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The Ex

  • 1996
  • R
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
The Ex (1996)
Psychological ThrillerThriller

In order to get her husband back, an architect's psycho ex-wife kills everybody she can get her hands on.In order to get her husband back, an architect's psycho ex-wife kills everybody she can get her hands on.In order to get her husband back, an architect's psycho ex-wife kills everybody she can get her hands on.

  • Director
    • Mark L. Lester
  • Writers
    • John Lutz
    • Larry Cohen
  • Stars
    • Yancy Butler
    • Nick Mancuso
    • Suzy Amis
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    1.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mark L. Lester
    • Writers
      • John Lutz
      • Larry Cohen
    • Stars
      • Yancy Butler
      • Nick Mancuso
      • Suzy Amis
    • 25User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top cast14

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    Yancy Butler
    Yancy Butler
    • Deidre Kenyon
    Nick Mancuso
    Nick Mancuso
    • David Kenyon
    Suzy Amis
    Suzy Amis
    • Molly Kenyon
    Hamish Tildesley
    • Michael Kenyon
    Babs Chula
    Babs Chula
    • Dr. Lillian Jonas
    Claire Riley
    • Detective Lang
    Barry W. Levy
    Barry W. Levy
    • Frank
    Roger Barnes
    Roger Barnes
    • Sam Beltzer
    Tom Pickett
    Tom Pickett
    • Kenyons Doorman
    Barry 'Bear' Horton
    • Biker
    Arlene Belcastro
    • Next Door Neighbor
    Ally Warren
    Ally Warren
    • Hotel Clerk
    • (as Allison Warren)
    Jason Lester
    Jason Lester
    • Child in Stroller
    • (uncredited)
    John Novak
    John Novak
    • Miles
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mark L. Lester
    • Writers
      • John Lutz
      • Larry Cohen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews25

    5.31.2K
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    Featured reviews

    board-5

    Not the best film ,but-

    Finally Yancy Butler is very good in this film,and she's ex-husband-played by Nick Mancuso too.There are some good ,and some very used twists in the film.Finally this film is better than I waited.Somewhy the twists looks good in a film,like this,cause this film is not a television-film.Womens could be very dangerous sometimes,and sometimes I can understand them.The best thing in the film is Yancy Butler,she can play the crazy women without too much problems,better than Thomas Jane in Punisher with he's one face,but maybe not perfect.Unfortunately the film has not REALLY new message and never REALLY scary
    7unbrokenmetal

    The devil is a woman

    The architect David Kenyon (Nick Mancuso) is married with Molly (Suzy Amis), they have an almost 6 year old son named Michael. Unexpectedly, Kenyon's ex-wife Deirdre (Yancy Butler) returns and stalks the family, becoming Molly's friend under a false name. We learn that Deirdre has been treated in a lunatic asylum and committed at least 2 murders. She must be planning something really evil...

    Worth watching for the excellent performances of the two female leads. Suzy Amis ("Twister", "Firestorm") plays the wife who has to ask herself after 6 years of a perfectly happy marriage: does she really trust her husband or will she believe the lies Deirdre spreads? After all, he didn't even tell her he was married before! Yancy Butler ("Witchblade", "Drop Zone") is truly terrifying as the mad woman, full of hate, who kills without regret - and asks others to kill her because she lives in such a distorted world. Yancy has got the devilish grin and the evil eyebrows for the role, perfect choice! The movie may have a couple of weak points. Better explanations and more information could have filled a few gaps on the way, but in the end the thriller succeeds at its raison d'etre: to thrill!
    8carmelolia

    A Harrowing Study of Psychotic Disorders

    At first glance, this film seems to be about a murderous ex-wife who is resorting to vengeance to vindicate her previous relationship. However, I do actually believe that 'The Ex' is way more than that. As a psychological thriller, it features one of the most distressing studies of psychotic and mental disorders that I have seen in a long time and proves how dangerous they can be if they are left unchecked.

    I found Yancy Butler's performance as Deidre Kenyon in this film to be brilliant. Not only was she absolutely stunning here, even my girlfriend kept going on about how beautiful Butler's eyes are when my girlfriend has green eyes herself, but she nails what must have been a difficult portrayal of a very troubled mental disorder patient with homicidal tendencies. She is the star of this film, I believe she was truly outstanding here.

    As far as psychological thrillers go, 'The Ex' is perfectly enjoyable despite some minor flaw here and there (I would have chosen a different child actor as Michael Kenyon, for example as he was not a proper fit for such a role). Its best parts are when the story focuses on aspects of crime and the criminal system.
    5Uriah43

    Hot and Crazy

    "David Kenyon" (Nick Mancuso) is a successful architect who has remarried after divorcing his first wife "Deidre Kenyon" (Yancy Butler) seven years earlier. His second wife "Molly" (Suzy Amis) is not aware that he had been married previously. Neither does she know that Deidre had been committed to a mental institution and has recently arrived back in New York with the desire to get her husband back--regardless of what it takes. Now, while other films like "Fatal Attraction" have already covered the "psychotic girlfriend/wife scenario" what makes this particular movie interesting is the performance of Yancy Butler. She was both hot and crazy. On the flip side though, there were a couple of scenes that simply went beyond the boundaries of realism and had me shaking my head in disbelief a couple of times. Only in Hollywood. That being the case I have rated this movie accordingly. Average.
    vchimpanzee

    Yancy Butler is delicious

    David is an architect who is married to Molly. They have a 6-year-old son Michael who can't find a psychiatrist he likes. Molly doesn't know David was married before, but Deidre shows up at a skyscraper he helped design, where poor-quality materials will have to replaced.

    Deidre wants to get back together with David, but he wants to put his past behind him. She starts her process of getting revenge in a restaurant by telling a man she is David's wife Molly and their marriage is in trouble, and then having a fling. I'm not sure just what purpose this serves, but the specifics of this incident do demonstrate the woman has problems.

    Deidre's psychiatrist Dr. Jonas contacts her and tells her she should continue treatment, which Deidre won't do. What she does is go to Molly's gym and become friends with her. She has one of Dr. Jonas' business cards, and when she learns about Michael's inability to find a psychiatrist he likes, Deidre introduces herself as Dr. Jonas and says she is a child psychiatrist. She is moving her practice and has no business cards.

    Deidre and Michael become good friends, though she never actually treats him. From here the movie starts getting weird. I mean REALLY weird. And don't get in Deidre's way, or else.

    Yancy Butler does an amazing job. At first I didn't think her acting was all that great, but Deidre is so incredibly convincing when she poses as others. And when she is merely scheming, delicious would be a good word to describe her personality. Stalker doesn't even begin to describe this woman. She's really something to watch.

    Children should most definitely not see this movie. In one scene I think Michael gets the wrong idea about acceptable behavior. There is some violence and the language appeared to have been cleaned up, but Deidre is into S & M and she has taped herself (and David) in the past. I mean her sex life is really, really sick.

    If you want a stalker movie, it doesn't get much better.

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    Related interests

    Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl (2014)
    Psychological Thriller
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To prepare for her role as a killer, actress Yancy Butler worked out five hours a day and also trained Judo.
    • Goofs
      Each time they play the video of David and Deidre, the tape pops out of the VCR yet still plays.
    • Quotes

      Deidre Kenyon: I believe that there's only one right person for everyone... and you mustn't let that person get away.

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    FAQ14

    • How long is The Ex?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 13, 1996 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Una sombra del pasado
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • American World Pictures (AWP)
      • Cinépix Film Properties (CFP)
      • Lionsgate
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 27m(87 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Ultra Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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