Year: 1991
Runtime: 104 mins
Language: English
Director: Damian Harris
The murder of a museum curator casts art dealer Jack Saunders under suspicion for selling forged treasures. When Jack dies in a car crash, his wife Adrienne investigates his secret life alone. She learns she knew little about him, and as she uncovers his illegal dealings and double life, she and her daughter are drawn into grave danger.
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Adrienne Saunders, Goldie Hawn is happily married to her art dealer husband, Jack John Heard. They have a daughter named Mary Ashley Peldon. After the local museum curator is mysteriously murdered, Jack falls under suspicion of trafficking forged treasures to the museum. Jack must unexpectedly travel to Boston on a work trip, but Adrienne hears from a friend that she might have spotted him in town. Adrienne confronts him, but he denies being there. As pressure mounts on Jack over a forged relic, Adrienne is informed by the police that Jack died in a car accident. In trying to wrap up Jack’s affairs, Adrienne begins to suspect that her husband was not who he claimed to be. When she sees a high school yearbook photo of her husband attributed to a man named Frank Sullivan, she realizes that she has been deceived.
She tracks down Jack’s cousin, Evelyn, Anais Granofsky who confirms that Frank and Jack were inseparable in high school. Evelyn explains that Frank’s father was an alcoholic and that his mother worked as a toll booth operator. She directs Adrienne to Frank’s mother, who lives in a rundown Brooklyn apartment. Frank’s mother, Rosalie Kate Reid bitterly receives the news of her granddaughter, telling Adrienne that Frank was always selfish and never looked in on her.
A stalker lurks at Adrienne’s loft. He enters Adrienne’s bed while she is asleep and caresses her, and he watches Mary, who is spooked by the man in her room at night. One day, as the housekeeper finishes her chores, she surprises the stalker. He leaves her almost dead in the bathroom and ransacks the apartment.
At work, Adrienne receives an urgent message from Mrs. Sullivan and rushes to her apartment. When she arrives, the door is open, and Mrs. Sullivan is nowhere to be found. Jack appears, and Adrienne slaps him for his cruelty. He explains that when his friend died, he was distraught and ended up assuming Jack’s identity during the mourning process. He reveals that a man named Dan Sherman is blackmailing him. Jack faked his death to escape, knowing that he would have to give up his life with Adrienne and Mary. He tells her that Sherman is insistent on having an Egyptian necklace in their apartment, and he asks Adrienne to look for it. As she leaves the apartment, Jack watches her from the window beside the body of his murdered mother.
During her search for the necklace, Adrienne discovers a Parks Department photo ID bearing her husband’s picture and the name Daniel Sherman. She tracks down an address and pays a surprise visit to the house. A pregnant Mrs. Sherman is on the phone and lets her in, thinking she is with a moving company. Adrienne looks around the house and sees wedding pictures of her husband with Mrs. Sherman. In a photo album, she sees a picture of Mary, whom Mrs. Sherman says is her husband’s dead sister. The person on the phone is Jack, who asks her to give the phone to Adrienne.
He congratulates Adrienne on uncovering his new life and reveals that he has kidnapped Mary. Mary traded the necklace to another girl, and Jack instructs Adrienne to retrieve it and meet him at their loft to exchange Mary for the necklace. At the loft, Adrienne asks to see Mary, and Jack explains that she is downstairs playing in the car. When Adrienne tries to go see her, Jack pins her against a wall and demands the necklace first. Adrienne stabs him and flees. After a long chase through a construction site, Jack corners her in the freight elevator. He reveals his ruthless mindset and his habit of doing whatever comes next, no matter how difficult it is. Adrienne lures Jack into the elevator shaft, where he falls to his death; Adrienne had been holding on to an unseen elevator cable to create the illusion of being inside the elevator car. Later, Adrienne and Mary pack up to move out of the loft and begin a new life somewhere else.
Last Updated: December 27, 2025 at 11:31
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.
When the person you trust most turns out to be a complete stranger.If you liked the shocking reveal of a double life in Deceived, you'll enjoy these movies about marital betrayal and hidden identities. This collection features similar stories of characters discovering their loved ones are not who they seem, leading to dangerous investigations and psychological turmoil.
The narrative typically begins with a seemingly normal life that is shattered by a discovery—a death, a hidden object, or an inconsistency. The protagonist, often a spouse, is thrust into an investigation that peels back layers of deception, revealing an elaborate double life. The threat escalates from emotional shock to physical danger as the truth emerges.
Movies in this thread are grouped by their core premise of profound personal deception. They share a focus on the psychological impact of betrayal, the procedural unraveling of a hidden life, and the tense, paranoid atmosphere that comes from realizing your safety was an illusion.
A mother's investigation turns her home into a trap, with her child's safety at stake.For viewers who admired the protective maternal instinct and peril in Deceived, this list highlights similar movies about mothers uncovering dark secrets that put their children in danger. These stories blend investigation with intense survival instincts, creating a gripping and emotionally heavy experience.
The journey starts with a loss or a triggering event that prompts a mother to question her reality. Her investigation is driven by a primal need to protect her child, but each discovery narrows her options and increases the immediate threat. The climax is often a violent confrontation where she must use her wits and courage to ensure their survival, emerging scarred but alive.
These films are united by the powerful combination of a maternal protagonist, a high-stakes personal investigation, and the theme of child endangerment. They deliver a specific kind of tension rooted in protective fear, making the emotional weight feel particularly heavy and the victories bittersweet.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Deceived in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Deceived is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Deceived with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Deceived. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Deceived that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Deceived: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Deceived 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.
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