Theme Song: Do you like whistling!? This soundtrack is for you!
Music is credited to Ken Lauber. Death Waltz 2-LP 180g splatter-color vinyl is being reissued in Q3-2025.
Interesting Dated References: Romantic movies featuring a 100% unlikable protagonist that we’re supposed to be sympathetic toward despite said character literally saying “I’m going to rape you” as a threat to a partner and later inferring he should wait around ten years for said partner’s step-daughter to be of-age so he can date her. He even tells a woman that she’s attracted to her gynecologist and that he will beat her and the gynecologist!I know the 70s were a different time but holy shit.
Social Context: Chilly Scenes of Winter, based on a book of the same name, was initially released in 1979 as Head Over Heels. Somewhat mismarketed as a comedy, the film did poorly. After a re-edit from the director, it was rereleased under its original title and marketed as a contemplative love story.
Summary: Pompous and self-indulged thirtysomething Charles (John Heard) spends his days ruminating (via flashback) on his failed relationship with married former co-worker Laura (Mary Beth Hurt).
This would all be quietly sentimental if Charles weren’t such a total fucking asshole who runs around the office sticking pencils in the hair of ethnic women with afros.
During one brazen moment, Charles and his friend Sam solicit a meeting with Laura’s contractor husband by posing as a gay couple interested in purchasing an A-frame home. This results in the four of them having drinks, during which Charles professes his love for Laura to the group.
Isn’t this the stupid, most arrogant shit? Eventually, Charles catches wind of Laura’s living on her own. After visiting her at her new apartment, he realizes the spark is gone and spends the rest of the movie lamenting the end of the relationship through voiceover like an arrogant prick.
Many people will say this is a quiet, realistic depiction of mid-life relationship ennui with a beautiful setting. These people ignore the fact that the main character is played as 100% unlikable.
Worth Mentioning:
– It’s hard to believe, with such an unlikable lead, that this movie was directed by a woman and based on a novel written by a woman!
– There are subplots we’re supposed to care about (Charles’s siblings and their suicidal mother, his out-of-work roommate Sam), but none of it engages.
– Griffin Dunne produced and briefly appears.
Poster and Box Art: The poster for Head Over Heels is actually pretty fun.
The Chilly Scenes of Winter release art is not as fun. But that’s okay because this character is an unlikable asshole.
If the plan was for the lead to be an unlikable asshole, they chose a guy who has done pretty well playing an unlikable asshole in a role or two.