the buzz log

Since when did Labor Day weekend become a dumping ground for movies? Sandra Bullock is in a bomb of a female stalker comedy, "Beavis & Butthead" creator Mike Judge is out with a snoozer, and "Gamer" decided to leave the bloodletting on the screen and ducked out of showing previews to critics.

And lackluster searches show it: Only Bullock is getting affection, although not for her movie. So either folks stand in line for another showing of "District 9," or they head to an old-fashioned video store and score some stalker flicks.

Rotten Tomatoes and Ask Men have compiled an impressive list, mostly of the truly creepy ilk ("The Hitcher," "Taxi Driver," "Fear") although "There's Something About Mary" and the dark comedy "Chuck & Buck" made its top 10. Light-hearted stalking's not an easy topic, and it's a preoccupation more likely done by a man .

Much critical analyses (including at Cinematical) have been done about the type of women who end up being stalkers (AKA the threatening single career woman). For better or for worse, Hollywood has created enough movie stalkers of all ilk, so it may be less of a feminist issue than in the '90s.

But, you can decide. If you want some guilty, shivery pleasures of menacing ladies or pesty chicks, here's a quick list of what to dig up in the DVD bin:

Ten  Female Film Stakers (Plus A Bonus)

• "Obsessed" (2009). The 21st-century update to "Fatal Attraction," Ali Larter wants her co-worker and good family man Idris Elba. Beyonce, as his wife, does the patootie-kicking. 
• "Notes on a Scandal" (2006). A refined version of female stalking, Judi Dench plays a spinster teacher who specializes in emotional blackmail, and Cate Blanchett her convenient victim. Both received Oscar noms.
• "Swimfan" (2002). Another homage to "Fatal Attraction" but tailor-made for teens. Erika Christensen takes a one-night stand with jock Jesse Bradford very very seriously. Not many surprises, but EW thought Christensen better than the plot.
• "The Crush" (1993). What happens when Lolita doesn't get what she wants? Sweet Alicia Silverstone got her not-so-sweet start as a 14-year-old sociopath who really likes her parents' tenant Cary Elwes.
• "Single White Female" (1992). In the days before Craigslist, people used to advertise for roommates in newspapers. Bridget Fonda opts for seemingly meek Jennifer Jason Leigh, who becomes her doppelganger.
• "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" (1992). All those ripped-from-the-headlines stories got bundled up in a complicated plot with Rebecca De Mornay as a woman who miscarried after her husband—accused of molesting patients—commits suicide, and takes elaborate revenge against his accusers by becoming the evil nanny.
• "Misery" (1990). The line ("I'm your number one fan") and her way with a sledgehammer put Kathy Bates on the map in this Stephen King-inspired thriller.
• "Desperately Seeking Susan" (1985). Not a stalker film in the strict sense, you still get Rosanna Arquette as a bored housewife who wants to be just like Madonna (who's Susan) but gets entangled with the mob.
• "Fatal Attraction" (1987). The staple of film classes about women roles, the savor-it-or-despise-it update on "Play Misty for Me" cast Michael Douglas (the '80s bad guy even when he pretended to be good) as the philanderer, and Glenn Close as the other woman who doesn't like being spurned.
• "Play Misty for Me" (1971). Clint Eastwood stepped behind the cameras for the first time here, and directed himself as a radio DJ and Jessica Walters who really really really wants to be his gal.
• "All About Eve" (1950). The name that inspired the title "All About Steve," this classic stars Bette Davis as a top-notch Broadway star, and Anne Baxter as the conniving understudy who wants her life.