Alice, Darling

Year: 2022

Runtime: 90 min

Language: English

Director: Mary Nighy

Budget: $4M

DramaThriller

Alice seeks to leave behind a damaging relationship with Simon and begins a journey of self-discovery with the support of her friends. As she strives to regain her independence, the controlling influence of Simon persists, jeopardizing her hard-won freedom and testing the strength of her friendships. The experience forces her to confront the complexities of her past and the challenges of building a healthier future.

Alice, Darling (2022) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Alice, Darling (2022) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the quiet outskirts of a small Midwestern town, Alice feels the weight of a relationship that has slowly stripped her of confidence. The film opens with her perched on the edge of a life that once felt safe but now feels suffocating, hinting at a world where everyday routines mask deeper currents of control. The tone balances an intimate, almost lyrical melancholy with moments of sharp, nervous humor, reflecting the inner tug‑of‑war between longing for freedom and the fear of stepping into the unknown.

Enter Tess and Sophie, two long‑standing friends who embody both refuge and challenge. Their bond with Alice is rendered with warm, textured realism, offering a glimpse of sisterhood that is as messy as it is supportive. The trio’s dynamic crackles with unspoken histories, playful banter, and the fragile hope that shared experiences might become a lifeline. Their interactions are set against a backdrop of crisp lakeside scenery and modest domestic spaces that feel both familiar and quietly oppressive, underscoring the film’s focus on personal spaces as mirrors of emotional states.

Meanwhile, Simon looms as the lingering presence that refuses to be fully left behind. Though he never becomes a caricature of villainy, his subtle manipulations and lingering expectations hover just out of frame, shaping the atmosphere with a constant, low‑grade tension. The narrative never settles into melodrama; instead, it observes how the echo of his influence can infiltrate even the most earnest attempts at liberation, testing the resolve of friendship and self‑belief.

The story moves forward with a patient, observant eye, inviting viewers to wonder whether Alice can truly untangle herself from the past and discover a quieter, sturdier version of herself. It is a meditation on the messy process of reclaiming autonomy, the courage required to confront hidden anxieties, and the quiet strength that can emerge when trusted companions stand together against the pull of old patterns.

Last Updated: August 09, 2025 at 21:00

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Psychological thrillers about control like Alice, Darling

Narratives where invisible manipulation builds a cage of tension and dread.Movies like Alice, Darling focus on the suffocating tension of psychological manipulation and emotional abuse. These stories portray characters trapped in controlling relationships, fighting to reclaim their sense of self. If you liked the tense, claustrophobic atmosphere of Alice, Darling, you'll find similar powerful dramas here.

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Narrative Summary

These stories typically follow a protagonist, often isolated or made to feel alone, who is under the thumb of a manipulative figure. The plot revolves around the slow realization of their predicament, the gathering of evidence against their own doubts, and a climactic moment of confrontation or escape that tests their newfound clarity.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the mechanics of psychological abuse as a central conflict. They create a similar viewing experience defined by high tension, a claustrophobic mood, and a heavy emotional weight stemming from the portrayal of intimate betrayal and the fight for mental freedom.

Movies about friendship and survival like Alice, Darling

Stories where bonds of friendship provide the strength for liberation.If you liked how Alice, Darling used the power of friendship to overcome trauma, explore these other impactful stories. These movies feature supportive friend groups that help a protagonist through a dark period, highlighting intervention, solidarity, and the journey to a hopeful ending.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist who is initially isolated or hiding their pain. The inciting action is often the friends noticing the problem and staging an intervention or providing a safe space. The central conflict involves the protagonist grappling with accepting help versus returning to their isolated struggle, culminating in a collective triumph or a bittersweet but hopeful new beginning.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their thematic core: portraying friendship as an active, narrative-driving force for good against adversity. They share a specific emotional mix—combining the heavy weight of a central character's trauma with the supportive, hopeful counterbalance provided by their relationships.

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Alice, Darling Summary

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Alice, Darling Timeline

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Alice, Darling

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Alice, Darling Ending Explained

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More About Alice, Darling

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Discover movies like Alice, Darling that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.