Bronwen Mantel, an accomplished actor, brings a distinct presence to the screen in In Praise Of Older Women (1978) and Back Stab (1990). Her performances capture the complexities of female characters in the shifting landscape of cult cinema during the late 20th century. In In Praise Of Older Women, she navigates the intricate dynamics of age and desire, while in Back Stab, her role adds depth to the film's exploration of betrayal and intrigue. Mantel's work in these films highlights her ability to engage with provocative themes in a manner that resonates within the realm of exploitation and grindhouse cinema.
Back Stab
A man is seduced by a stranger and awakens to a corpse.Cliff Murphy is a lonely widow architect still grieving the death of his wife Anne. On the day the company where he works is sold to Mr. Chambers, a very wealthy man, his co-worker and friend Juliet Powell convinces him to join the other colleagues in a celebration in a bar. He reluctantly goes and he meets the gorgeous Caroline being harassed by a strong blonde guy. He stays with her and they have a hot intercourse in the back seat of her car. On the next day, Caroline calls him in the office and invites him to go to a restaurant. Then, they go in two cars to her house. After some kisses and hugs, Cliff meets Mr. Chambers back stabbed and dead on the bed in the master bedroom. Cliff goes to Juliet's flat and calls Sara Rudnick, a lawyer and former friend of Anne, asking her to defend him. She tells him to turn himself in to the police. He is put in jail and in the preliminary audience for the trial, Caroline is another woman. Cliff's world and defense turns upside down and he finds that someone has trapped him. But who?
