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Obsession

Play trailer Poster for Obsession PG 1976 1h 38m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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77% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Michael Courtland (Cliff Robertson) is a husband and father whose wife, Elizabeth (Geneviève Bujold), and daughter, Amy (Wanda Blackman), have been kidnapped. When a rescue attempt fails, Elizabeth and Amy are killed, leaving Michael devastated and alone. After years of mourning, Michael travels to Italy and meets Sandra Portinari, a woman with a familiar face. Deeply in love and still haunted by the memory of Elizabeth and Amy, Michael fears that Sandra may face a similar fate.
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Obsession

Obsession

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Critics Consensus

Obsession suffers in comparison to the Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece that it mirrors, but director Brian De Palma's unique preoccupations give this thriller its own compulsive, twisted fingerprint.

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Critics Reviews

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John Simon New York Magazine/Vulture 01/01/2020
De Palma's direction has its splashy slickness, but the people serve as mere props for the effects. Go to Full Review Walter Goodman New York Times 12/13/2017
Whatever shred of credibility the movie retains is dispersed by the final, dead serious directorial hocus‐pocus. Go to Full Review Lou Lumenick New York Post 04/24/2015
4/4
Subtlety is a not a term that can often be applied to DePalma's work, but it's this uncharacteristic restraint that helps make "Obsession" his masterpiece. Go to Full Review Tony Sloman Radio Times Jul 2
3/5
Star Wars editor Paul Hirsch consolidated his reputation on this movie, which is nearly, but not quite, as clever as it thinks it is. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Apr 4
3/5
…Cliff Robertson is rather stolid, but Bujold and Lithgow excel in difficult roles… no split screens, but lots of atmosphere, rushing, whirling camerawork and a wonderfully OTT Bernard Hermann soundtrack that elevates Obsession to real cinematic heights… Go to Full Review Noah Berlatsky Splice Today 02/07/2025
The truth that’s revealed by De Palma is a core of wrongness that can neither be undone, assimilated, nor confronted. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mickey A @RT33395503 Dec 1 Able cast labors mightily against typical DePalma schlock. Never had a chance. Incredible, absurd story, telegraphs Lithgow's character as the moustache-twirling cartoon villain early on. Cannot believe Bernard Herrman got involved (everyone likes to get a paycheck). If this was supposed to riff on 'Vertigo,' Hitchcock must have been pissed. Some dreamy cinematography (De Palma has visual skills), evocative settings - none of it can save the un-baked, misbegotten 'story.' Abject time-waster. See more Barbara G @RT93513719 Oct 14 First, I am not a Cliff Robertson fan! However, it doesn’t matter because the amazing John Lithgow captured every scene! Good ole Southern boy with evil hidden below the surface. He is the epitome of a character actor playing his role with vigor. The Hitchcock comparison is valid! As to the ending, I really liked it. I would recommend this film to the harshest critics! See more Insomniac X @RT03001349 02/03/2025 Convoluted kidnapping thriller which progresses from contrived to absurd. The true cautionary tale here is that of DePalma's obsession with "Vertigo," which spawned this bizarre misfire. See more CodyZamboni Z @CodyZamboni 08/10/2024 Wow, Stunning, Highly emotional, Stirring, haunting, memorable music, Riveting performances, One of De Palma's best movies. See more Alec B @Alec97 01/10/2024 Extremely silly, even by De Palma standards but the real issue is that the movie lacks the kind of tension fueled set pieces that elevate his other work. See more Steve D @RT35616104 08/10/2023 Too much like a million others despite the talent involved. See more Read all reviews
Obsession

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Cast & Crew

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Brian De Palma

Director

Cliff Robertson

Michael Courtland

Geneviève Bujold

Elizabeth Courtland

John Lithgow

Robert Lasalle

Sylvia `Kuumba' Williams

Maid

Wanda Blackman

Amy Courtland

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Obsession

Obsession (1976) Obsession (1976) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Michael Courtland (Cliff Robertson) is a husband and father whose wife, Elizabeth (Geneviève Bujold), and daughter, Amy (Wanda Blackman), have been kidnapped. When a rescue attempt fails, Elizabeth and Amy are killed, leaving Michael devastated and alone. After years of mourning, Michael travels to Italy and meets Sandra Portinari, a woman with a familiar face. Deeply in love and still haunted by the memory of Elizabeth and Amy, Michael fears that Sandra may face a similar fate.
Director
Brian De Palma
Producer
George Litto, Harry N. Blum
Screenwriter
Paul Schrader
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia
Rating
PG
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 1, 1976, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 27, 2010
Runtime
1h 38m
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