Shubhabrata Dutta
Incestuous relationships have been seen throughout history and have also found a place in arts and literature. Our very favorite ‘Game of Thrones’ is a prime example in this regard. If you’re interested in further exploring taboo or incestuous relationships, then you have come to the right place. Here’s the list of the best incest movies on Netflix that are available to stream right now.
5. Lady J (2018)
Directed by Emmanuel Mouret, this French period drama is set in the 18th century and is inspired by a story from the novel ‘Jacques the Fatalist’ by Denis Diderot. It shows how a widow, Madame de La Pommeraye (Cécile de France), uses her illegitimate daughter Mademoiselle de Joncquières’s (Alice Isaaz) charm to manipulate her partner Marquis des Arcis (Édouard Baer). Marquis des Arcis is a libertine (one who doesn’t believe in moral principles) who, after being with Pommeraye for a couple of years, admits that he has fallen out of love with her, thereby making her plot her revenge. Will her daughter help her in this endeavor? You can stream ‘Lady J’ here to find out.
4. Rebecca (2020)
Ben Wheatley’s 2020 Netflix film ‘Rebecca’ is not the first time that Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 classic novel of the same name has been adapted for the scene (arguably, most famously, by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940) and likely will not be the last. Wheatley approaches the story like a psychological thriller, with elements of romance and horror adding layers to the narrative. The unnamed protagonist (Lily James) meets the 20-something affluent handsome widower Maxim “Max” de Winter (Armie Hammer), and they get married. The new Mrs. de Winter then travels to Manderley, Max’s sprawling familial estate in Cornwall.
However, the protagonist’s Cinderella-esque story turns sour as she finds herself completely overshadowed by the memories of the first Mrs. de Winter, the titular Rebecca. She initially thinks that Max’s refusal to speak about Rebecca stems from his regrets about his second marriage but later discovers that Max hated his first wife, who had a series of affairs, including with her cousin Jack Favell (Sam Riley), and often mocked him by mentioning them. You can check out the film here.
3. Two (2021)
Directed by Mar Targarona, ‘Two‘ is a Spanish horror film that features a star-studded cast that includes Marina Gatell, Pablo Derqui, Kandido Uranga, Anna Chincho Serrano, and Esteban Galilea. As the name suggests, the movie centers on two strangers who are abducted and then stitched together by an unknown kidnapper. With no dearth of time on their hand, Sara and David begin to speculate who could be behind such a heinous crime. Sara suspects that her controlling husband Mario is probably responsible for the kidnapping; meanwhile, David is completely clueless. As the story unfolds, dark secrets about their past begin to surface, and their actions while being stitched together turn out to be their biggest regret. Feel free to check out the film here.
2. Bulbbul (2020)
Written and directed by Anvita Dutt, Netflix’s period horror film ‘Bulbbul’ is predominantly set in Bengal Presidency in the 19th century. The eponymous character (Tripti Dimri) is the wife of the affluent landlord Indranil (Rahul Bose). Her wedding to her much older husband took place when she was only five years old. Her husband has a twin brother, Mahendra, who later marries Binodini (Paoli Dam). Since she has come to live at her husband’s home, Bulbbul has felt a special connection to Indranil’s youngest brother, Satya (Avinash Tiwary), with whom her age difference is minimal. In time, these emotions develop into something mutual and deeper. This prompts Indranil to send his brother to London.
When Satya eventually returns home after two decades, Mahendra has died, Indranil is absent, and there are rumors of a chudail (a malevolent female spirit) that kills men who abuse their wives. The plot has a definite incestuous element that can be observed in the dynamics between several characters. The tragic aspect of the relationship between Bulbbul and Satya is one of the key plot points in the story. You may watch it here.
1. In the Tall Grass (2019)
The cinematic adaptation of Stephen King and Joe Hill’s 2012 namesake horror novella, ‘In the Tall Grass’ tells the story of a pair of siblings, Cal and Becky Demuth (Avery Whitted and Laysla De Oliveira), who enter a field of tall grass after hearing a young boy’s call for help. Soon, they realize that they can’t get out of there. To make the matter even more precarious, Becky is six months pregnant. Not long after they enter the grass, they get separated. Travis (Harrison Gilbertson), the father of Becky’s baby, comes in search of her and Cal and gets lost in the grass as well. The siblings meet Tobin (Will Buie Jr.), the boy whose cries for help they heard, and his parents, Ross and Natalie (Patrick Wilson and Rachel Wilson). Like any film inspired by King’s works, ‘In the Tall Grass’ is riddled with disturbing imagery. Some of the themes that the film explores are cannibalism, graphic and gory violence, and time travel.
The incestuous element in the story stems from Cal’s forbidden feelings for his sister. It manifests in his anger towards Travis, who seems to be aware of it and mentions it after he, Cal, Becky, and Tobin reach the dilapidated bowling center. He even one time tries to cause Travis’ death, although the latter somehow survives. A Netflix original film, it is directed by American-Canadian filmmaker Vincenzo Natali, whose credits also include ‘Cube’ and ‘Splice.’ You can watch ‘In the Tall Grass’ here.
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