Ms .45

Ms. 45 is a 1981 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Abel Ferrara. The film's narrative revolves around the life of Thana (played by Zoë Tamerlis), a 22-year-old shy and mute seamstress working for a small tailor in New York City. She resides in an apartment above the tailor's shop with a kind-hearted old man, Joe (played by Perry King). On two consecutive evenings, Thana is brutally attacked and raped by two different men. This traumatic experience sends her into a downward spiral of mental instability, which gradually progresses into madness. As Thana's mental condition deteriorates, her actions become increasingly erratic and violent. One day, after her second attack, Thana returns to the tailor's shop with her attacker's gun, which she had taken from one of the assaulters during the second incident. The gun is strapped to her garter belt, concealed beneath her sexy black evening gown. Now armed and seemingly empowered, Thana sets out at night to take revenge on all the men she encounters. Her method is straightforward: anyone who tries to flirt with or pick her up is met with a cold stare and a single shot from her gun. Thana's nocturnal wanderings transform into a hunt for potential victims, leaving a trail of dead men in her wake. As Thana's violent crusade progresses, her actions elicit a mix of fascination and terror from those around her, including her employer and his wife. Her behavior becomes more erratic, and her silence is gradually pierced by whispers of hatred and revenge directed at the perpetrators of her crimes. Thana's character undergoes a radical transformation, from a shy, mute seamstress to a remorseless female vigilante. The film's portrayal of Thana's descent into madness serves as an unflinching critique of the society that condones and perpetuates violence against women. Thana's victims come from all walks of life – they are ordinary men going about their daily routines, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows. Their killings serve as a testament to the unrelenting fury that festers within Thana's broken and traumatized psyche. The graphic nature of the violence is starkly juxtaposed with the elegance and sophistication of Thana's evening gowns, which serve as a poignant reminder of her lost innocence. In a striking sequence toward the end of the film, Thana is confronted by one of her attackers, who had previously escaped her bullets. He attempts to rape her again, igniting the same explosive fury that Thana had contained throughout the film. In a violent and intense confrontation, Thana unleashes her full wrath upon the attacker, bludgeoning him to death with an iron bar. This pivotal moment serves as a climax to Thana's downward spiral into madness, a testament to her unrelenting quest for revenge. The film concludes with Thana being discovered by the police in a derelict alley, covered in blood and surrounded by the victims of her vendetta. In a stunning and haunting finale, Thana is met with silence – no words, no tears – merely a vacant, expressionless stare, which serves as a poignant reminder of the irreparable damage that has been done to her.