Movies about dangerous romantic relationships
October 16, 2017 3:24 PM Subscribe
What are some films that are primarily about codependent/abusive romantic relationships? I'm looking specifically for movies where the protagonist "escapes" the relationship in the end.
Genre should be more thriller than horror. Ideally the protagonist would have been in love with his/her partner at some point - more like "Sleeping with the Enemy" than "Misery" or "Cape Fear" which both begin as one-sided interest.
Would prefer if the film is about the relationship above all else - so for example "The Shining" isn't about a romantic relationship, first and foremost - though it does cover a lot of these territories.
Movies that showcase codependency, emotional manipulation and/or gaslighting or other methods more subtle than "tie you to a chair to make you stay" - are really what I'm after.
Thanks!
Genre should be more thriller than horror. Ideally the protagonist would have been in love with his/her partner at some point - more like "Sleeping with the Enemy" than "Misery" or "Cape Fear" which both begin as one-sided interest.
Would prefer if the film is about the relationship above all else - so for example "The Shining" isn't about a romantic relationship, first and foremost - though it does cover a lot of these territories.
Movies that showcase codependency, emotional manipulation and/or gaslighting or other methods more subtle than "tie you to a chair to make you stay" - are really what I'm after.
Thanks!
Fatal Attraction? although that's maybe too grossly over-the-top...
posted by aiglet at 4:00 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by aiglet at 4:00 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Heathers Heathers Heathers
"Know what I want, babe?"
"What? What do you want???"
*blam* "Cool guys like you out of my life."
posted by praemunire at 4:07 PM on October 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
"Know what I want, babe?"
"What? What do you want???"
*blam* "Cool guys like you out of my life."
posted by praemunire at 4:07 PM on October 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
Not a movie but Big Little Lies did a great job of this I thought.
posted by fshgrl at 4:10 PM on October 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by fshgrl at 4:10 PM on October 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Not a thriller, but Scorsese's New York, New York has a triumphant escape that made me love Liza Minnelli forever.
Also keep in mind that this movie was the debut of the song "New York, New York"!!!
posted by xueexueg at 4:23 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also keep in mind that this movie was the debut of the song "New York, New York"!!!
posted by xueexueg at 4:23 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
The first thing I thought of was 9 1/2 Weeks.
There's also Gaslight itself, in which gaslighting takes place with actual gaslights.
posted by gideonfrog at 4:42 PM on October 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
There's also Gaslight itself, in which gaslighting takes place with actual gaslights.
posted by gideonfrog at 4:42 PM on October 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
Fear starring a baby Reese Witherspoon and Marky Mark!
posted by Champagne Supernova at 4:48 PM on October 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Champagne Supernova at 4:48 PM on October 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Waitress
Also, this is closer to the horror end of the spectrum, maybe, but Fear was my first thought.
posted by the primroses were over at 4:48 PM on October 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also, this is closer to the horror end of the spectrum, maybe, but Fear was my first thought.
posted by the primroses were over at 4:48 PM on October 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Heiress with Olivia de Havilland
posted by Crystal Fox at 4:56 PM on October 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Crystal Fox at 4:56 PM on October 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh, to be clear, Waitress isn't a thriller at all, but a woman's escape from an abusive relationship is a central plot point.
posted by the primroses were over at 5:04 PM on October 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by the primroses were over at 5:04 PM on October 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
The Skin I Live In takes this to an extreme.
posted by Cogito at 5:05 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Cogito at 5:05 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Martha Marcy May Marlene
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 5:07 PM on October 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 5:07 PM on October 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
The recent and quite good Berlin Syndrome perhaps?
posted by turbid dahlia at 5:22 PM on October 16, 2017
posted by turbid dahlia at 5:22 PM on October 16, 2017
37.2 degrees du Matin (Betty Blue).
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 5:58 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 5:58 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Closer! A drama, not a thriller, but exactly what you're looking for.
posted by yawper at 6:29 PM on October 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by yawper at 6:29 PM on October 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
What’s Love Got to Do with it? about Tina Turner.
posted by mrbeefy at 6:50 PM on October 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by mrbeefy at 6:50 PM on October 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
bound
posted by j_curiouser at 7:21 PM on October 16, 2017
posted by j_curiouser at 7:21 PM on October 16, 2017
Not a thriller: Dangerous Liaisons, and the remakes including Cruel Intentions.
posted by momus_window at 8:26 PM on October 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by momus_window at 8:26 PM on October 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Blue Valentine
posted by miles1972 at 8:47 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by miles1972 at 8:47 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
The 2004 movie Gegen Die Wand / Head-On by German-Turkish director Fatih Akin: it's an unusual love story with a twist and has a great soundtrack to boot!
posted by smorgasbord at 8:50 PM on October 16, 2017
posted by smorgasbord at 8:50 PM on October 16, 2017
Not Without My Daughter with Sally Field
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 9:01 PM on October 16, 2017
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 9:01 PM on October 16, 2017
The Girl on the Train
posted by intensitymultiply at 9:30 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by intensitymultiply at 9:30 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think the French film Jeux d'Enfants would qualify. (English title: Love Me if You Dare.) It was marketed in the US as a hilarious comedy but it most decidedly is nothing of the sort. Personally, I found it horrifying--the main relationship (portrayed by real life couple Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet) is dangerous and tragic, not charming and adorable. I can only assume the people who marketed it in the US had never actually seen it.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:32 PM on October 16, 2017
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:32 PM on October 16, 2017
Can it be a TV movie? If so, The Burning Bed is quintessential abusive relationship fodder.
posted by xyzzy at 11:42 PM on October 16, 2017
posted by xyzzy at 11:42 PM on October 16, 2017
a few Hitchcocks...
Shadow of a Doubt details an affectionate, quasi-romantic relationship.
Suspicion (where she doesn't escape)
Sabotage, based on Conrad's The Secret Agent
Also, The Apartment maybe?
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 4:32 AM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Shadow of a Doubt details an affectionate, quasi-romantic relationship.
Suspicion (where she doesn't escape)
Sabotage, based on Conrad's The Secret Agent
Also, The Apartment maybe?
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 4:32 AM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
What Lies Beneath (maybe)
Double Jeopardy (again sorta kinda)
posted by TheGarden at 8:57 AM on October 17, 2017
Double Jeopardy (again sorta kinda)
posted by TheGarden at 8:57 AM on October 17, 2017
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posted by General Malaise at 3:45 PM on October 16, 2017