Book illustrator Sophie (Susan Sarandon) is still grieving over her mother’s death as she tries to complete an assignment, with support from her busy architect husband Craig (Sam Neill) and her teenage daughters. When she begins to hear noises in the house, Sophie’s suspicions fall on Craig’s pretty new assistant, Mara (Emily Blunt), whom she believes is preying on her family.
Susan Sarandon, who can always be relied upon to give depth to troubled, highly strung characters, is well cast in this psychological drama-cum-mystery thriller from director Ann Turner (Celia). There are echoes of classic suspense films like Vertigo, Suspicion and Gaslight in this genuinely scary tale about the psychology of paranoia. Brilliant at projecting a combination of strength and vulnerability, Sarandon brings total conviction to the role of a woman on the edge. There’s strong support from Neill as the seemingly innocent husband, while Blunt exudes a potent sexuality as the younger woman intent on infiltrating the family.