentin Tarantino, including Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, as well as raising Stranger Things star Maya Hawke in collaboration with her A-list ex-husband Ethan Hawke. Despite her massive successes, the star has a number of films that have flown under the radar, including such entries into her filmography as 1992’s Jennifer 8, which seems to have been largely forgotten with time. Jennifer 8 is currently available to stream on Paramount+.
Jennifer 8, starring Uma Thurman, is streaming on Paramount+.
Jennifer 8 was written and directed by English actor and director Bruce Robinson. The film stars a host of talented actors, including Uma Thurman, Ocean’s Eleven‘s Andy Garcia, Lance Henriksen, Graham Beckel, Kathy Baker, Kevin Conway, and legendary film performer John Malkovich.
Unfortunately, as Bruce Robinson would later state in interviews regarding the shoot, a number of studio heads interfered with his initial vision, resulting in a misguided and muddy final product.
Before casting Andy Garcia in the leading role alongside Uma Thurman, Robinson intended for the role to go to a grizzled older performer such as Al Pacino or Gene Hackman. Apparently, the studio felt that the two main characters needed to be young and attractive to provide audiences with a sense of “will they, won’t they” tension throughout the film.
This vexed Robinson to no end, causing him to publicly trash studio executives for their interference in his production, as well as taking an extended hiatus from directing until his return with 2011’s The Rum Diary.
The film ultimately climaxes in a thrilling conclusion which uncovers a trail of lies, deceit, and conspiracy which goes all the way to the top.
Jennifer 8 centers on Andy Garcia’s Los Angeles detective, John Berlin, as he becomes deeply obsessed with an ongoing investigation following the collapse of his marriage. The case, which sees a disturbing pattern of blind women being murdered and having their hands removed from their corpses, begins to intrigue Berlin, inspiring him to dig up unsolved cold cases that he feels may be related to the investigation.
Throughout the investigation, the detective becomes intertwined with Uma Thurman’s Helena, a blind music instructor whose roommate was the eighth murder victim.
Uma Thurman’s character reminds the detective so much of his ex-wife that the two begin a romantic entanglement, complicating his ties to the investigation and raising suspicion from the other detectives.
The chief of police and most of the investigating officers fail to see the connection that Berlin is convinced of, resulting in a growing sense of distrust in the police force.
In the years since the film’s release, Thurman has gone on to star in dozens of film and television productions, making her one of the most highly sought-after performers in the business.
The film ultimately climaxes in a thrilling conclusion that uncovers a trail of lies, deceit, and conspiracy, which goes all the way to the top. Jennifer 8 unfortunately failed to impress critics, resulting in a 38 percent critic score on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.
While most critics were unimpressed with the film’s run time, writing, and mystery elements, Uma Thurman’s performance was largely hailed as a saving grace to the otherwise panned film.
Jennifer 8 also failed to produce a massive financial splash at the box office, taking in just over $11 million at the worldwide box office against an estimated production budget of over $20 million. Despite the film’s poor performance, it served as a massive benchmark in Uma Thurman’s career, with the actress showing up in several films throughout the mid-90s, including 1994’s Pulp Fiction.
In the years since the film’s release, Thurman has gone on to star in dozens of film and television productions, making her one of the most highly sought-after performers in the business.
Though Jennifer 8 failed to turn a profit or wow critics, some film fans found the mystery thriller to be highly engaging, citing the film as one of Uma Thurman’s best within the early stages of her career. Now that the movie is on streaming, you are certainly welcome to make a batch of popcorn and form your own opinion about the 1992 bomb with a few friends. Jennifer 8 is currently available to stream on Paramount+, for those of you interested in giving the film a try.
