Deceived

Deceived

Year: 1991

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

Director: Damian Harris

Thriller

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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Timeline & Setting – Deceived (1991)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Deceived (1991). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Brooklyn, New York, Boston, Massachusetts

The story unfolds in Brooklyn, where Adrienne's loft and a rundown apartment anchor the domestic tension. A Boston work trip creates a stark contrast to the intimate urban setting and becomes the catalyst for the dual lives at its center. The cityscape with its maze-like streets amplifies pursuit, danger, and deception that drive the plot forward.

🏙️ Brooklyn New York 🗽 Boston Massachusetts 🖼️ Art world

Last Updated: December 27, 2025 at 11:30

Main Characters – Deceived (1991)

Meet the key characters of Deceived (1991), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Adrienne Saunders

A devoted wife and mother who faces the unraveling of her marriage when she learns her husband’s life is built on lies. She confronts manipulation with resilience, using wit and courage to protect Mary. Her discovery of Jack’s double life drives a transformation from trust to fierce determination.

🕵️‍♀️ Investigation 💪 Strength 👨‍👩‍👧 Family

Jack

A charismatic art dealer who fakes a death and assumes another identity to escape accountability. He isolates Adrienne with calculated lies, and his plans are revealed to be driven by coercion and blackmail. His dual existence culminates in a deadly confrontation that exposes his true nature.

🎭 Deception 💼 Fraud 🔪 Danger

Evelyn

Jack’s cousin who provides crucial context about Frank Sullivan, revealing their past friendship and the family’s history. She helps connect the dots for Adrienne by explaining the double life and the risks that accompany it. Evelyn’s information anchors Adrienne’s pursuit of the truth.

🧭 Revelation 👪 Family 🔎 Investigation

Rosalie

Frank Sullivan’s mother, living in a rundown Brooklyn apartment. She offers a blunt, practical view of Frank’s selfishness and the family’s history, helping Adrienne understand the depth of the deception. Rosalie’s perspective adds emotional texture to the mystery.

🏚️ Brooklyn roots 👵 Family 🗝️ Secrets

Mary

Adrienne and Jack’s daughter, who becomes a focal point of the conflict. She is wary of the intruders in her home and the dangers surrounding her family’s secrets. Her safety motivates Adrienne’s final, decisive actions.

👶 Child 🧭 Safety 🧡 Family

Last Updated: December 27, 2025 at 11:30

Major Themes – Deceived (1991)

Explore the central themes of Deceived (1991), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Deception

A core thread follows lies and false identities. Jack adopts another life after his friend dies, and Adrienne discovers the extent of the web of disguise surrounding her husband. The pursuit of truth clashes with fear, forcing difficult choices and exposing how easily appearances can mask dangerous realities.

💪 Empowerment

Adrienne evolves from a trusting spouse into a determined survivor who fights to protect Mary. The thriller centers on a mother’s resolve to uncover the truth, even at great personal risk. Her courage under pressure drives the story toward its climactic confrontation.

🌫️ Danger

Stalking and the threat of violence haunt Adrienne’s home and workplace. The film builds tension from intrusions, blackmail, and a kidnapping, reminding us how quickly safety can erode in a city where secrets hide in plain sight. The finale hinges on outsmarting the would-be threat in a perilous chase.

Last Updated: December 27, 2025 at 11:30

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Explore Movie Threads

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.

Thrillers about faked identities like Deceived

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.

betrayaldeceptiveparanoidinvestigationpsychologicalunravelingsuspenseful

Narrative Summary

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.

Why These Movies?

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.

Mother in jeopardy thrillers similar to Deceived

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.

mother in jeopardyclaustrophobicgrievinganxiousprotectivethrillingsurvival

Narrative Summary

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.

Why These Movies?

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.

Unlock the Full Story of Deceived

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.

Deceived Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Deceived, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Deceived Summary

Deceived Timeline

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.

Deceived Timeline

Deceived Spoiler-Free Summary

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Deceived Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Deceived

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.

More About Deceived

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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.