Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- eerie
- claustrophobic
- foreboding
- late night suspense
- psychological thriller night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be a taut, well-written descent into dangerous obsession, strengthened by Cate Shortland's direction and Teresa Palmer's committed performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Clare's initial attraction to Andi abruptly transforms into confinement in his apartment.
The locked Berlin apartment becomes the film's central site of danger, isolation, and attempted resistance.
Andi's charismatic courtship functions as the entry point to prolonged domination of Clare.
Clare must use observation, persistence, and resourcefulness to confront her confinement.
Films like Berlin Syndrome, and why
10 Cloverfield Lane
shared psychological thriller structure, coercive intimacy, claustrophobic captivity, and a woman resisting an abusive male antagonist
Room
shared slow-burn domestic confinement, escalating dread, and psychologically focused female survival narrative
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
shared erotic obsession, dangerous romance, and suspense built from manipulative interpersonal control
The Invisible Man
shared intimate psychological horror, abusive power dynamics, and sustained atmosphere of entrapment
Movie Details
- Director
- Cate Shortland
- Release Date
- 2017-04-20
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (713)
Cast
- Teresa Palmer
- Max Riemelt
- Matthias Habich
- Emma Bading
- Elmira Bahrami
- Christoph Franken
- Lucie Aron
- Nassim Avat
- Thuso Lekwape
- Lara Marie Müller
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Berlin Syndrome about?
- A Berlin holiday romance curdles into a claustrophobic survival thriller when a photojournalist is imprisoned by the man she trusted.
- What is Berlin Syndrome like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Berlin Syndrome as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Berlin Syndrome violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Berlin Syndrome as moderate.
- What did critics think of Berlin Syndrome?
- Critics broadly found the film to be a taut, well-written descent into dangerous obsession, strengthened by Cate Shortland's direction and Teresa Palmer's committed performance.
- Which films are like Berlin Syndrome?
- Films with a similar feel include 10 Cloverfield Lane, Room, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, and The Invisible Man.
- How long is Berlin Syndrome?
- Berlin Syndrome runs 116 minutes.
- Where can I watch Berlin Syndrome?
- In United States, Berlin Syndrome is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
