15 Great Movies About Dangers Of Obsession – Armessa Movie News

Summary

• Obsession can lead to devastating consequences, as seen in movies like The Prestige and Mulholland Drive.
• Films like Obsessed and Fear depict the dangers of romantic obsession and the misinterpretation of signals.
• The theme of obsession is explored in various ways, from parental obsession in Eyes Without a Face to the obsession with appearances in The Girl on the Train.

There are many different forms of obsession, and it has been the subject of several great movies as a result. Movies that look at obsession are regarded as some of the most frightening of all time. Some of the best movies of all time look at how obsession can take hold of anybody and its dangerous consequences.

Obsession is defined as an idea, thought, or person that continuously preoccupies a person’s thoughts until it becomes all-consuming. Whether it be romantic or familial, obsession can be very dangerous to anybody. There are many films that examine the different forms that obsession can take in society, as audiences have had the opportunity to see great explorations of obsession in movies from the 1960s up until today.

Related: 10 Best Movies Like Beyonce’s Obsessed

15 The Prestige (2006)

Sometimes the desire to be the best can take over everything. This Christopher Nolan movie looks at two stage magicians, once good friends, who turned bitter enemies after a magic trick goes tragically wrong. They battle against each other to create the most illuminating magic illusion while sacrificing everything else to outrank each other. Both magicians are overwhelmed with the desire to be better than the other. The stakes to win become higher and higher with both men sacrificing more as their obsession with each other builds. The desire to see who can pull off the most amazing magic trick ultimately leads to devastating consequences for both of them.

14 Mulholland Drive (2001)

Mulholland Drive sees Betty, an aspiring actress move to Los Angeles when her life collides with a young woman suffering from amnesia. Intrigued by the woman’s problem, Betty decides to help her regain her memories, only to find herself caught up in a dark conspiracy, exposing a dark side to the American Dream. This movie explores the theme of romantic obsession and the idea of a better life. The subplot follows a failing actress named Diane, who is slowly losing her sanity over her fixation on the beautiful Camilla. Diane allows this fixation to consume her until she finally loses her state of mind and takes her own life.

13 Obsessed (2008)

In Obsessed, financier Derek lives a good life with his wife Sharon and son Kyle when he meets temp worker Lisa. She misinterprets his friendly gestures towards her as flirting, and she tries relentlessly to seduce him, despite his repeated rejections. Despite receiving mixed reviews upon initial release, Obsessed was a box office hit and was praised for depicting the issue of unrequited romantic feelings and unwanted sexual advances towards men. It also looks at how obsession can make one misinterpret signs given by others. The final fight scene between Beyoncé’s Sharon and Ali Larter’s Lisa delivered a satisfying finale too.

12 Eyes Without a Face (1960)

In the French black-and-white movie Eyes Without a Face, a surgeon, Dr. Génessier, accidentally causes his daughter Christine to become severely facially disfigured. In a desperate attempt to resolve his mistakes, he tries to give his daughter a new face through facial transplants from women he abducts and murders. This horror film shows that parents will do anything to ensure their child’s happiness, but Dr. Génessier’s desperation to fix his mistakes causes him to lose focus on everything else in his life. By the end, Christine loses all sense of love for her father and abandons him to his fate, while she leaves their isolated home to start anew.

11 Gone Girl (2014)

Based on the novel by Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl looks at married couple, Nick and Amy Dunne, whose lives are torn apart when Amy unexpectedly goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary. Seen by investigators and neighbors as the prime suspect, Nick tries desperately to find out what happened to his wife, while struggling to clear his name. But as viewers soon discover, appearances can be deceiving and nothing about Amy’s disappearance is what it seems.

The theme of obsession runs two different ways through the story. Amy’s former lover Desi maintains a strong obsession with her, which initially forced her to take out a restraining order. She later uses his obsession to her advantage, murdering him and then framing him for abduction. Amy also holds a dark obsession to have control over her unfaithful husband. This leads to her inseminating herself to trap Nick and ensure they are still seen as a happy couple in Gone Girl‘s ending.

10 Fear (1996)

This 1996 Reese Witherspoon movie sees her play Nicole Walker, a teenage girl who lives a seemingly perfect life with her family and friends in Seattle while dreaming of finding her perfect partner. She seems to find him in the mysterious David, played by Mark Wahlberg. For a little while, everything in their relationship is perfect. But it isn’t long before David’s violent and obsessive side is revealed as he goes to extreme lengths to keep Nicole with him.

Fear has been described as the teenage Fatal Attraction in how it depicts David’s dark desire to possess Nicole. It also depicts a father’s protection over his daughter. Nicole’s father, Steven, having never trusted David goes to great lengths to keep his family safe as David’s obsession becomes more unstable. The film received praise for its depiction of teenage obsession and familial protection and gained a cult following in the years following its release.

9 The Girl on The Train (2016)

Based on the 2015 novel by Paula Hawkins, recent divorcee, Rachel Watson boards the train to work every day and finds herself captivated by a couple who live in a beautiful house. Rachel sees them as the perfect couple and her fixation leads to her yearning for their life and happiness. Her fantasy falls apart when one member of the couple unexpectedly goes missing and Rachel is forced to question whether she played any role in her disappearance.

This movie shows viewers that appearances are deceptive and nobody really knows what happens in each other’s lives. Rachel is obsessed with this couple because, at first glance, she sees their life as the one that she wants. When she investigates deeper, her fantasy is shattered when she uncovers disturbing details in The Girl on the Train‘s ending about the couple that puts herself in danger.

8 The Novice (2021)

The Novice starts off as an inspiring story of a psychic student, Alex, who is determined to succeed in college and make it to the elite rowing varsity team, ensuring that she does everything to achieve her goals. But soon, Alex finds herself mentally spiraling downward as her desire to overcome obstacles overwhelms her mental well-being. Alex’s desire to be the best at everything causes her to push herself to the limit, alienating herself from everything. She obsessively pushes herself until she can go no further, and she is left physically and emotionally shattered. The Novice proves a cautionary tale for those of put pressure on themselves to succeed.

7 Crimson Peak (2015)

Guillermo del Toro’s horror movie Crimson Peak depicts Edith Cushing and her romance with the handsome Sir Thomas Sharpe, with her moving into his Gothic mansion where he lives with his sister Lady Lucille. Edith has an uneasy feeling about the mansion and begins to grow suspicious of her new husband and his sister, while also dealing with the appearance of eerie spirits that urge her to leave. When she finally learns the truth, it is far more disturbing than she ever anticipated.

It’s revealed that Thomas and Lucille have been involved in an incestuous affair since they were young and Lucille has been murdering all of Thomas’ partners for their wealth. Lucille is shown to have a desire to keep Thomas to herself; when she learns of his love for Edith, she flies into a rage and murders him. Lucille’s incestuous desires are her own downfall; by the end of the movie, her ghost is seen playing piano alone in the manor for eternity.

6 Greta (2018)

Greta shows that sometimes, the kindest intentions can lead to the most frightening consequences. Frances, a young woman struggling to cope with the loss of her mother, befriends a lonely widow named Greta after finding her handbag on a train. What starts off as friendship turns into a nightmare for Frances as the elderly Greta begins to stalk and harass her relentlessly. Both Greta and Frances have suffered from familial loss and Frances is initially happy to have somebody she can relate to, but she soon regrets her decision when she sees Greta’s mental instability. Greta’s desire to be Frances’ only confidante leads to frightening circumstances.

5 The Batman (2022)

Matt Reeves’ The Batman brings Robert Pattinson into the role of the masked vigilante for a detective-style story based around obsession. When The Riddler begins terrorizing the city, Batman must bring him to justice while uncovering the city’s hidden corruption. The Batman brings audiences a new depiction of the titular superhero, as Bruce Wayne cannot differentiate between his Batman persona and himself. His obsession with fighting justice as Batman has caused him to lose sight of himself. As The Riddler’s crimes become more gruesome, Wayne realizes that he needs to let go of his obsessions if he has any hope of saving Gotham City.

4 Ingrid Goes West (2017)

Ingrid Goes West is a movie that tackles the growing problem of toxic influencer culture, as Ingrid Thorburn becomes fixated with a social media influencer named Taylor Sloane whom she follows on Instagram. She moves to Los Angeles and gives herself a makeover in the hopes of becoming friends with her idol. While she initially succeeds, it isn’t long before Ingrid learns that her new friend isn’t the person she sees online. Ingrid’s obsession with having the perfect life on social media has a heavy impact on her mental health. It examines that behind the glossy Instagram photos, nothing is what it seems.

3 Lolita (1962)

One of the most controversial films ever created, Lolita centers on a middle-aged college professor and his fixation with a 14-year-old girl. To be closer to her, he marries her mother and keeps a journal, detailing his obsession. His feelings for the girl are all-consuming, and he will do anything to have him all to himself. Humbert’s obsession with Lolita remains strong throughout the story, even when he discovers her new life with another man. The movie has been regarded as a daring take on such a disturbing novel.

2 Black Swan (2011)

The pressure to be perfect can be deadly. Ballet dancer Nina is set to perform in Swan Lake as the innocent Odette but struggles with performing as the evil Odile. As she prepares to perform, she strives to succeed in the role while slowly descending into madness. Nina faces overwhelming pressure to be perfect from her mother, dance instructor, and herself. Her strive for perfection slowly takes over her mind, causing her to lose sight of reality. Her desperation to be perfect costs her mentality, leaving the movie to end ambiguously.

1 Fatal Attraction (1987)

Regarded as one of the best obsession movies, Fatal Attraction sees Dan Gallagher, a married man embark on a fling with Alex Forrest, an attractive editor. He comes to regret it when Alex becomes obsessed with him and will do anything to have him to herself. As Alex’s actions become more disturbing, Dan must find a way to protect his family and save himself.

The movie proved controversial upon release but has since received high praise for its portrayal of obsession and infidelity. Glenn Close’s portrayal of Alex received high acclaim and has been regarded as one of the best villain portrayals in movie history. The movie allows viewers an insight into the emotional mentality and the consequences of one’s mistakes, making it one of the best movies to look into the real dangers of obsession.