Deep End (1970)

Deep End (1970)

Year: 2011

Runtime: 88 min

Language: English

Director: Jerzy Skolimowski

DramaComedyRomance

A young man working as a bathhouse attendant develops a crush on a coworker, only to discover she is having an affair with her fiancé. His innocent infatuation quickly turns obsessive as he becomes determined to reveal her betrayal. As he delves deeper into the situation, his once-harmless feelings spiral into a dark fixation, blurring the lines between love and madness in a poignant look at adolescent obsession and unrequited passion.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Deep End (1970) yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Deep End (1970) (2011)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Deep End (1970) (2011). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1970

The movie is set in the early 1970s, a time marked by cultural shifts and changing social norms around sexuality and relationships. This period witnessed the emergence of more liberal attitudes, yet it was also a time fraught with confusion and societal pressures, especially for young people.

Location

East London

East London is a diverse and vibrant area, known for its rich cultural history and urban landscape. The public bathhouse serves as a central setting in the movie, representing a social space where varied human interactions can unfold, reflecting both desire and manipulation.

🏙️ City 🏊 Bathhouse

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:25

Main Characters – Deep End (1970) (2011)

Meet the key characters of Deep End (1970) (2011), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mike

Mike is a troubled 15-year-old dropout who struggles to understand his feelings and the world around him. His infatuation with Susan leads him down a path of jealousy and chaos, leaving him conflicted between desire and morality. His character embodies the uncertainty and confusion of adolescence.

👦 Teenager 💔 Infatuation 🕵️ Jealousy

Susan

Susan is a compelling and complex character whose behavior oscillates between warmth and coldness, influencing Mike's teenage emotions significantly. Engaged to Chris but involved with another man, her actions demonstrate the complexities of adult relationships, reflecting both affection and manipulation.

👩‍🦰 Complex 💫 Manipulative ❤️ Affectionate

Chris

Chris is the wealthy young man engaged to Susan, representing the societal pressures of status and expectation. His presence creates a love triangle that complicates Mike's feelings and heightens the tension in the narrative. Though less defined, he serves as a counterpoint to Mike's fervent emotions.

👔 Wealthy 💔 Rival 📉 Pressure

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:25

Major Themes – Deep End (1970) (2011)

Explore the central themes of Deep End (1970) (2011), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Infatuation

Infatuation is a central theme as Mike grapples with his overwhelming feelings for Susan. His intense emotions lead him to questionable decisions, highlighting the often irrational nature of young love. This theme explores the complexity of desire and the pain of unrequited affection.

⚡ Betrayal

Betrayal permeates the interactions between characters, especially as Mike discovers Susan's infidelity. This theme evokes feelings of jealousy and anger, showcasing how trust can be easily shattered in relationships. It also reflects the chaotic emotional landscape Mike navigates.

🌊 Danger

The motif of danger is prevalent throughout the film, culminating in a chaotic climax involving water and electrical hazards. This represents the perilous situations that arise from uncontrolled emotions and reckless behavior, serving as a metaphor for the characters' tumultuous lives.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:25

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

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.

Movies about obsessive love like Deep End (1970)

Stories where romantic fixation curdles into dark, dangerous obsession.For viewers who liked the dark psychological spiral in Deep End, this section collects similar movies about obsessive love. These films feature characters whose romantic fixations turn dangerous, often set in mundane worlds that heighten the tension. If you enjoy stories of unrequited passion and moral decay, you'll find more haunting titles here.

obsessiveunsettlingdesperateclaustrophobictenseanxioustragic

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a protagonist whose initial, often innocent, attraction to someone escalates into an all-consuming fixation. The story charts their psychological unraveling as they cross moral boundaries, engage in manipulation or voyeurism, and reject reality. The plot is a steady, linear descent into tragedy, driven by the character's single-minded obsession rather than external action.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared thematic focus on the dark side of love and passion. They all feature a central character arc of psychological decay fueled by obsession, a consistently dark and tense tone, and a narrative structure that builds feelings of claustrophobia and dread towards an inevitable, bleak conclusion.

Bleak and claustrophobic coming-of-age movies like Deep End (1970)

Bleak coming-of-age stories set in confined worlds that amplify psychological turmoil.If you were captivated by the oppressive atmosphere and tragic adolescence in Deep End, explore this collection of similar bleak coming-of-age movies. These films share a dark tone and a focus on young protagonists trapped in environments that fuel their psychological unraveling. Find more stories of innocence lost in a tense, claustrophobic way.

claustrophobicanxiousmelancholicunsettlingdesperatetensebleak

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around a young protagonist navigating a formative period, but instead of achieving maturity, they succumb to the pressures of their environment. The confined setting acts as a central antagonist, mirroring and amplifying their internal chaos. The story is a steady, inevitable march towards a bleak conclusion where the character's awakening is to a darker, more hopeless reality.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their unique blend of the coming-of-age framework with a dark, psychological thriller sensibility. They share a claustrophobic mood, a high emotional weight, and a central theme of a young person's moral and psychological decay within a stifling world, resulting in a profoundly unsettling experience.

Unlock the Full Story of Deep End (1970)

Don't stop at just watching — explore Deep End (1970) 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 Deep End (1970) is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Deep End (1970) Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Deep End (1970), 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.

Deep End (1970) Summary

Deep End (1970) Timeline

Track the full timeline of Deep End (1970) with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Deep End (1970) Timeline

Deep End (1970) Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Deep End (1970) 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.

Deep End (1970) Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Deep End (1970)

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Deep End (1970): 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 Deep End (1970)

Similar Movies to Deep End (1970)

Discover movies like Deep End (1970) 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.