Year: 1971
Runtime: 73 mins
Language: English
Director: Ted Post
When a group of five young women travel to a remote, isolated island for a vacation, they soon discover they are not alone. A silent, mysterious killer begins stalking them one by one, turning their getaway into a nightmare of terror and survival as they fight to stay alive.
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A violent inmate, whose face is not shown, escapes from a state mental facility, drowns a man on a private beach, and steals his work uniform.
Five young women reunite for their 5-year college reunion at an exclusive cottage on an isolated island that has no phone contact with the mainland. The setting feels calm at first, but the group carries personal issues and tensions beneath their surfaces, hinting at storms to come.
Meeker is the captain of the small boat that transports the women to the island. Michael Wylie Robert Conrad is the island’s caretaker, and the two men clash with the women both in public and behind closed doors, setting up a tense dynamic that will color every move on the island.
The next morning, the island’s dog is found dead, a grim omen that something is seriously wrong. Later that day, four of the women return from the beach to discover that the fifth has been strangled to death. A flicker of fear spreads through the group as they begin to suspect either Meeker or Wylie, and the question of who fled the crime scene becomes a pivotal point of their perilous night.
The women decide to sail off or at least use the boat’s radio for help, but as they approach the vessel, it explodes in a blast that shatters their plan and tightens the circle of danger around them.
In response, the four lock the men out of the cottage and vow not to leave each other alone for the rest of the night. Through the locked door, the men insist they don’t know anything about the death, while promising that a supply boat will arrive in the morning. The women gather in the cottage and discuss which of the two men might be the killer, weighing motive and opportunity with growing paranoia.
Inside the company cabin, the two men become aware of each other’s suspicions and resolve not to let the other out of sight. They speculate that someone else could be on the island, a possibility that raises the stakes and feeds the unease. Later, Meeker asks to go outside for some air, and when Wylie tries to intervene, a fight erupts. Meeker overpowers Wylie and escapes into the night, leaving both men battered and wary of what comes next.
The following morning brings a confrontation that cracks the façade: Wylie is revealed to be the murderer. He kills Meeker and then tries to convince the women that Meeker caused the tragedy and that he, Wylie, is the one protecting them now. The group is left to decide whom to trust as the supply boat is expected to arrive.
When the expected boat nears, one woman goes to thank Wylie for his alleged help, while the others wander the beach and discover the dead body of the man who drowned earlier. An identifying bracelet reveals his name is Wylie, and the women realize that the man they have known as Wylie is actually an impostor and the real killer. They hurry to warn their friend and each other of the growing danger.
One lone woman, still talking with Wylie, suddenly grasps that he is unbalanced. As three other women approach calling her name, she runs, but he pursues, choking her. The group, initially fearful of getting too close, intervene and strike Wylie with a rock, killing him. Gasping and shaken, they rally and make their way toward the island’s pier, now bound together by a difficult truth and a renewed resolve to escape the nightmare they faced together.
Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 12:38
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.
A contained group hunted by an unknown threat in a remote location.If you enjoyed the tense survival story in Five Desperate Women, you'll find similar thrills in these movies about groups trapped and hunted in remote locations. These stories share a claustrophobic atmosphere, mounting paranoia, and a desperate fight for survival against an unseen or unknown enemy.
These narratives typically begin with a group arriving in a secluded setting, only to find themselves trapped and targeted. The plot unfolds as a linear survival story, where characters must determine the nature of the threat and who to trust, all while their numbers dwindle. The climax often involves a final, desperate confrontation with the antagonist.
Movies are grouped here based on their shared premise of a contained group facing an external threat in an isolated environment. They create a similar viewing experience defined by high tension, claustrophobia, and the psychological dynamics of fear and suspicion within a trapped community.
A steady build of distrust and fear within a confined group.Fans of the anxious, distrustful atmosphere in Five Desperate Women will appreciate these movies that masterfully build paranoia. This selection features stories where the fear comes from within the group as much as from an external threat, creating a slow burn of psychological tension and suspicion.
The narrative pattern revolves around introducing a group dynamic and then seeding doubt among its members. The pacing is steady, allowing suspicion to fester and alliances to shift. The central mystery often involves a 'whodunnit' element where the true identity of the threat is hidden, forcing characters to turn on each other.
These films are connected by their primary focus on the psychological erosion of a group through fear and mistrust. They share a specific mood of anxiety and a narrative approach that prioritizes the slow build of tension over sudden shocks, creating a deeply unsettling experience.
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Track the full timeline of Five Desperate Women with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
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Discover movies like Five Desperate Women 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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