Spanking the Monkey

…school, his feature-length directorial debut, Spanking the Monkey (1994), the story of a medical student who gets thrust into a confusing Oedipal relationship with his bedridden mother, was generally well received and earned him Independent Spirit Awards for best first feature and best first screenplay.

Russell’s incest-tinged first feature, Spanking the Monkey (1994). Several high-profile actresses declined the role, including Susan Sarandon, Faye Dunaway, Jessica Lange, and Isabella Rossellini, but Watson relished it, later calling it her best performance and her favourite role. The offbeat black comedy proved to be a defining moment in…