The Passion of Darkly Noon

The Passion of Darkly Noon

Year: 1995

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: English

Director: Philip Ridley

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When your deepest desire becomes your worst nightmare… Desire torments a former cultist taking refuge at the home of a scantily clad woman whose husband is away.

The Passion of Darkly Noon (1995) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Passion of Darkly Noon (1995) 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 mist‑shrouded Appalachian hills of North Carolina, a young man haunted by the strict doctrines of an ultraconservative cult wanders into an unfamiliar world. Darkly Noon carries the weight of a name derived from scripture, a constant reminder of a destiny that now feels more like a curse than a calling. Seeking refuge from the shattered remnants of his former life, he stumbles upon a modest rural home where the ordinary and the uncanny begin to intersect.

The house belongs to a solitary woman who lives alone while her husband is away. Callie offers him shelter, tending to his physical exhaustion with a quiet compassion that soon becomes the center of an unexpected emotional turmoil. Her old friend Jude, a coffin‑transporting laborer with a protective streak, assists in Darkly’s recovery, forging a tentative bond that hints at a future beyond the shadows of the past. The tension between Darkly’s ingrained beliefs and the growing, unsettling attraction to his caretaker creates a fragile equilibrium, as each day blurs the line between salvation and temptation.

Adding to the complexity is Clay, Callie’s mute boyfriend whose quiet craftsmanship of coffins mirrors the morbid legacy that looms over the household. His mother, Roxy, arrives with a fierce disapproval of the relationship, her accusations of witchcraft casting a bitter chill over the already tense atmosphere. Their presence deepens the sense that the home is a crossroads where personal histories, unspoken desires, and external judgments collide.

The film moves with a slow‑burning, atmospheric cadence, weaving rustic scenery with an undercurrent of surreal symbolism. The tone balances stark realism and haunting lyricism, inviting viewers to contemplate how far desire can stray from its intended path when it becomes entangled with the remnants of a nightmare. In this isolated corner of the world, every quiet interaction hints at larger forces at play, leaving the audience to wonder whether redemption or further darkness lies just beyond the next door.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025 at 15:14

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear but deeply internal descent, prioritizing character psychology over complex plot twists. The tension escalates subtly and relentlessly, often within a confined setting, as a protagonist's fragile mental state deteriorates under the weight of obsession, guilt, or fear.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative arc is a tragic downward spiral. A sheltered or traumatized protagonist encounters a catalyst that awakens forbidden desires, creating an unbearable internal conflict. Their attempts to reconcile or suppress these feelings lead to obsession, voyeurism, and ultimately, a violent or self-destructive climax.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their core theme of internal conflict born from repression. They depict a specific type of character journey: the destruction of an individual by the very forces they were taught to fear, resulting in stories with heavy emotional weight and dark, often ambiguous, conclusions.

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The Passion of Darkly Noon Summary

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The Passion of Darkly Noon Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Passion of Darkly Noon

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Passion of Darkly Noon

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