Really fanatical film buffs have long considered Jennifer Jason Leigh's performance in "Heart of Midnight" deserving of 1989's Best Actress Oscar. She was at least as good as runner-up Isabelle Adjani ("Camille Chaudel") and clearly superior to winner Jessica Tandy ("Driving Miss Daisy"). While ironic that Leigh's best performance was in her least seen film, it is understandable considering the subject matter and almost expressionistic style of "Heart of Midnight", which needs at least two viewings to be properly appreciated.

The film, which is better directed than it is written, should be seen simply for Leigh's performance but is also a stylish little horror film with a few genuinely scary moments. Leigh plays Carol Rivers and the story (which includes a number of flashbacks) is told from her point of view. Carol seems to have an innate distaste for physical contact and a history of psychological problems of unknown origin. It is slowly revealed in the film that she was abused as a child. Leigh researched the role extensively, speaking with women who had been abused as children and experts in the field.

"Heart of Midnight", an odd mix of "Repulsion", "The Tenant", "Exotica", and "The Story of Adele H"; is about Carol's descent into madness. It was probably inspired by the two Polanski films; and Catherine Deneuve's "Repulsion" character was also named Carol. The twist being that this time it is actually a voluntary descent into insanity. For most of the film Carol grapples with why she does not like herself. Once she discovers the reason for this, madness becomes preferable to existing with that knowledge.

Although Carol's conduct throughout the film seems bizarre, once you understand her background everything is logical. But it is only predictable in retrospect so many viewers will find the film uncomfortable viewing. Carol is often forced to retreat but admirably forces herself to confront her fears. Leigh has a real gift for communicating the depth of her character's fear and pain.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

I was surprised to discover this was really a horror film. I don't know if it's labeled that, but that's what it should be called. It's spooky and creepy and just plain weird. With Jennifer Jason Leigh in the lead, I'm not surprised. She is pretty good at playing disturbed people as she showed later in "Single White Female."

For me, however, the best part of this film was the color. This film had a color palette that was fascinating at times. and the audio was good, too, with creepy sounds to go with the colorfully-painted nightclub/house interiors.

Some of the story left a bad taste in my mouth, just a bit too sordid in spots. With the exception of the social worker, there are no likable, trusting characters in this film. The one who is hardest to figure out is the one played by Peter Coyote.

Yet, despite this not being a particularly attractive story, the haunting audio and visuals keep sucking me back every 5-8 years into this bizarre tale.

I recently re-watched Paul Verhoeven's gloriously sleazy medieval epic Flesh + Blood, and was once again taken by just how hot Jennifer Jason Leigh was in the '80s. Keen to see a bit more of the actress in her prime (not that Flesh + Blood left much more of her to be seen!),and having already watched the hell out of my Fast Times at Ridgemont High DVD, I thought I'd give Heart of Midnight a go: the DVD cover depicts the actress on the cover wearing a very tight rubber lace-up dress, so it seemed like a good choice…

Sadly, Jennifer clad in kinky attire only makes a brief appearance in the film (right at the end) and isn't very indicative of the movie's content as a whole (it's not the first time a salacious promotional image has been used to dupe viewers). The bulk of this weird-as-hell thriller is about as sexy as a game of Monopoly (a normal game—NOT strip Monopoly!). Jennifer Jason Leigh plays Carol, a mentally fragile young woman who inherits a nightclub from her Uncle Fletcher, only to discover that it was actually a sex club that catered for swingers with unusual tastes. While overseeing the renovation of the building, Carol lives in one of the many rooms above, but suffers from strange visions and witnesses bizarre happenings. Is she starting to lose her marbles or is there a more sinister explanation for the strange occurrences?

The simple answer to that question is "Yes, there is a more sinister explanation for the strange occurrences", but in order to find out precisely what that is, one does have to trudge through an awful lot of sub-Lynchian weirdness that suggests a world of debauchery, degradation and depravity (the three De's) without ever having the balls to show it in any detail. Heart of Midnight wants to be daring, but never really succeeds. Finally, after lots of not very effective creepiness, only a fleeting glimpse of skin from Jennifer as she takes a shower, and some surreal imagery (the strangest moment being a giant eyeball crashing through a door),the film reveals its deep, dark secret, which is so lame that not even the eventual sight of JJL in her shiny, figure-hugging S&M dress makes it worthwhile.