10 Intense Movies Where A Character’s Obsession Leads To Their Destruction

Obsession is a common theme in movies, especially dramas and thrillers which show how it can lead to destruction. In these films, an intense obsession starts to border on addiction, whether this is a romantic fixation or a dedication to a specific craft that starts to ruin a character’s life.

Psychological thrillers are one of the genres which most commonly deal with obsession. Some exceptional films take audiences into the mind of a character whose life is ruled by an intense fascination with something or someone, which creates a suffocating atmosphere that’s impossible to ignore.

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10

Phantom Thread (2017)

Paul Thomas Anderson Crafts A Unique Tale Of Romantic Obsession

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Phantom Thread

R

Drama

History

8/10

6/10

Release Date

December 25, 2017

Runtime

131 minutes

Director

Paul Thomas Anderson

Writers

Paul Thomas Anderson

Cast

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• 

  Daniel Day-Lewis

• 

  Camilla Rutherford

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Phantom Thread looks at obsession from a couple of different angles. Firstly, there’s Reynolds Woodcock, an illustrious fashion designer who rubs shoulders with London’s upper crust. He’s obsessed with perfection in every aspect of his work, and this carries into a fixation with a young muse.

The couple are driven to acts of cruelty and isolation that practically amount to a shared delusion.

Alma’s curiosity over Reynolds soon transforms into a fascination, and she quickly ties her self-worth to his tightly guarded affections. As the couple become transfixed by their unusual relationship with one another, they are driven to acts of cruelty and isolation that practically amount to a shared delusion.

9

Zodiac (2007)

Zodiac Is About A Real Unsolved Mystery

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Zodiac

R

Crime

Drama

Mystery

Thriller

10/10

13

9.4/10

Release Date

March 2, 2007

Runtime

157 minutes

Director

David Fincher

Writers

James Vanderbilt

Producers

Ceán Chaffin, Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer, Bradley J. Fischer

Cast

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• 

  Jake Gyllenhaal

  Robert Graysmith

• 

  Mark Ruffalo

  David Toschi

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Zodiac is about a specific obsession that’s shared by millions of people, including many of the people who would have been drawn to the movie in the first place. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a cartoonist in San Francisco who carries out his own personal investigation into the case of the Zodiac Killer, but his obsession gets him into danger.

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Zodiac reflects the audience’s own obsession with true crime, urging them to interrogate their morbid fascination and their hunger for the truth. Just like in real life, the true identity of the killer is never conclusively revealed. This intentional anticlimax is perfectly designed to inspire feelings of unease and unfinished business.

8

The Social Network (2010)

David Fincher’s Zuckerberg Biopic Is Citizen Kane For The Digital Age

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The Social Network

PG-13

Drama

8/10

8.7/10

Release Date

October 1, 2010

Runtime

121 minutes

Director

David Fincher

Writers

Ben Mezrich, Aaron Sorkin

Producers

Ceán Chaffin, Dana Brunetti, Kevin Spacey, Scott Rudin

Cast

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• 

  Jesse Eisenberg

  Mark Zuckerberg

• 

  Andrew Garfield

  Eduardo Saverin

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Zodiac isn’t the only one of David Fincher’s movies that explores the theme of obsession. While Mank, Gone Girl and Fight Club all revolve around obsessive characters to some extent, The Social Network keeps a clearer focus on the subject. The story of the founding of Facebook paints Mark Zuckerberg as a man whose fixation on his creation alienates all those around him.

Although The Social Network ends with Zuckerberg as a billionaire, the bleak final image underlines that his fortune has been forged at the expense of the most meaningful human relationships of his life. The accuracy and angle of The Social Network have been debated at length, but Aaron Sorkin’s script could also be interpreted as a metaphor for American business practices in general.

7

Whiplash (2014)

Damien Chazelle’s First Hit Details An Abusive Mentor Relationship

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Whiplash

R

Drama

Music

7/10

9.7/10

Release Date

October 10, 2014

Runtime

107 Minutes

Director

Damien Chazelle

Writers

Damien Chazelle

Cast

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• 

  Miles Teller

  Andrew

• 

  J.K. Simmons

  Fletcher

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Whiplash stars Miles Teller as a young jazz drummer under the tutelage of an abusive, hot-headed teacher, played with remarkable elan by J.K. Simmons. It’s a fascinating exploration into the dark side of obsession, but it could also be seen as a metaphor for abusive relationships. Even after reaching his lowest point, Andrew returns to Fletcher for one final chance.

Whiplash has a great soundtrack, and the music punctuates the chaos of Andrew’s frantic drive to become a legendary drummer. The upbeat songs are often a potent counterpoint to his anguish behind-the-scenes. It’s only when he staggers on stage after a car accident that his physical appearance matches the depths of his mental pain.

6

Notes On A Scandal (2006)

Judi Dench And Cate Blanchett Shine In A Story Of Obsession And Desperation

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Notes On A Scandal

R

Drama

Thriller

Release Date

December 25, 2006

Runtime

92 minutes

Director

Richard Eyre

Writers

Patrick Marber

Cast

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• 

  Judi Dench

• 

  Cate Blanchett

• 

  Bill Nighy

• 

  Andrew Simpson

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Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett both received Oscar nominations for their performances in Notes on a Scandal, which highlights how the two actors are central to the film’s appeal. Dench stars as a veteran teacher at a London secondary school who becomes fascinated by Blanchett’s character. The two teachers become dangerously intertwined when the younger of the pair engages in an affair with an underage student.

