Obsession (1976)

Directed by: Brian De Palma | 98 minutes | drama, thriller, crime | Actors: Cliff Robertson, Geneviève Bujold, John Lithgow, Sylvia Kuumba Williams, Wanda Blackman, J. Patrick McNamara, Stanley J. Reyes, Nick Kreiger, Stocker Fontelieu, Don Hood, Andrea Esterhazy, Thomas Carr, Tom Felleghy, Nella Simoncini Barbieri, John Creamer

Director Brian De Palma is a Hitchcock fanatic. From the dim atmosphere to the beautiful music of Bernard Herrmann and the theme of the film it is Hitchcock that strikes the clock. The most frequently voiced criticism of ‘Obsession’ is that it is a total rip-off of the Hitchcock classic ‘Vertigo’. Nevertheless, De Palma also has his own fans who claim that the influence of the old master can be felt, but that ‘Obsession’ has more plot twists that Hitchcock would ever dare to put in a film. The truth, as always, is somewhere in the middle, but the fact is that screenwriter Paul Schrader has been generous with the surprises.

Initially, the question remains unanswered who was behind the (first) kidnapping and why they chose Courtland. This tension continues to ripple quietly in the background as the viewer becomes part of the new romance that develops between Courtland and Sandra, his wife’s look-alike who plays a dual role of Geneviève Bujold.

The fact that the viewer is already aware of the fate that will follow from the synopsis only tightens the tension. The remaining question why? will be supplemented with when? . In any case, what is clear is Courtland’s unhealthy obsession with his late wife Elizabeth. An obsession in which Sandra is also sucked in. An attempt by business partner Robert Lasalle (John Lithgow) to get Courtland to talk to a psychiatrist backfires and further removes him from reality. He wants to get out of the business and decides to get married that same evening.

When Courtland wakes up after his wedding night, he finds Sandra’s bed empty. He sees this new kidnapping as a second chance: he must and will do everything in his power to ensure that he gets his loved one back. But perhaps Courtland has less control over things than he thinks.

The opening up of the plot may be called surprising, but does not necessarily keep the viewer glued to his seat. This is due to the great shortcoming of this film: the ease with which events follow each other. Courtland sees a girl who resembles his deceased wife in Florence and seduces her in no time. He stays in Florence for a few days and picks up her mother’s funeral and then gets married in New Orleans. Of course, a film cannot capture all the finicky details and be exciting, but just like in the battle between the opponents and the fans of De Palma, there is also a middle ground here. All this does not alter the fact that ‘Obsession’ is an entertaining film with a very good role from Cliff Robertson as the tormented Courtland. This film is also recommended for all fans of Bernard Herrmann’s music.