Casey Chong with a selection of one night stand thrillers for your watch list…
There’s something about thrillers incorporating one night stand elements into the story that becomes a recurring subject explored by different filmmakers over the decades. Typically, two people of the opposite sex fall for each other. Either of them could be married or single, but what leads to a one-night stand stems from mutual physical attraction and a spur-of-the-moment decision. Then comes the aftermath, where the initial casual sex encounter soon turns into a nightmare. This is especially true when one of the individuals harbors an unhealthy obsession towards the other, allowing the filmmakers to blend intrigue and psychological suspense beyond its salacious content. Adrian Lyne’s 1987 genre masterpiece, Fatal Attraction, starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close, is the prime example of what makes a great one-night stand thriller, but we’re going beyond that staple to present six of the best one night stand thrillers that aren’t Fatal Attraction…
Play Misty for Me (1971)
Sixteen years before Fatal Attraction becomes a milestone in a psychological thriller about a one-night stand gone wrong, Play Misty for Me was served as a notable precursor that sets the modern storytelling template in the first place. Looking back at this 1971 thriller, one may find it odd to see Clint Eastwood choose Play Misty for Me as his directorial debut instead of the western genre that he becomes synonymous with at the time. And yet, Eastwood, who also stars as Dave Garver, a nighttime radio DJ having a hookup with a beautiful stranger (Jessica Walter’s Evelyn Draper), proved he was more than adept at breaking free from his usual genre trappings.
As an actor, Eastwood even goes as far as shedding his typical tough-guy persona in favor of a vulnerable male victim, which surprisingly works well in his favor without feeling awkwardly out of place. Casting Jessica Walter as a madly obsessive and psychotic stalker is a nice touch, easily the most recognisable role in her illustrious career. Her Evelyn Draper character, whose volatile personality alternates from affectionately sweet and needy to a disturbing raging maniac, makes her all the more intimidating. Play Misty for Me also showcases Eastwood’s talent behind the camera, highlighting his sure-handed direction in balancing psychological thrills and suspense with the movie’s cautionary tale surrounding the dark side of casual sex.
Swimfan (2002)
What if Fatal Attraction is retooled as a teenage psychological thriller with a more audience-friendly PG-13 rating? The result would be something like Swimfan, which starred Jesse Bradford as Ben, a high-school star swimmer who has a steady relationship with his girlfriend, Amy (Shiri Appleby). Then comes Madison (Erika Christensen), a new transfer student who grows attached to Ben.
Swimfan essentially follows the narrative path of Adrian Lyne’s 1987 psychological thriller classic, complete with the aftermath of a one-night stand, where Christensen’s Amy channels Glenn Close’s Alex Forrest. Like the latter, Amy is crazily obsessed with her lover and doesn’t take no for an answer, even when Ben continuously rejects her. The sex may have been tame due to the aforementioned age rating, but John Polson’s assured direction manages to deliver sufficient genre thrills throughout its lean 85 minutes. It also helps the young cast equally excel in their roles, notably Christensen’s unhinged performance as the jilted Madison.
Strange Darling (2023)
Writer-director JT Mollner embraces the non-linear narrative style by dissecting his story into six chapters, demanding your attention right from the start. Each non-chronological chapter comes with its respective title cards to avoid confusion. The story centers on two young characters, credited only as “the Lady” (Willa Fitzgerald) and “the Demon” (Kyle Gallner), as they engage in a one-night stand. A thriller like this typically ends with something goes out of control, but Mollner elevates the familiar premise by subverting your expectations surrounding the hunter and the prey.
No doubt Strange Darling is the kind of movie best experienced with little information as possible, which helps a lot to maintain the sheer unpredictability as you watch the movie unfolds. The movie is equally notable for Giovanni Ribisi’s – yes, the actor – textured 35mm lensing, which adds a distinct visual aesthetic. Mollner equally deserves praise for drawing great performances from the red-haired Fitzgerald and Gallner, while he doesn’t shy away from unsettling violence and gore.
Berlin Syndrome (2017)
Years before Cate Shortland landed the biggest gig of her career in Black Widow, she explored the dark side of a one-night stand in Berlin Syndrome. The story follows Clare (Teresa Palmer), an Australian backpacker travelling to Berlin. She meets a local named Andi (Max Riemelt), and it doesn’t take long before they decide to hook up. What begins as a lovely time together, the aftermath of their passionate sex in Andi’s apartment, soon turns into a nightmare for Clare.
But that nightmare in question isn’t immediately laid out in the open as Shortland, working from Shaun Grant’s adapted screenplay of Melanie Joosten’s 2012 novel of the same name, deliberately paces the movie through slow-burning dread. By the time Clare realizes she’s actually being locked in his apartment with no way to escape, it’s all too late. From here, Berlin Syndrome turns into an occasional psychological chamber drama as the seemingly helpless Clare attempts every possible way to break free from the sociopathic Andi. Credits equally go to Shortland for incorporating unnerving tension not only from the prolonged mind game between Clare and Andi, but also from the palpable yet matter-of-fact visual aesthetics throughout the movie.
He Loves Me… He Loves Me Not (2002)
Audrey Tautou shed the luminous, childlike personality that made her recognizable in Amélie in favor of a more adult-oriented role in this French-language film, He Loves Me… He Loves Me Not. It’s an intriguing Fatal Attraction-like psychological drama that flips the script, where nothing is what it seems. Here’s what you need to know: Angélique (Tautou) is a top art student who is attracted to Dr. Loic (Samuel Le Bihan), despite the latter is already married. But Angélique doesn’t care and is even convinced that her lover will leave his wife.
Director and co-writer Lætitia Colombani subverted genre expectations by splitting the movie into two halves. One half showcases the perspective of Angélique, and the other half shifts the focus to Dr. Loic. The movie dives into the unreliable narrator territory, making us wonder about the conflicting truth behind the infidelity between Angélique and Dr. Loic. Purists may balk at the idea that Colombani brings to the table, especially if one is expecting a conventional Fatal Attraction-style thriller. But it’s hard to deny the deceptive storytelling, and above all, Audrey Tautou’s role as an obsessive lover, proving she is capable of stepping out of her comfort zone for a change.
Rubberneck (2012)
Actor-director Alex Karpovsky delved into the deliberate slow-burn of how obsession and unrequited love becomes deadly as time goes by in the low-budget indie, Rubberneck. At the beginning of the movie, Paul (Karpovsky), a socially awkward scientist working at a research lab in Boston, engages in a one-night stand with his colleague, Danielle (Jaime Ray Newman). It’s supposed to be one and done for Danielle, but Paul doesn’t share the same sentiment. Even after a few months later, he still has feeling for her, but Danielle already moved on.
Karpovsky subtly uses the coldly antiseptic interior of the lab to mirror the stark reality that his character is facing, along with his repressed thought. The movie also addresses Paul’s underlying loneliness, while his moments of solace rely heavily on paying Kathy (Dakota Shepard), an escort who bears the same physical resemblance to Danielle. Karpovsky does a good job in both front and behind the cameras, highlighting his internalized emotions that gradually spiral out of control at some point in the movie. As a filmmaker, he shows restraint in his unhurried direction while evoking a creeping descent to psychological turmoil.
What are your favourite one night stand thrillers? Let us know your recommendations on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Casey Chong
