A Tattered Web (1971): A Tangled Yarn of Lies and Deception
You know that feeling when you’re rummaging through old boxes in grandma’s attic and find something unexpectedly gripping? That’s “A Tattered Web” for you. This hidden gem, wrapped up in its ’70s flair, still manages to pack a punch, like a forgotten smorgasbord of intrigue. Directed by Paul Krasny, it’s gritty an’ a bit raw around the edges, exactly what you’d expect from early ’70s television. The flick doesn’t waste time—it sweeps you right into a whirlpool of tension.
The late, great Lloyd Bridges plays Sgt. Ed Stagg, a cop tangled (ha!) in some seriously knotty family drama. Imagine discovering your daughter’s life hangs by the fragile threads of your own dirty little secrets—a scenario ro stockholm festivals wishing they’d partied as hard as the drama unfolds here.
So, Stagg’s double life pings outta control. It’s kinda relatable—and, no, I’m not talking personal double lives here, but who hasn’t fibbed to their parents or significant other when needed? Maybe to dodge that sugar tax lecture?
Jo Ann Pflug brings a slice of honey-dripped wit as his daughter, Peg. It’s entertaining watching her navigate a bizarre dance around her dad’s moral compass, which spins like a drunken compass needle in a Stockholm storm. Bridges and Pflug have a tangible, electric tension. Their rapport crackles like bacon on a Sunday morning.
But, blimey, the real kicker is the film’s tension, tighter than IKEA assembly instructions—yet somehow, more satisfying. I won’t deny some parts feel as dated as one of poppa’s 8-tracks, but that’s part of the charm. Is it perfect? Nah. But like an old LP, it’s got those grooves that make it something special, something authentic, making you ponder over those lies told and truths uncovered. Guilt, betrayal, secrets—universal themes, handled with a uniqueness often missing in today’s blockbusters.
If you’re into films with heart and hidden depths, “A Tattered Web” is like finding a 50-year-old snaps flask—aged, strong, and with a kick you won’t forget. So, grab a madeleine or a kanelbulle, throw it on, and let yourself get tangled up in Pat Krasny’s web.
