Scissors

Scissors

Year: 1991

Runtime: 105 mins

Language: English

Director: Frank De Felitta

ThrillerHorrorDrama

Angie teeters on the brink of collapse, needing only a small push toward sanity. After surviving a sexual assault, she finds herself confined in a luxurious apartment with the dead body of the very man she has been dreaming would kill her. As she clings to reality, everyday objects begin to seem alive, intensifying her psychological torment.

Scissors (1991) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Scissors (1991) 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 a city that never quite feels safe, Angela Anderson hovers on the edge of collapse, her mind a fragile architecture that could crumble with the slightest nudge. After a harrowing assault that leaves her shaken, she finds herself drawn into a starkly elegant apartment—a place that should offer refuge but instead contains the unsettling presence of a dead man, the very figure she has been haunted by in her nightmares. The polished surfaces and plush furnishings become a stark contrast to the disquiet inside her head, and even the most ordinary objects start to pulse with a strange, almost sentient energy, turning the space into a silent, watchful patient.

The apartment’s isolation amplifies her internal turmoil, making every creak and reflected glint a possible omen. As she clings to what remains of her sanity, the line between reality and imagination begins to blur, and the luxurious setting takes on a claustrophobic quality, as if the walls themselves are probing her deepest fears. This atmosphere of psychological unease is amplified by a lingering sense that something unseen is subtly manipulating her perceptions, urging her toward a breaking point she fears she cannot avoid.

Enter Alex Morgan, a charismatic figure whose effortless charm offers a fleeting distraction from Angela’s spiraling thoughts, and Cole Morgan, an enigmatic artist whose wheelchair‑bound presence hints at hidden depths and unsettling motives. Their interactions with Angela are layered with tension, each offering a different lens through which she can view her own fractured identity. Adding to this tangled web is Dr. Stephan Carter, a psychiatrist whose hypnotherapy sessions peel back the layers of her repressed memories, exposing a past that still grips her present.

Together, these characters orbit Angela’s fragile world, their gazes and whispers echoing the larger themes of control, perception, and the thin veneer that separates sanity from madness. The film’s tone is a slow‑burning psychological thriller, where elegance meets dread, and every whispered breath—whether from a neighbor, a therapist, or the apartment itself—keeps the audience poised on the brink of discovery.

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:35

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.

Claustrophobic thrillers like Scissors

Characters are imprisoned in a sinister place designed to break their sanity.If you liked the feeling of being trapped and manipulated in Scissors, explore these movies where the setting is a character in itself. This list features psychological thrillers and horror films with a strong sense of claustrophobia, paranoia, and characters fighting to maintain their sanity within a confined, sinister space.

claustrophobicparanoidunsettlingoppressivepsychological tormentgaslightingtrapped

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread often involve a vulnerable individual, frequently grappling with past trauma, who is lured or confined to a specific location. The plot revolves around a systematic breakdown of their psyche by an unseen or disguised antagonist, using the environment to create terrifying illusions and reinforce their isolation and doubt.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared oppressive atmosphere and the central theme of environmental manipulation. They deliver a specific kind of dread that comes from being physically and psychologically trapped, making the viewer feel the protagonist's escalating paranoia and claustrophobia.

Psychological breakdown movies like Scissors

Protagonists on the brink of a breakdown struggle to separate memory from hallucination.For viewers who appreciated the exploration of trauma and mental unravelling in Scissors, this list collects films about fragile psyches and distorted realities. These movies often feature heavy emotional themes, unreliable narrators, and a descent into psychological torment that challenges what is real.

psychologicalunsettlinganxioustwistedtraumaticmental breakdownunreliable narrator

Narrative Summary

The journey typically follows a character haunted by a specific traumatic event—such as an assault or loss—whose recovery is hijacked by new threats or manipulations. The plot structure is built on twists that force the protagonist to confront buried memories, while the viewer is kept guessing about what is actually happening versus what is a symptom of their psychological distress.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their intense focus on a character's internal psychological state. They share a heavy emotional weight, a dark tone, and a narrative that prioritizes the subjective, often terrifying, experience of someone whose sanity is under siege.

Unlock the Full Story of Scissors

Don't stop at just watching — explore Scissors 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 Scissors is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Scissors Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Scissors, 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.

Scissors Summary

Scissors Timeline

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

Scissors Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Scissors

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Scissors. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Scissors

More About Scissors

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Scissors: 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 Scissors

Similar Movies to Scissors

Discover movies like Scissors 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.