The Servant
A cold, sexually charged London chamber drama in which a privileged young man loses control of his home to the servant he thought he could command.
Overview
A power struggle unfolds between a master and his servant, revealing dark secrets and manipulation.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- icy
- oppressive
- erotic
- classic cinema night
- arthouse viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as an accomplished and incisive study of class divisions, elevated by Joseph Losey's direction, Harold Pinter's dialogue, and exceptional performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Barrett gradually turns Tony's London home into a site where the servant dominates the former master.
The house's rooms, corridors, framing, and sound design intensify the characters' confinement and hostility.
Tony's aristocratic privilege and Barrett's servitude expose authority, autonomy, and social hierarchy within postwar London society.
Barrett presents himself as competent and loyal while manipulating the household toward an undisclosed personal objective.
Films like The Servant, and why
The Go-Between
class conflict, psychological manipulation, and an oppressive domestic power struggle
The Shining
decadent privilege, sexual power games, and icy social unease
Gosford Park
social hierarchy, servant-master tensions, and controlled period drama
The Night Porter
ambiguous identity, erotic manipulation, and class-driven psychological tension
Movie Details
- Director
- Joseph Losey
- Release Date
- 1963-11-14
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (385)
Cast
- Dirk Bogarde
- James Fox
- Sarah Miles
- Wendy Craig
- Catherine Lacey
- Richard Vernon
- Harold Pinter
- Ann Firbank
- Doris Nolan
- Patrick Magee
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- BFI Player Amazon Channel
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Servant about?
- A cold, sexually charged London chamber drama in which a privileged young man loses control of his home to the servant he thought he could command.
- What is The Servant like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Servant as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Servant violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Servant as mild.
- What did critics think of The Servant?
- Critics broadly regard the film as an accomplished and incisive study of class divisions, elevated by Joseph Losey's direction, Harold Pinter's dialogue, and exceptional performances.
- Which films are like The Servant?
- Films with a similar feel include The Go-Between, The Shining, Gosford Park, and The Night Porter.
- How long is The Servant?
- The Servant runs 116 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Servant?
- In United States, The Servant streams on BFI Player Amazon Channel.
