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Sanctuary
2023 96 min France, United States of America, Russia R 18+
★6.7
Drama, Thriller
Director: Zachary Wigon
Trailers
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Description
Confined to a claustrophobic hotel room, the heir to a hotel empire and the dominatrix who has primed him for success become locked in a battle of wits and wills as he tries to end his relationship with her.
US Gross:
$535,201
Worldwide:
$581,423
Starring
Christopher Abbott
Actor
Margaret Qualley
Actor
Francisco Castaneda
Actor
Awards
2 nominations total
Key opinion
Sanctuary is a polarizing, minimalist chamber drama that relies entirely on the intensity of its two leads to navigate a complex power struggle. While some viewers find its psychological tension and kinetic dialogue captivating, others find the character motivations artificial and the BDSM-themed premise either exploitative or unconvincing.
| Direction | The film functions as a high-stakes, two-person psychological duel that effectively uses a singular, confined location to sustain tension. | |
| Acting | Margaret Qualley delivers a commanding, volatile performance that anchors the film, though critics are split on whether her character feels authentic or overly theatrical. | |
| Cinematography | The film utilizes sophisticated, stylized cinematography to elevate its minimalist setting and deepen the immersive nature of the power play. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is praised by some for its sharp, recursive exploration of power and gender, while others dismiss the dialogue as clichéd, artificial, or unmotivated. | |
| Ending | Opinions on the climax are sharply divided, with some finding the conclusion a logical, satisfying resolution to the power struggle and others finding it discordant or poorly executed. |