Shubhabrata Dutta
Over the years, there have been a good number of movies that have tackled issues such as domestic violence and relationship abuse. Only a few, however, have managed to depict the true horrors of abusive relationships. A lot of the time, the writing lacks nuance, and the actors tend to go way over the top. There have also been numerous films that tend to be highly manipulative and preachy, which tends to miss the mark. The sensitivity of the issue makes the subject an immensely challenging one for most filmmakers to take on. However, some filmmakers possess that sensitivity to portray the complexities and shocking realities of abusive relationships. The following films are amongst the best ones on the subject.
17. A Vigilante (2018)
Olivia Wilde reveales her savage side in this gripping crime drama directed by Sarah Daggar-Nickson. The film follows Sadie (Wilde), whose horrific abuse at the hands of her psychopathic survivalist husband (unnamed in the film; played by Morgan Spector), who also killed their son, leads her to learn self-defense and the art of Krav Maga (Israeli martial art) and help women and children escape their abusive families. She is also looking for her husband, who is missing. But is looking for him a good idea? Does Sadie want revenge, or does she have something else in mind? To find out, you can watch ‘A Vigilante’ here.
16. Heaven Knows What (2014)
From celebrated directors Josh and Benny Safdie comes a gripping psychological drama based on the memoir ‘Mad Love in New York City’ by Arielle Holmes, who also stars in the film. ‘Heaven Knows What’ centers on Harley, a homeless heroin addict on the streets of New York City. The film showcases her love-hate relationship with Ilya, another homeless addict. The way the film addresses addiction and the life of an addict and explores the emotional quotient of such a person is commendable. Holmes dedicated the memoir to Ilya Leontyev, her ex-boyfriend, who died due to a drug overdose. You can watch ‘Heaven Knows What’ here.
15. Enough (2002)
Directed by Michael Apted, this is a crime thriller featuring Jennifer Lopez, Billy Campbell, Tessa Allen, and Dan Futterman. Lopez stars as Slim, a waitress who works at a diner and gets married to a guy named Mitch and has a daughter named Gracie. However, as time passes, the real side of Mitch comes into view: one of multiple affairs, mistreatment, and abuse. What follows is how Slim tries to take her daughter and get away from Mitch, who, on the other hand, is in no way letting her leave. This results in a lot of unexpected and appalling situations. If you want to know what they are, you can stream the movie here.
14. Break Up (1998)
‘Break Up’ is a crime thriller directed by Paul Marcus and stars Bridget Fonda, Kiefer Sutherland, Tippi Hedren, and Mike Hagerty. It tells the story of Jimmy, who is subjected to continuous abuse by her husband that has even led to her hearing loss. After surviving a fall that was also her husband’s doing, she finds herself in the hospital. Unfortunately, she is also the prime suspect in the death of her husband, whose burnt body was found in his car. With the cops building a case against her, she goes on the run and comes across clear signs that prove that her husband is very much alive, which means the dead body is someone else’s. Now, she has to figure out a way to prove her innocence, find her husband, and bring him to justice. To know how she does it, you can stream the movie here.
13. Waitress (2007)
Directed by Adrienne Shelly, ‘Waitress’ stars Keri Russell, Adrienne Shelly, Nathan Fillion, and Andy Griffith. In this comedy-drama, we meet pregnant Jenna, a waitress at a pie diner. It is her work life and her friends at work that help her cope with her abusive husband, Earl, who is also the reason why she doesn’t want the baby. However, as time passes, we see her feelings change for the better for the baby as well as in general until she makes up her mind to start a new life. This decision is propelled by the help and affection from the owner of the pie diner, Joe, and her friends Becky and Dawn, as well as her new love interest, Jim. To be a part of her experience, you can stream the movie here.
12. Sleeping With the Enemy (1991)
Not among the best movies on the list, ‘Sleeping With the Enemy,’ to a great extent, manages to depict the painful realities of an abusive relationship. The film tells the story of a woman who desperately wants to break free from her husband and is looking forward to changing her identity and her looks. Tension further rises when her husband finds out that she has gotten involved in an affair with a school teacher. Though the script lacks nuance and restraint, Julia Roberts gains our sympathy in a performance that truly stands out. You can watch the film here.
11. Dolores Claiborne (1995)
Arguably one of the finest Stephen King novel adaptations of all time, ‘Dolores Claiborne’ depicts the tumultuous relationship between a mother and a daughter. The mother has been accused of the murder of an older woman for whom she cared. The film is exceptionally well written by screenwriter Tony Gilroy, and the relationship between the mother and the daughter forms the crux of the film. There’s an air of tension between the two, and things take a bizarre turn when the daughter realizes that her mother was abused by her father. The film tackles a wide range of themes, including repression, feminism, and domestic violence. You may watch the film here.
10. Dangerous Intentions (1995)
This 1995 TV drama flick directed by Michael Tushiyuki Uno tells the story of a wife, abused by her husband, who leaves with her child to begin a fresh life. During her journey, she meets Kaye, who helps her seek justice. The direction does come off as clumsy in many places, and the acting looked out-of-place in most areas, but what the film did manage to achieve was capture the true horrors of an abusive relationship, which kind of makes for a good watch. Corbin Bernsen’s standout performance as a violent, abusive husband is the highlight of the film. Feel free to check it out here.
