Guilty Conscience

Guilty Conscience

Year: 1985

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

Director: David Greene

ThrillerDramaMystery

Amid acrimonious divorce proceedings, Louise (Blythe Danner) unwittingly puts her life in danger when she contests the prenuptial agreement she signed before marrying attorney Arthur Jamison (Anthony Hopkins). He plots to murder her to settle the dispute. Armed with details of her husband’s shady business and personal affairs, Louise demands a larger settlement, but Arthur may have the final word.

Guilty Conscience (1985) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Guilty Conscience (1985) 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.

Amid a stark, impeccably furnished suburban home, a bitter divorce has turned what once seemed a comfortable partnership into a high‑stakes legal duel. Louise finds herself confronting the terms of a prenuptial agreement that she signed long before her marriage to a man whose career is built on defending the most dangerous of clients. The stakes are more than financial; the whole arrangement threatens to upend the delicate balance of power that has defined their lives together.

Across the kitchen table sits Arthur, a celebrated criminal‑defense attorney whose reputation rests on meticulous preparation and an uncanny ability to anticipate every objection before it is raised. His mind works like a courtroom, cataloguing possibilities, weighing alibis, and rehearsing outcomes with a precision that feels almost clinical. As the divorce proceedings grow more acrimonious, his strategic thinking begins to blur the line between legal maneuvering and something far more personal, leaving Louise unsure of just how far his intellect—and his resolve—will go.

The film settles into a tense, cerebral atmosphere where every glance and muted exchange feels charged with unspoken calculations. The world it creates is one of quiet opulence tinged with an undercurrent of danger, a place where polished surfaces conceal the potential for ruthless ambition. As both parties draw on hidden knowledge of each other’s pasts, the narrative invites the audience into a psychological chess match, hinting at deeper motives and the fragile edge upon which love, power, and survival balance.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:57

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Narrative Summary

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Guilty Conscience Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Guilty Conscience

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Guilty Conscience

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