The performances in this film are excellent, notably Sir Ian McKellan's, who is almost always stellar. But the entirety of this movie I thought to myself, "Why am I not turning this off?" The answer: I was morbidly fascinated. The sex scenes, though mostly clothed, were gratuitous in that it was an addiction - almost animal like because the characters were basically "shooting up." Sex to them both was a drug and they had to get their fix. As disturbing as that is, it does prove that there is such a thing as 'sex addicts.' The plot of the movie (based on the novel by Patrick McGrath) had several large holes. Too many questions that are answered too vaguely. My opinion is, if they bring something small to light in a film this complex, they need to see through. To say "phsycological thriller" is in-accurate. "Drama" is included but not the main theme. "Horror" wouldn't come close to the feelings experienced during the two hour duration. "Boredom" is well suited, but also in-accurate. The genre is basically indescribable in its...complexity? I sat through the whole film caring nothing for any of the main characters, even Peter Cleeve, played by McKellan. His character is shady but never fully explained. Is he playing Mrs. Raphael by telling her he loves her? Is he merely using her to get to the "tragic genius" of Edgar Stark? Or is he merely looking for comfort from a woman who has, by this point in the film, watched her son drown and done nothing, then been committed to the same hospital she and her husband had one day hoped to oversee? Which seems to go against the very character of "Dr. Peter Cleeve."
Even at the end of the movie when she jumps to her (very bloody and somewhat unexpected) death the 'relationship' is never fully divulged. Personally I don't want to be left with the image of a bloody woman muttering "Leave Me Alone" to a man she never loved (but agreed to marry anyway?) and the "bloody sculptor" (Edgar Stark) played - very well - by Marton Csokas)) sobbing in his solitary confinement because he never got the chance to see the woman he was obsessed with just one more time. In short, if you like the feeling of massive depression and undefinable anger at all the characters at the end of a movie, I highly recommend it.
Even at the end of the movie when she jumps to her (very bloody and somewhat unexpected) death the 'relationship' is never fully divulged. Personally I don't want to be left with the image of a bloody woman muttering "Leave Me Alone" to a man she never loved (but agreed to marry anyway?) and the "bloody sculptor" (Edgar Stark) played - very well - by Marton Csokas)) sobbing in his solitary confinement because he never got the chance to see the woman he was obsessed with just one more time. In short, if you like the feeling of massive depression and undefinable anger at all the characters at the end of a movie, I highly recommend it.