Boxing Helena (Movie Review)

boxing helena

Boxing Helena (Movie Review)

“Boxing Helena” is a 1994 drama directed by Jennifer Chambers Lynch, who made legal history with a previous film titled “Cruel Intentions.” The movie is about a doctor who amputates a woman’s arms and legs, with disastrous results. The film is the daughter of director David Lynch, who also wrote the script. The movie starred Sherilyn Fenn, Julian Sands, and Bill Paxton.

The film starts at a party where young Nick Cavanaugh’s mother has sex with a mysterious man. When he grows up, he is unmoved by his mother’s death. He responds to a phone call and finds a woman he had a one-night stand with. He makes her leave the hospital and takes her to his bedside. This is when the story gets really interesting.

Boxing Helena opens with the song “You’re Nobody Until Someone Loves You.” This eerie tune sets the tone for the film. The story follows a wealthy surgeon who obsesses over a beautiful woman. Although the woman is disaffected by the doctor’s advances, she refuses to let him marry her. The doctor’s obsession causes a terrible accident that leaves the woman hospitalized. While her recovery isn’t a total loss, it does cause her to be a victim of a brutal abuse.

The film received mixed reviews. The Los Angeles Times gave Boxing Helena an NC-17 rating. The film also had some controversy over its casting. Kim Basinger and Madonna had been involved in lawsuits. However, Boxing Helena was released at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1993 to critical acclaim. It was a financial failure and failed to make money. If you like this genre of movies, you’ll surely enjoy Boxing Helena.