9. Edge of Madness (2002)
Alice Munro’s 2002 adaptation of ‘A Wilderness Station’ centers around the life of a young woman who gets involved in an arranged marriage and ends up suffering from abuse by her husband. The plot begins with the woman confessing to the murder of her husband, and the film depicts the kind of struggles she will face for the rest of her life. While not amongst the most well-written movies ever, ‘Edge of Madness’ still comes off as a decent watch, considering its low-budget and honest approach to the subject.
8. What’s Love Got to Do With It (1993)
‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’ remains one of the most underrated films of the 90s. Angela Bassett stars as the iconic Rock n’ Roll singer Tina Turner, who tries to break away from her abusive husband. Her husband discovers her talent and turns her into a rock n’ roll star, but things take a turn when her fame turns him into a violent, jealous, abusive man. Angela Bassett’s incredibly layered performance elevates the film to a whole new level as she manages to portray the various shades of her character with impeccable precision and heartfelt compassion. You can watch ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’ here.
7. Nil by Mouth (1997)
A very good drama written and directed by Gary Oldman, ‘Nil by Mouth’ revolves around a dysfunctional English family struggling with physical and emotional abuse. Ray, the film’s protagonist, is a violent, obnoxious person whose wife struggles to deal with her alcohol abuse. Ensnared in a web of complex relationship dynamics, the family struggles to deal with the brutalities and realities of life, and the film captures their journey as they try to mend broken relationships. The film has a distinctive realistic tone to it that is both gripping and disturbing at the same time. You can watch it here.
6. When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)
One of my personal favorites on the list, this romantic drama stars the 90s sweetheart Meg Ryan as an alcoholic mother struggling to deal with her inner demons. Her husband, played by the ever-reliable Andy Garcia, tries to help her overcome her addiction. Ryan fearlessly takes on an immensely challenging role, stepping away from her usual rom-com avatar to give us a performance that genuinely displays her abilities as an actor. Though the approach is a bit too in-your-face at times, the sincerity with which it tackles the subject matter, coupled with Ryan’s immaculately layered performance, kind of makes up for its flaws. You may watch ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ here.
5. The Color Purple (1985)
Perhaps not among the very best of Steven Spielberg, but ‘The Color Purple’ still comes off as a decently made film that has all the classic Spielberg-ian elements. It centers around Celie, a black woman who struggles to come to terms with her own identity. Celie was impregnated by her father, who was an alcoholic, and the film depicts how she manages to fight her demons and accept her worth and identity. Though a bit too melodramatic and even manipulative in places, the film’s inherent charm and good intentions make for a highly satisfying experience. You can stream the film here.
4. Bleeder (1999)
Danish auteur Nicolas Winding Refn’s follow-up to his iconic crime thriller, ‘Pusher,’ may not be amongst the most popular flicks he has churned out, but it is one of his better films. ‘Bleeder’ follows a young alcoholic who finds a sense of sadistic pleasure in watching gory flicks. His relationship with his partner turns into an abusive one after he finds out that she’s pregnant. The sudden idea of having to make a massive change in his life pushes him onto the edge of madness, and he begins to vent out his rage, angst, and frustration. There are some alarming moments in the film that could give you sleepless nights for the rest of your life. ‘Bleeder’ remains one of the most underrated films of the 90s.
3. Flight (2012)
Robert Zemeckis is perhaps most famously known as the director of classics like ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Back to the Future,’ but this little gem that he made six years back remains a forgotten classic for some reason. ‘Flight’ features one of the most brutally honest, poignant portrayals of an alcohol addict who ruins his career, his family, and himself. Denzel Washington stars as Whip Whittaker, an exceptionally skilled pilot who saves almost all his passengers by turning his flight upside down and crash landing after an in-flight mechanical failure. The story then gradually reveals aspects of Whittaker’s life as we learn about his abuse and his tumultuous relationship with his wife and son. At the hands of the great Denzel Washington, the character of Whip Whittaker remains safe, as he portrays the various shades of his character with such intimidating authority and control that he manages to evoke a wide range of emotions in us. You can stream ‘Flight’ here.
2. Blue Velvet (1986)
Mysteries have never really looked more gorgeous, intriguing, and sensuous on-screen. The great David Lynch’s 1986 masterpiece is quite simply one of the most bizarre, disturbing portraits of human sexuality. The film follows a young man named Jeffrey who discovers a severed ear near his house. It leads him to a gorgeous woman, Dorothy Vallens, who is in a relationship with Frank, a sadomasochistic drug dealer. Jeffrey witnesses Frank perform various bizarre sexual activities on Dorothy and tries to protect her. The plot unfolds in classic Lynch fashion, with a strange mix of surrealism, humor, and mystery. Lynch may have gone on to direct many more masterpieces in his career (‘Mulholland Drive‘ and ‘Inland Empire’ to name a couple), but ‘Blue Velvet’ still holds a special place in our hearts due to its staggeringly bold approach that would become the hallmark of his cinema in the years that followed. You can check out the movie here.
1. The Shining (1980)
Stanley Kubrick’s iconic horror tells the story of Jack Torrance, a middle-aged alcoholic man who takes up a job as a caretaker at an isolated hotel. However, things take a bizarre turn when Jack slowly begins to lose his mind and falls into the absolute abyss of darkness. Jack eventually turns into a violent man, looking to harm his wife and son. Jack Nicholson‘s portrayal of a troubled, alcoholic man was widely criticized for being over-the-top and almost comical in places, but his performance blends effortlessly with Kubrick’s famously distinctive style that combines elements of horror and violence with his twisted sense of humor. Easily one of the greatest films ever made and one of the finest movies about an abusive relationship, you can watch ‘The Shining’ here.
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