Safe

In the sun‑washed streets of the San Fernando Valley, Carol White lives a picture‑perfect suburban life with her husband Greg and their young son. Beneath the manicured lawns and bright kitchens, an inexplicable set of symptoms—coughing fits, relentless fatigue, sudden nosebleeds—begins to erode her sense of normalcy. As doctors offer only vague explanations and dismiss her pleas, Carol finds herself spiraling between hope and desperation, questioning the very foundations of the comfortable world she has known.

The film settles into a tone that feels both intimate and unsettling, blending the quiet hum of everyday domesticity with an undercurrent of psychological unease. Carol’s search for answers leads her away from conventional medicine and toward a charismatic, new‑age retreat that promises healing through introspection, self‑love, and unconventional therapies. This sanctuary, with its stringent rules—cotton clothing, organic meals, a ban on cars—offers a stark contrast to the consumer‑driven suburb she left behind, inviting both curiosity and skepticism.

Within the retreat’s secluded setting, a community of similarly afflicted individuals gathers, each drawn by the promise of a “20th‑century disease” that can be cured from the inside out. As Carol navigates this world of whispered affirmations and ritualized practices, the subtle tension between her longing for relief and the unsettling rigidity of the environment becomes the film’s quiet pulse. The dynamic between Carol and Greg—once rooted in familiar affection—now strains under the weight of her illness, hinting at deeper fissures that may never be fully voiced.

Safe unfolds as a meditation on the thin line between wellness and obsession, between trust in expertise and the allure of alternative salvation. The story lingers on mood and atmosphere, inviting viewers to feel the disquiet of a life unmoored, while leaving the true nature of Carol’s journey tantalizingly open.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 13:32