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Obsession

Play trailer Poster for Obsession PG Released Aug 1, 1976 1h 38m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
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 De Palma's direction has its splashy slickness, but the people serve as mere props for the effects. Jan 1, 2020 Full Review Walter Goodman New York Times Whatever shred of credibility the movie retains is dispersed by the final, dead serious directorial hocus‐pocus. Dec 13, 2017 Full Review Lou Lumenick New York Post 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. Rated: 4/4 Apr 24, 2015 Full Review Tony Sloman Radio Times Star Wars editor Paul Hirsch consolidated his reputation on this movie, which is nearly, but not quite, as clever as it thinks it is. Rated: 3/5 Jul 2, 2025 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …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… Rated: 3/5 Apr 4, 2025 Full Review Noah Berlatsky Splice Today The truth that’s revealed by De Palma is a core of wrongness that can neither be undone, assimilated, nor confronted. Feb 7, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Insomniac X 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. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/25 Full Review CodyZamboni Z Wow, Stunning, Highly emotional, Stirring, haunting, memorable music, Riveting performances, One of De Palma's best movies. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review Alec B 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. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review Steve D Too much like a million others despite the talent involved. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 08/10/23 Full Review Shioka O Undoubtedly it's not his best, but still a decent thriller. I think the plot is kinda cliche, it is said a homage to "Vertigo" by Hitchcock, though. Good photography especially some scenes in Italy. John Lithgow stands out. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/03/22 Full Review isla s This is quite a suspenseful film - a real chilly thriller of sorts. It features a heavy use of stringed instruments to really bring home the Hitchcockian tension. Its, needless to say, quite claustrophobic and I noticed towards the end there appeared to be a mistiness around the bottom of the screen, which gives it a bit of a dream like sense. I felt John Lithgow gave a particularly good performance in this film and its somewhat memorable - certainly not a bad film, I'd recommend it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review 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

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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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