Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- tense
- erotic
- claustrophobic
- late night viewing
- independent film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott’s performances and the film’s contained psychological premise, while finding its tone and direction uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Most of the action unfolds during one fraught night in a luxury hotel suite, making interpersonal reversals the engine of suspense.
Rebecca and Hal’s longstanding dominatrix-client relationship structures their intimacy around shifting dominance and control.
Hal’s impending rise to chief executive forces him to confront and conceal his secret relationship with Rebecca.
The central conflict is an elaborate battle of wills in which both leads struggle to maintain the upper hand.
Films like Sanctuary, and why
The Servant
contained psychological power struggle, erotic tension, and shifting dominance between two leads
Secretary
erotic psychological thriller built around manipulation, control, and unstable intimacy
Carnage
single-location relationship drama using verbal sparring and reversals of power
Bitter Moon
claustrophobic erotic thriller focused on coercion, performance, and psychological games
Movie Details
- Director
- Zachary Wigon
- Release Date
- 2023-03-02
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (269)
Cast
- Margaret Qualley
- Christopher Abbott
- Danita Battle
- Rene Calvo
- Christian Casatelli
- Dominick Defilips
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 Sanctuary about?
- Over one volatile night in a luxury hotel suite, a wealthy heir and his dominatrix turn a breakup into an intricate contest for emotional control.
- What is Sanctuary like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Sanctuary as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Sanctuary violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Sanctuary.
- What did critics think of Sanctuary?
- Critics broadly praised Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott’s performances and the film’s contained psychological premise, while finding its tone and direction uneven.
- Which films are like Sanctuary?
- Films with a similar feel include The Servant, Secretary, Carnage, and Bitter Moon.
- How long is Sanctuary?
- Sanctuary runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch Sanctuary?
- In United States, Sanctuary is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
