MovieChat Forums > Hysteria (2011) Discussion > Rip Off

Rip Off

posted 14 years ago by SamE1331
35 replies | jump to latest

Sarah Ruhl should get a legal team. Because the summary for this movie is pretty much identical to her successful Braodway play: In the Next Room (Or The Vibrator Play). The play was nominated for the Tony for Best Play and starred Laura Benanti and Michael Cerveris, so I doubt the team behind the movie never heard of it, especially the writers. When I first saw a blurb about this in a magazine I thought they must have taken the play and changed the title for a movie adaptation, but since Ruhl's name is nowhere to be found on the films page, it seems like its just the most blatant rip off in recent memory. Good job Hollywood, you always know how to cash in on someone else's success.

[–] captkirk_459 12 years ago

Did you think that maybe this movie got the rights to do this and that it is based on the play?

[–] JavierBoredom 12 years ago

My goodness - what a perfect thread for a movie called Hysteria. Someone get the OP some smelling salts!

[–] kevinjo67 12 years ago

I wondered how much the movie might depend upon the play, but really the only similarity is in the central plot device of the vibrator. The movie offers the Hollywood convention of a male central character rescuing female, and even speaking for her, which is highly ironic since the character herself is meant to be a fighter for women speaking out and defying convention.

The play is first and foremost the story of a central male character having to finally listen to and open his mind to the needs of the female. The female holds the power and rescues the man, although its far more subtle than this far too transparent movie.

Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty.