Is Praying Mantis Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1983)

📖 The Core Premise

Praying Mantis stands as a 1983 entry that attempts to leave its mark on the Mystery landscape. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "A man and a woman drift ashore after a typhoon. The man, dead, is an escaped perpetrator, and the woman, alive, is a hairdresser Masako. A detective in charge of an embezzlement case is tracking the whereabouts of disappeared money and suspects Masako. One year later, a real estate company president dies a suspicious death in front of Masako at her beauty salon. Was it an accidents or murder?"

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In Praying Mantis, even the presence of Midori Satsuki struggles to save a script that feels disjointed. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Mystery. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Praying Mantis worth your time? If you appreciate Mystery films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Praying Mantis misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 84 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.