YMMV / To Die For

• Alternative Character Interpretation:
  • Some see Jimmy as a villain, others see him as Suzanne's victim.
  • Suzanne herself can be seen as an admirably ambitious woman who is a victim of her clingy husband, Larry. Also, how bad is Larry?
  • She also occasionally gives the impression of being somewhat dimwitted, but it is implied that this is a farce to get people to underestimate her.
• Award Snub: It received zero Academy Award nominations, with Nicole Kidman not being nominated for Best Actress especially glaring. Sean Penn even sent her a letter saying, "You were robbed", which she felt was better than a nomination.
• Awesome Music: The use of Donovan's "Season of the Witch" during the End Credits while Larry's sister Janice ice skates over the frozen lake where Suzanne's corpse resides.
• Retroactive Recognition:
  • Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck in their first big roles.
  • Though not exactly unknown in Hollywood at the time, Kurtwood Smith (who plays Suzanne's father) would soon become popularly known for his iconic role of Red Foreman in That '70s Show.
• Values Dissonance: While the movie portrays Suzanne as having something of a point, it's still fairly supportive of Larry's decision to essentially baby trap Suzanne. Suzanne's dislike of children and desire not to have children is portrayed as negative even though she's open with Larry about not wanting them. As society has become more supportive of being child-free, that aspect of the film hasn't aged well.

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