deathtrap run like a play within a movie about who do what to whom and a it primarily take place on one set . the premise be that an accomplished playwright and whose star be fall and receive a magnificent manuscript from a former student and so he plan to off his protege and appropriate his play and to the ( loud ) protest of his wife . or so you think and for the first half of the movie . past the halfway mark and deathtrap begin to throw in twist and surprise that turn it premise on it head and then right around and and then in a mad spin and all the time keep it title appropriate . it an excellent mystery movie soak in wit . michael caine and a the senior playwright and play himself in this movie a slightly loony and very dramatic brit . no surprise here he do his usual good work . he get the best line of deathtrap and which he execute perfectly represent what be your definition of success and be gang bang in a state penitentiary . christopher reeve and on the other hand and juggle comedy and drama in a surprisingly strong performance play the ambitious ( and psychopathic ) young playwright . he also get to show off his very tone body and which he must have retain come off the superman movie . caine and reeve have collaborate in another movie that one of my favorite comedy noise off . it similarly revolve around a play as well and although this time caine be the director and reeve be an actor . they be join by comic veteran carol burnett and john ritter and marilu henner ( taxi ) and mark linn baker ( perfect stranger ) . together and they demonstrate the calamity that befall the bed hop cast and crew of a play . on the surface and the movie look to be mostly slapstick but upon watch you find that they be many subtle joke that require more than one view to catch . wish this underrated movie be available on dvd .