Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession

Play trailer Poster for Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession R Released Oct 23, 1980 2h 3m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
46% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Alex Linden (Art Garfunkel) is a psychiatrist living in Vienna who meets Milena Flaherty (Theresa Russell) though a mutual friend. Though Alex is quite a bit older than Milena, he's attracted to her young, carefree spirit. Despite the fact that Milena is already married, their friendship quickly turns into a deeply passionate love affair that threatens to overtake them both. When Milena ends up in the hospital from an overdose, Alex is taken into custody by Inspector Netusil (Harvey Keitel).
Watch on Prime Video Stream Now

Where to Watch

Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession

Critics Reviews

View All (13) Critics Reviews
Jay Scott Globe and Mail Not everything works. Aug 16, 2022 Full Review Adam Nayman The Ringer ...perched right on the edge of tastelessness and yet finally more emotionally powerful than exploitative. Nov 26, 2018 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times This film has been praised for its honesty, but it would have taken far more honesty (not to mention courage) to deal with the personality disorders of these characters instead of simply burying them in blood, sex, and noise. Rated: 1.5/4 Nov 12, 2018 Full Review Rob Schmieder Gay Community News (Boston) Self-indulgent twaddle. Sep 15, 2022 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com [PODCAST] Nicolas Roeg is at his most inventive in this complex erotic psychological drama. Twisted, in a good way. Rated: A Jan 19, 2022 Full Review Daniel Barnes Dare Daniel Bad Timing gets assembled from the memories and assumptions of multiple unreliable sources. The flamboyantly cinematic camera moves and angles, shock-cut edits and Scorsese-style soundtrack all contribute to a sense of dislocation. Rated: 4/5 Oct 4, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (212) audience reviews
S R What a shame. What a shame. This could have been so much more than it was, but instead it focused on the perverse ideas of whoever came up with this plot. It's too bad since it being filmed in one of my favorite cities, Vienna, left me sad that they misrepresented life there. It should have been like Before Sunrise that managed to focus on the relationship, rather than sex. Saw it because it was on my Time Out BBF list, I also wanted to see Art G act; now I know why he didn't take off (that hair and forehead). It was on Tubi. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 10/22/24 Full Review Shioka O Personally I liked the vibe, but the narrative is scattered, maybe intentionally though, it resulted in a bit dull to watch. The singer's performance is somewhat unconvincing. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 04/28/23 Full Review Bernard K Very bad movie. Sick people, poorly acted, insane story. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/14/21 Full Review Audience Member Recommended, but with serious reservations, depending on whom I was recommending (or not) this to. There's a lot to unpack in this one. It's like a really messed-up Annie Hall crossed with a whodunit, but you're not really sure what the crime is until the end. Speaking of which, I read this passage on the immorality of film in a book earlier on the same day I watched this: "One factor that renders film such an irresistible experience is the opportunity it affords the audience to observe other people without shame." That's a pretty good summation of where your head might be at while you watch this. It will cross the line for some however. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member This is one of the very best of my favorite films. Each time I watch it, it gets better. Socially realistic, awkward and painful. Such is life. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member 'Bad Timing' is an admirable bore and feels like a chore to get through. Theresa Russell carries the day (barely) with her great stirring performance Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

The Shout 86% 67% The Shout Watchlist Fingers 85% 69% Fingers Watchlist Luna 46% 69% Luna Watchlist The Border 65% 52% The Border Watchlist Blue Collar 96% 88% Blue Collar Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Alex Linden (Art Garfunkel) is a psychiatrist living in Vienna who meets Milena Flaherty (Theresa Russell) though a mutual friend. Though Alex is quite a bit older than Milena, he's attracted to her young, carefree spirit. Despite the fact that Milena is already married, their friendship quickly turns into a deeply passionate love affair that threatens to overtake them both. When Milena ends up in the hospital from an overdose, Alex is taken into custody by Inspector Netusil (Harvey Keitel).
Director
Nicolas Roeg
Producer
Jeremy Thomas
Screenwriter
Yale Udoff
Distributor
World Northal
Production Co
Recorded Picture Company (RPC), The Rank Organisation
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 23, 1980, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 23, 2017
Runtime
2h 3m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1), 35mm
Most Popular at Home Now