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Obsession
1976 99 min United States of America, Italy PG 16+
★7.1
Thriller, Mystery, Drama
Director: Brian De Palma
Trailers
EN
Teaser
Description
A wealthy New Orleans businessman becomes obsessed with a young woman who resembles his late wife.
Budget:
$1.4M
Worldwide:
$4.47M
Starring
Cliff Robertson
Actor
Geneviève Bujold
Actor
John Lithgow
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1977
— Golden Scroll – Best Horror Film
Academy Awards 1977
— Best Original Score
Key opinion
Brian De Palma's Obsession is a polarizing, formalist homage to Hitchcock's Vertigo that divides opinion between those who appreciate its technical artistry and those who find it a hollow imitation. While the film is consistently praised for its striking visual language and musical score, many critics remain unimpressed by its convoluted plot and unconvincing character dynamics.
| Cinematography | Vilmos Zsigmond’s lush cinematography and Bernard Herrmann’s haunting, operatic score provide a masterful atmosphere that stands as the film’s most undeniable strength. | |
| Adaptation | The film functions as a clear stylistic tribute to Hitchcock's 'Vertigo', though critics are split on whether this constitutes a creative reinterpretation or a derivative, unoriginal copy. | |
| Acting | Cliff Robertson’s lead performance is a major point of contention, characterized by some as a nuanced portrayal of guilt-ridden grief and by others as flat or wooden. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is widely criticized for relying on a convoluted, implausible plot that suffers from predictability and a lack of emotional resonance. | |
| Ending | The film's final act is viewed by some as a powerful, cathartic conclusion, while others dismiss it as a contrived, jarring, or absurd twist. |