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Notes on a Scandal follows two characters who are both driven to desperate lengths by their obsessions, but it’s mostly told from the perspective of the older teacher. She keeps a detailed diary, which acts as a voiceover at times, and offers a window into her deranged Machiavellian scheming.

5

Ad Astra (2019)

Ad Astra Shows How Obsession Can Repeat Itself

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Ad Astra

PG-13

Sci-Fi

Thriller

7/10

9.7/10

Release Date

September 17, 2019

Runtime

124 minutes

Director

James Gray

Writers

James Gray, Ethan Gross

Cast

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• 

  Anne McDaniels

• 

  Liv Tyler

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Ad Astra is one of the best space exploration movies ever, even if it doesn’t get as much attention as films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Interstellar. The story is inspired by Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, with Brad Pitt starring as an astronaut who journeys to the outer reaches of the solar system to find his father.

Roy McBride initially tries to distance himself from his father, a man whose fanatical obsession with his scientific research turned him from a legend into a pariah. Gradually, he forms his own obsession with reconciling with his father and saving his soul, and this makes him just as dangerous in his own way. Although he has good intentions, he falls into the same trap.

4

Vertigo (1958)

Hitchcock’s Masterpiece Is A Twisty Psychological Thriller

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Vertigo

PG

Romance

Mystery

Thriller

10/10

8.8/10

Release Date

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May 9, 1958

Runtime

128 minutes

Director

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers

Alec Coppel, Samuel A. Taylor

Cast

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• 

  Tom Helmore

• 

  Barbara Bel Geddes

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Many of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies deal with obsession and dangerous fixations in some way, especially his psychological thrillers. Vertigo is no different, as Scottie is one of many Hitchcock characters with an inability to let go of the past. James Stewart’s retired detective character becomes fixated on a mystery after witnessing an apparent suicide.

Vertigo has a few clever tricks to place the audience inside the troubled mind of its protagonist, and this makes the mystery surrounding Madeleine Elster’s death just as perplexing and absorbing as it is to Scottie. His dogged pursuit of the truth leads him to some dangerous places, and it nearly costs him his life.

3

Birdman (2014)

Birdman Follows An Actor With A Point To Prove

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Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

R

Comedy

Documentary

9/10

9/10

Release Date

October 17, 2014

Runtime

120 Minutes

Director

Alejandro González Iñárritu

Writers

Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo

Cast

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• 

  Andrea Riseborough

• 

  Naomi Watts

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It’s easy to watch Birdman and see some similarities to Michael Keaton’s life, but the truth is that Alejandro González Iñárritu created the story without a particular actor in mind. Keaton plays an actor most famous for his role in a blockbuster superhero franchise who’s desperate to establish himself as a serious dramatist on Broadway.

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Iñárritu’s immersive direction draws the audience into the psyche of Riggan Thomson, and it soon becomes clear that he’s out to prove a point to a critical class that has shunned him and a family that is drifting away from him. Most importantly, he’s desperate to prove a point to himself, and to banish the voice in his head that tells him he’s little more than a tool used to sell superhero merchandise.

2

The Wrestler (2008)

Mickey Rourke Delivers A Transformative Performance As An Aging Wrestler

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The Wrestler

R

Drama

Sport

8.5/10

Release Date

December 17, 2008

Runtime

109 minutes

Director

Darren Aronofsky

Writers

Robert Siegel

Cast

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• 

  Evan Rachel Wood

• 

  Mark Margolis

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Darren Aronofsky’s movies repeatedly circle back to the director’s ongoing exploration of obsession. Black Swan, Pi and Noah all feature protagonists with dangerous fixations. The Wrestler is one of Aronofsky’s more accessible movies, starring Mickey Rourke as an aging wrestler desperate to relive his glory days.

Even when it becomes clear that wrestling any longer could give him a fatal heart attack, Randy steps back into the ring. Wrestling is his only form of solace in an emotionally isolated life, but this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, since his dedication to his wrestling persona pushes everyone away from the real him.

1

Amadeus (1984)

Milos Forman’s Work Of Historical Fiction Has Perpetuated A Popular Myth

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Amadeus

R

Biography

Documentary

Drama

History

10/10

Release Date

September 19, 1984

Runtime

160 minutes

Director

Milos Forman

Writers

Peter Shaffer

Cast

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• 

  F. Murray Abraham

• 

  Tom Hulce

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Amadeus is based on the true story of Mozart and Salieri’s musical careers, but Milos Forman’s masterpiece shows a contempt for historical accuracy that all but turns his story into a fantasy. Amadeus contributes to the common myth that Salieri and Mozart were two sworn enemies.

Salieri’s bitter resentment takes him to some dark places.

Told from the perspective of the lesser-known composer, Amadeus tracks Salieri’s obsessive hatred of Mozart over the years. Salieri is envious of Mozart’s abilities, but he’s also disgusted at the way in which he conducts himself in public. This forms the basis of Amadeus‘ surprising comedy, although it’s primarily a drama, since Salieri’s bitter resentment takes him to some dark places.

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