The Canyons

Christian hosts a dinner with Tara, Gina, and Ryan. He reveals that he and Tara have an open relationship and use dating apps to find hookups, while insisting he trusts Tara not to fall in love with anyone he brings into their bed. The scene establishes the power dynamics and the supervision Christian keeps over Tara's social life.

Ryan texts an unknown contact for a meeting the next day, and Tara ends up meeting him the following day. The conversation reveals that the two are former lovers who parted as Tara moved on to wealthier men. Tara acknowledges Christian's monitoring of her communications, foreshadowing the control that will define their relationship.

Christian seeks casual sex and visits actress Cynthia to satisfy his needs. He appears to be sampling sexual partners while keeping a grip on Tara's behavior. This encounter clarifies his pattern of using others to assert control.

Christian shadows Tara and confirms her interactions with Ryan, exposing that Ryan remains part of Tara's life. The discovery heightens Christian's paranoia about infidelity and deepens his resolve to manipulate others. He uses this to escalate his control over the situation.

Christian pressures John from the film crew into staging a prank on Ryan, telling him he might be fired unless he agrees to perform sexual favors. The plan aims to create fear and manipulate Ryan into accepting the terms. The prank signals Christian's willingness to weaponize others to secure his own position.

Back home, Christian grills Tara about her afternoon. Tara denies any attraction to Ryan. Concurrently, Ryan discovers Christian's daily schedule on Gina's computer, noting regular 'yoga sessions' with Cynthia, hinting at more illicit arrangements.

Tara receives an anonymous text suggesting she might be in trouble. The message unsettles her and she questions who could be watching them. The threat foreshadows the danger that permeates the relationship.

Cynthia discloses she was Christian's girlfriend and urges Tara to leave him. She explains that Christian drugged her, orchestrated an assault, and recorded it to threaten her. Tara rejects Cynthia's warnings, choosing to remain with Christian despite the danger.

Christian admits dating Cynthia but denies beating her or arranging any assault. The tension escalates as a dating-app friend is about to arrive, signaling another sexual encounter. Tara reluctantly agrees to the upcoming encounter, and the night deepens into uncomfortable consent and power plays.

A dating-app friend arrives at the house and a group sexual encounter unfolds. Tara directs Christian to perform homosexual acts, which he later feels uncomfortable about. The scene deepens Christian's discomfort and shows Tara's influence over his actions.

Ryan confesses to Gina that he's been sleeping with Tara. Gina vows to do whatever it takes to ensure the film is made, but Ryan is fired and banned from the set. The power struggle within the film's production intensifies the stakes.

At his therapist's office, Christian discusses feeling out of control when Tara directs his actions. He explains he's more comfortable when telling others what to do. It is revealed that his therapy sessions are not voluntary, but a condition of his trust fund.

Driving to Cynthia's house, Christian confronts her about lying. Enraged, he stabs Cynthia to death after she denies the accusations. The murder marks a point of no return in his relationship with Tara.

Returning home, Christian apologizes for brutalizing Tara and lets her leave with two conditions: she must provide him an alibi for Cynthia's murder and never contact Ryan. He warns that refusal would lead to Ryan's murder and his own escape through wealth and connections. Tara agrees and exits the relationship.

Several months later, Tara lives in Dubai and has lunch with a friend. She claims to be on good terms with Christian and the film project, but offhand comments reveal she is lying. The friend quietly reports that Tara is not as happy as she presents, ending with a call to Ryan who is alone in an empty room.