What I don't get

I think his first mistake was having sex with her. I guess you could say the movie is a revenge for the whole man not calling back thing. I found myself routing for Dave later, after I had routed for Evelyn for a half hour. I stopped after she slit her wrists.

well, in the movie he takes the position that he can't talk to the police about her becuz he doesn't want the bad publicity - i guess he thinks it could compromise his job.....yet another BAD decision on his part! yeah, just ignore a psycho and they'll go away! uh-huh......

after she attacked the maid, you'd think he'd tell the cops the truth - "this chick's psycho. Take her away."

Er, that's exactly what happened! It's just that later on, the psychiatric institution releases her. And as for a "restraining order," first, what would that have done? Evelyn was already trying to kill Dave by the end of the film. And secondly, aside from not wanting to generate negative publicity that could hamper his career, not many men sought "restraining orders" against women in the early 1970s.

He was always accepting her and going to her, more or less leading Evelyn on.

As Jarp mentioned, Dave enjoys the sex and affection as long as he believes that "no strings" will be attached and that no commitment will form. Egotistically, he certainly thinks that he can have his cake and eat it too, thus escaping the consequences of his philandering behavior. And as Jarp noted, Dave doesn't want to harshly reject Evelyn after all the flattering attention and sexual interest that she's shown him. So he decides to placate her, thinking that if he gives Evelyn her fill, eventually she'll be satisfied and stop pestering him, and he won't have to confront her in a rejecting manner. Indeed, Dave is not someone who wants to confront the consequences of his actions, and he'd rather hope that they fade away on their own. Instead, by placating her, Dave doesn't satisfy Evelyn but rather feeds her romantic dreams. His failure to be candid and responsible, and his willingness to indulge himself sexually regardless of the consequences, puts him in a deadly spot.

Its called trying to be nice ! I guess you have never been in a situation with a person and not wanting to hurt their feelings.He was up front with her from the beginning about his ex and she said she understood and was fine with it.He didnt lead her on everytime she came around he told her and made it clear and each time she agreed to the terms.Just shows sometimes its better to be cold as ice and get it over with.I know I have encountered my share of stalker girls there are just as many psycho girls as psycho men out there these days ! Maybe its because every chick out there today is on some antidepressant or anxiety meds.Maybe if they dealt with real life and realized life is painful sometimes instead of running for a pill.HEY !!! Maybe if they had these dumb meds back then Evelyn might have behaved herself.LOL Nah.... I dont think so every whackO stalker girl I have come in contact with is on some prescribed "I wanna escape from reality drug."LOL

To me, he acted like he simply didn't know what to do. Maybe he had always led a pretty sheltered, easy, smooth life and had never been around anyone like that before, ever.

If he had done all that then we wouldn't have a movie, would we?

He DID tell the cops the truth after the maid got attacked. They took her away and locked her up in a mental home but she was released.

He never led her on. He told her what she needed to do. Are you a woman? And if he was too brutal towards her, you'd cite his non-compassion, insensitivity, and and misogyny.