Bunny Lake Is Missing

Bunny Lake Is Missing

Year: 1965

Runtime: 107 min

Language: English

Director: Otto Preminger

MysteryThriller

A mother's life unravels when her daughter mysteriously disappears from a London nursery. Ann Lake and her journalist brother investigate the vanishing, uncovering a complex network of secrets and lies. Their search reveals unsettling truths about Ann's past and casts doubt on those closest to her, leading them down a twisting path filled with suspicion and unexpected revelations.

Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) 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 post‑war London, a quiet suburb hides a world where the ordinary and the uncanny linger side by side. Ann Lake has just arrived from America with the promise of a fresh start, bringing with her a small daughter and a brother who has already woven himself into the fabric of their new life. The city’s fog‑shrouded streets, the stately yet slightly off‑kilter private school, and the cramped rooms of a modest flat all pulse with a restrained tension, hinting that beneath the surface of polite routine something unsettles the air.

When the child, Bunny, vanishes without a trace during a brief visit to the school’s first‑day room, the ordinary turns into a maze of questions. Stephen, a journalist who has long hovered protectively over his sister, offers both sympathy and a relentless drive to uncover the truth, while the mother’s resolve sharpens into a desperate need to prove the reality of what she has lost. The pair find themselves navigating a network of whispered rumors, half‑remembered details, and the quiet unease of those who may know more than they admit. Their investigation becomes as much about confronting hidden facets of their own pasts as it is about locating a missing child.

The atmosphere thickens as the local police, led by the measured Supt. Newhouse, step into the picture, their methodical questioning adding a formal layer to the growing unease. Within the school’s corridors, the staff’s polite façades hint at deeper undercurrents, and the surrounding community watches with a mix of curiosity and caution. All the while, the city’s gray light casts long shadows, suggesting that every familiar corner may conceal a secret, and that the search for answers will draw Ann and Stephen into a labyrinth where trust is fragile and every revelation carries the weight of the unknown.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 14:19

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Gaslighting thrillers like Bunny Lake Is Missing

Stories where a character's sanity is questioned as they search for a hidden truth.If you enjoyed the psychological tension of Bunny Lake Is Missing, this selection features similar movies where a character's reality is undermined. Find other suspenseful mysteries with unreliable perceptions, themes of obsession, and stories that make you question what is real.

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These narratives typically follow a central character who is the only witness to a sinister event or truth. As they investigate, external forces or individuals cast doubt on their account, leaving them psychologically isolated. The plot hinges on the ambiguity of the protagonist's reliability, often culminating in a twist that validates their fears and reveals a hidden manipulator.

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Movies in this thread are united by their core psychological mechanic: placing the viewer directly in the shoes of a character whose sanity is under siege. They share a tense, anxious mood, a steady pacing that builds unease, and a heavy emotional weight stemming from themes of manipulation and betrayal.

Claustrophobic city mysteries like Bunny Lake Is Missing

Thrillers where a city's everyday spaces become a labyrinth of hidden threats.For viewers who liked the unsettling London setting of Bunny Lake Is Missing, this list features similar thrillers where a city amplifies the suspense. Discover movies with anxious, paranoid moods, investigations that feel trapped by their environment, and a palpable sense of urban dread.

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Narrative Summary

These stories unfold within the seemingly ordinary confines of a city, where a public space or institution becomes the epicenter of a disturbing event. The investigation feels claustrophobic, as the protagonist uncovers corruption and darkness lurking beneath a veneer of normalcy. The city itself contributes to the tension, with its crowds offering anonymity to villains and its architecture creating a sense of inescapable confinement.

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These films are grouped by their masterful use of setting to generate mood. They share a tense, anxious tone and a steady pacing that builds a pervasive sense of dread. The intensity is high, derived from the feeling that evil is embedded within the very structures of daily life, making the world feel unsafe and unpredictable.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Bunny Lake Is Missing

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