Obsession

Year of release : 1976

Run time : 1h38min

Genre : Psychological Thriller / Neo Noir / Mystery

Cast : John Lithgow, Genevieve Bujold, Cliff Robertson

Director : Brian de Palma

Based on a story by Brian de Palma and Paul Schrader, the movie is about a man who,16 years after losing his wife,meets a young woman who looks just like her.

In 1959 New Orleans, Michael Courtland and his wife Elizabeth,celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. That same night, Elizabeth and their daughter,Amy, are kidnapped.

Michael receives a note from the kidnappers to pay 500.000 dollars,to get them back.

The police convince him to give the kidnappers a suitcase filled with false papers and a radio transmitter, in order to make them think they won't get their way, and release his family.

The police track the kidnappers,and fleeing from them, Courtland's family and the kidnappers die in a car accident.

In 1975,Courtland is finally convinced by his business partner to visit Florence with him. In the same church he met his wife,he meets a woman who seems to restore a painting,looking exactly like her. Courtland becomes obsessed with her,following her everywhere, in the end approaching her.

 

On the woman's mother's death bed, she tells her to marry him. Courtland thinks that's a great idea,and takes her to the USA with him.

Sandra,by her name,learns about Courtland's dead wife,at first from him,as he kept on telling her how she looked, how she walked and what color lipstick she wore ( I personally wouldn't want to know such things),then,she investigates herself,after seeing the large painting of his wife and their daughter,displayed in the living-room,and hearing the master bedroom the two used to live in,is locked.

Soon after, Courtland receives the same note pinned on the same bed(his daughter's bedroom), about Sandra being kidnapped.

Michael finds himself in the same situation,living the same nightmare,having to rescue the one he loves. Given a second chance,will he pay the kidnappers,or do the same thing again?

The movie has a plot twist towards the end.

 

I liked how the movie was filmed and edited, in the Brian de Palma style,with the actress seeing herself as the little girl. That reminded me of the movie Sisters,he directed, in the reveal scene,which is shot pretty much in the same way,like a dream or nightmare,looking so trippy.

I loved their New Orleans house, the San Miniato al Monte Basilica in Florence,and the mausoleum he built for his family,on the land he never used.

When it comes to acting,I only liked how Genevieve Bujold played. The leading man seemed to have been sleepwalking through the movie,from the very first scene. And the kidnappers were the worst,reminding me of cartoon villains,overacting.

The music was fine.

Obsession is for rent / sale on Amazon, AppleTv, Fandango at Home.

Rating : Worth a watch !