Victim of Love

Victim of Love

Year: 1991

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: English

Director: Jerry London

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Therapist Tess becomes enamored with widowed professor Paul, unaware that he is also involved with Carla, one of her patients. As she struggles to keep her professional ethics intact, Tess discovers Paul is the source of Carla’s distress and learns he murdered his own wife to pursue Carla, pulling her into a perilous web of deceit and murder.

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Timeline & Setting – Victim of Love (1991)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Victim of Love (1991). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Malibu, California; mountain cabin in the snow

The story moves between a sunny Malibu backdrop and a remote, snowbound mountain cabin. Malibu hints at Tess’s contemporary, everyday life and the lure of a sophisticated professor. The mountain cabin scene serves as the claustrophobic arena where trust fractures and danger escalates.

🌊 Coastal backdrop 🏔️ Mountain isolation 🗺️ Remote setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:36

Main Characters – Victim of Love (1991)

Meet the key characters of Victim of Love (1991), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Tess Parker (Tess Harper) — JoBeth Williams

A therapist who becomes entangled with a charming professor. Initially pragmatic and compassionate, she grows increasingly suspicious as Carla’s story and the inconsistencies in Paul’s account emerge. Her judgment is tested as she navigates danger and possibility of manipulation.

💬 Therapist 🔎 Skeptical ❤️ Romantic entanglement

Paul Tomlinson — Pierce Brosnan

An English professor whose smooth charm masks a calculating, secretive nature. He presents himself as trustworthy, only to be confronted by conflicting testimonies and a mounting trail of suspicious clues. His false front drives the thriller’s tension.

🎭 Charismatic 🧠 Calculating 🗝️ Secretive

Carla Simmons — Virginia Madsen

Tess’s patient who recounts a troubling history with Paul, becoming a catalyst for the investigation into his true nature. She appears distraught and determined, insisting on the danger Paul poses. Her account challenges Tess’s trust and drives the confrontation.

💘 Obsessed 🔎 Suspicious 🧭 Bold

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:36

Major Themes – Victim of Love (1991)

Explore the central themes of Victim of Love (1991), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💘 Obsession

A dangerous fixation drives the central romance and the manipulation that unravels the plot. Tess’s attraction to Paul blinds her to warning signs, while Carla’s fixation on Paul fuels suspicion and fear. The film shows how obsession can distort reality and push ordinary people toward perilous choices. The isolated setting amplifies the power of an all-consuming fixation.

🕵️ Deception

Paul’s double life and conflicting narratives with Carla create a web of lies that Tess struggles to untangle. Letters, rings, and alibis become tools in a dangerous game of truth versus bluff. The climax hinges on who can be believed when evidence is manipulated. Deception drives the suspense and sustains the mystery.

⚠️ Trust

Tess’s trust in Paul gradually dissolves as the facts about his wife’s death and Carla’s accusations come to light. The ice and snow of the mountains mirror the chilling erosion of confidence between lovers and partners. The pursuit of safety and honesty becomes a fragile, dangerous undertaking in a trap-filled plot. The ending leaves Tess and the audience with an sense of unease about who is really in danger.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:36

Unlock the Full Story of Victim of Love

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

Victim of Love Summary

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Victim of Love Summary

Victim of Love Timeline

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Victim of Love Timeline

More About Victim of Love

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Victim of Love (1991) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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Victim of Love (1991) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow