Jagged Edge

Jagged Edge

Year: 1985

Runtime: 108 min

Language: English

Director: Richard Marquand

DramaMysteryThriller

A high-powered publishing lawyer, Teddy Barnes, finds herself embroiled in a complex murder case involving her husband. As she investigates the death, she confronts a shrewd suspect and must carefully examine a series of conflicting motives and alibis. The case forces her to question everything she thought she knew about her marriage and the people around her, leading her to uncover a web of deceit and hidden agendas.

Jagged Edge (1985) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Jagged Edge (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.

In the sleek, high‑stakes world of San Francisco publishing, Teddy Barnes has built a reputation as a razor‑sharp lawyer who can turn a chaotic contract into a seamless victory. Once a rising star in the district attorney’s office, she stepped away from criminal work after a bitter dispute, opting instead for the polished corridors of literary law. Her life, meticulously ordered and fiercely independent, is suddenly shaken when her own husband, Jack Forrester, becomes the focal point of a police investigation that could tear their privileged circle apart.

Drawn back into the murky realm of legal intrigue, Teddy is forced to confront old allies and new adversaries. The seasoned district attorney Thomas Krasny represents the prosecution, his relentless tactics reminding her of the very system she left. Meanwhile, a former colleague turned private investigator, Sam Ransom, offers a quieter, more personal perspective on the case, hinting at hidden currents beneath the surface of the city’s elite. Each interaction pulls Teddy deeper into a labyrinth where professional duty and personal loyalty collide.

The film thrives on a tense, almost noir atmosphere, balancing the glittering façade of wealth with the shadowy undercurrents of suspicion and hidden motives. As Teddy sifts through conflicting alibis and tangled relationships, she must question the foundations of her marriage and the trust she placed in those around her. The narrative keeps the audience perched on the edge of uncertainty, inviting them to wonder how far truth can be twisted when love and ambition intersect.

With crisp dialogue, moody cinematography, and a pulse‑quickening score, the story paints a portrait of a woman navigating a high‑pressure legal battle while untangling the personal deceptions that threaten to unravel her world. The tension is palpable, promising a compelling blend of courtroom strategy and intimate drama that leaves the stakes perpetually rising.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:54

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Thrillers about deceptive trust like Jagged Edge

Stories where a professional's judgment is clouded by a client's charismatic charm.If you liked the dangerous romance and professional peril in Jagged Edge, explore more movies like it. These films feature charismatic suspects who manipulate their defenders, creating tense stories of doubt and betrayal in high-stakes legal or investigative settings.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread follow a specific arc: a confident professional takes on a compelling case, only to have their objectivity compromised by the client's allure. The plot unfolds as a psychological battle, where the protagonist must untangle truth from manipulation, often leading to a personal and professional crisis when the deception is revealed.

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These movies are grouped by their shared focus on the volatile mix of professional ethics and personal attraction. They create a specific kind of suspense rooted not in action, but in psychological doubt and the betrayal of trust within a formal relationship.

Movies about investigative personal betrayal like Jagged Edge

Methodical investigations that expose deeply personal deceptions and hidden truths.Find movies similar to Jagged Edge where a legal or criminal investigation slowly reveals a deeply personal deception. These stories blend cold, procedural facts with hot, emotional revelations, perfect for fans of methodical thrillers with bittersweet resolutions.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist using their professional skills to investigate a crime that increasingly points toward someone they know intimately. The steady pacing of the investigation contrasts with the rising emotional dread, leading to a climax where the procedural truth and the personal truth violently collide.

Why These Movies?

They share a unique structure that merges a cool, methodical plot with a hot, emotional core. The similarity comes from the use of an investigative framework to explore themes of trust, deceit, and the shocking discovery that the enemy was hiding in plain sight.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Jagged Edge

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