By Janet Grant

“Lopez shines, Luna smoulders, and fantasy refuses to die.” It opens in Canadian theatres on October 17, 2025.

Kiss of the Spider Woman (2025) is a musical drama written and directed by Bill Condon. It draws from the Broadway musical by Terrence McNally and the original 1976 novel by Manuel Puig.

The story is set in 1983 Argentina amid the Dirty War, when thousands disappeared under state repression. Valentín (Diego Luna), a political prisoner, shares a cell with Luis Molina (Tonatiuh), jailed for his sexuality. Molina passes the days by recounting a Hollywood-style musical starring Ingrid Luna, played by Jennifer Lopez.

Condon’s adaptation leans hard into contrast. He cuts nearly all songs in the prison world, reserving musical numbers for Molina’s fantasy sequences. He also adds new songs, including “I Will Dance Alone,” “Never You,” and “An Everyday Man.”

Tonatiuh’s portrayal of Molina anchors the film emotionally. Critics say his performance bridges flamboyance and vulnerability. Diego Luna’s Valentín changes slowly from guarded idealist to partner in empathy. Jennifer Lopez wears multiple personas: Ingrid Luna, Aurora, and the Spider Woman. Her musical presence is lush, though some reviews argue it overshadows the story’s grit.

The film’s strength lies in its dual mode: fantasy and reality. The glamorous musical world offers escape; the prison world delivers tension. But the split doesn’t always lead to unity. Some fantasy scenes feel detached from the existential stakes of confinement.

Kiss of the Spider Woman (2025) offers a moving, if uneven, experience. Expect to linger on performance detail, costume flourishes, and how fantasy bleeds into captivity.

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