A Dangerous Method

R

Released Nov 23, 2011

1 hr. 39 min.

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

List

79%

191 Reviews

Tomatometer

50%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1904 a Russian woman named Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) arrives at Carl Jung's (Michael Fassbender) clinic, seeking treatment for hysteria. Jung is eager to test Sigmund Freud's (Viggo Mortensen) theories on Sabina and, in fact, successfully treats her. Two years later Jung and Sabina meet Freud in person, and Jung takes over the treatment of Otto Gross, whose influence leads Jung to begin an affair with Sabina, contributing to a rift with Freud.

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Critics Consensus

A provocative historical fiction about the early days of psychoanalysis, A Dangerous Method is buoyed by terrific performances by Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley, and Viggo Mortensen.

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David W

Like many psychology stories, A Dangerous Method is filled with intellectual intrigue and complex characters. However, like most psychology movies, this one suffers from a slow pace that began to wear on me as a viewer. I would definitely watch this again if there were nothing better to choose from.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/24/24

Full Review

Aliza l

First of all, I never liked Kiera Knightley. Her facial expressions are cringe worthy. The content of this flick looked promising, so I thought I'd give it a try. It was just awful. Kiera who plays Sabina, who is a patient of Carl Jung overacted the role so much that it was nauseating. I've worked in psychiatric before and let me tell ya, Kiera looked more like someone suffering from Tourettes Syndrome then someone who was abused as a child. When I initally met "Sabina" on screen, I couldn't believe how ridiculous she appeared. To me, the whole movie was so fragmented that I couldn't, try as I did, put together a smooth flow. It was just all over the place with so many unanswered questions. You just got fed bits of this and bits of that leaving you hungry for more background to put t it together. Not worth your time, trust me.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/12/23

Full Review

rohit m

i wanted to like this movie so much though Keira can't act , she irritated me so much i just wanted this movie to be over , worst performance by an actress , she can't act

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/05/23

Full Review

Georgan G

Great approach to a triple biography of 3 famous figures in the history of psychology. The fair depiction of all three was enabled by excellent acting. My friend isn't into psychology at all & enjoyed it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/20/23

Full Review

Jelisije J

A movie that really makes you think about the subject matter of psychology that is being discussed by the pioneers of that field.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/07/23

Full Review

Aaron S

I honestly couldn't even finish it. Cronenberg has a style and I will admit it's just probably not for me, but this movie was so painfully boring to me that no amount of great acting or interesting ideas (of which this has both) can save it from its monotony.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/14/23

Full Review

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David Cronenberg

Director

Keira Knightley

Sabina Spielrein

Viggo Mortensen

Sigmund Freud

Michael Fassbender

Carl Jung

Sarah Gadon

Emma Jung

Vincent Cassel

Otto Gross

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

But, all in all, the movie is quite good and deserves more than one viewing just to keep up with the enthralling consecutive dialogues and often profound one-liners...

Rated: B+

Sep 8, 2017

Full Review

David Thomson

The New Republic

It makes for an absorbing drama and leaves the mustiness of cigars in the theatre.

Jun 20, 2013

Full Review

David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Both Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen are impressive, but the film belongs to Keira Knightley, who gives a quite astonishing performance, one modelled closely on existing film of women patients who suffered from this kind of hysteria.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 28, 2012

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A richly complicated tale that finds pioneers lost in their own frontier.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 3, 2023

Full Review

Emiliano Basile

EscribiendoCine

An intelligent, appealing and viciously interesting film. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 8/10

Dec 7, 2021

Full Review

Catherine Springer

CathsFilmForum.com

It's talky and conceptual and intellectual and extremely dry. But, if you pay attention, it is also extremely erotic and emotional.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 26, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

In 1904 a Russian woman named Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) arrives at Carl Jung's (Michael Fassbender) clinic, seeking treatment for hysteria. Jung is eager to test Sigmund Freud's (Viggo Mortensen) theories on Sabina and, in fact, successfully treats her. Two years later Jung and Sabina meet Freud in person, and Jung takes over the treatment of Otto Gross, whose influence leads Jung to begin an affair with Sabina, contributing to a rift with Freud.

Director: David Cronenberg
Executive Producer: Thomas Sterchi, Matthias Zimmerman, Karl Spoerri, Stephan Mallmann, Peter Watson
Screenwriter: Christopher Hampton
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Recorded Picture Company (RPC)
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Brief Language)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 2011, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 27, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.7M

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