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The Comfort of Strangers 1991

While vacationing in Venice, an English couple struggles to reconnect and confronts unsettling undercurrents within the city. A captivating stranger introduces them to a disturbing world, challenging their values and blurring the lines between reality and illusion. Their encounter leads them down a dangerous path, forcing them to question their relationship and confront hidden desires.

While vacationing in Venice, an English couple struggles to reconnect and confronts unsettling undercurrents within the city. A captivating stranger introduces them to a disturbing world, challenging their values and blurring the lines between reality and illusion. Their encounter leads them down a dangerous path, forcing them to question their relationship and confront hidden desires.

Does The Comfort of Strangers have end credit scenes?

No!

The Comfort of Strangers does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of The Comfort of Strangers

Explore the complete cast of The Comfort of Strangers, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for The Comfort of Strangers

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Metacritic

61

Metascore

tbd

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

%

TOMATOMETER

review

0%

User Score

Take the Ultimate The Comfort of Strangers Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of The Comfort of Strangers with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


The Comfort of Strangers Quiz: Test your knowledge on the suspenseful and eerie tale of 'The Comfort of Strangers' set in the beautiful city of Venice.

In which city do Colin and Mary find themselves vacationing?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Comfort of Strangers

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Read the complete plot summary of The Comfort of Strangers, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


As they wandered through the captivating city of Venice for the second time, the unmarried English couple, Colin and Mary, were unknowingly caught in the lens of a mysterious photographer. During a relaxed dinner, Mary’s curiosity compelled her to ask Colin about his relationship with her two children from a previous marriage. As fate would have it, they meandered through the charming, winding streets of Venice, where they encountered Robert, a sophisticated British-Italian gentleman, who graciously offered to guide them to his renowned bar.

Over several glasses of wine, Robert enthralled the couple with vivid stories from his life, including chilling memories of his sadistic father, a notable Italian diplomat, and the cruel pranks from his mischievous younger sisters during his childhood. He recounted the tale of meeting his wife, Caroline, who was the daughter of a Canadian diplomat. As the night unfolded, Colin and Mary once again lost their way in the labyrinthine city, ultimately surrendering to the whimsical nature of Venice and spending the rest of the night exploring its enchanting streets.

When day broke, the couple found themselves in the bustling square outside St Mark’s Basilica, where they enjoyed a leisurely breakfast. Yet, Mary’s growing apprehension led her to voice a wish to cut their vacation short. Just then, Robert reappeared, apologizing for any distress his antics may have caused the previous night. He invited them to dinner at his home, a gesture the couple accepted, intrigued by their unexpected acquaintance.

Upon arriving at Robert’s expansive, Moorish-style apartment via water taxi, exhaustion overtook Colin and Mary, causing them to drift into a deep sleep. They woke to find themselves in a spirited conversation with Caroline, who revealed that Robert had left to attend to his bar duties. As she prepared food for Mary, unsettling hints of Caroline’s back injury began to surface, prompting moments of concern.

In a moment of intimacy, Caroline confided in Mary, mentioning how she had discreetly checked on Colin and Mary while they slept, and commented on their striking beauty. Robert rejoined them, resuming his storytelling about his domineering family lineage. However, a sudden outburst from Colin, which included an insult directed at Robert, escalated quickly when Robert retaliated with a swift blow to Colin’s stomach.

Colin chose to conceal the incident from Mary, but later that evening, the couple found solace in their hotel room, where they enjoyed an intimate moment together. Following a nightmare that left her visibly shaken, Mary disclosed to Colin that she had discovered a photograph of him in Robert and Caroline’s apartment.

As their time in Venice drew to a close, relaxing on the beach, Colin revealed the altercation to Mary. The notion of returning to England to marry seemed far less appealing to her as she began reevaluating her perception of Robert.

As destiny would have it, Colin and Mary found themselves standing before Robert and Caroline’s residence, summoned by circumstance. It was Caroline, precariously perched on the balcony, who first spotted them and beckoned them inside. With a welcoming demeanor, the couple shared news of their impending departure to Canada to visit Caroline’s family the next day.

In an unusual twist, Robert requested Colin join him for a brief trip to his bar, which Colin hesitantly accepted, leaving Mary to chat with Caroline in their nearly packed home. The atmosphere grew tense as Caroline opened up to Mary about her chronic back issues, a byproduct of years of engaging in sadomasochistic activities with Robert. Concurrently, Robert entertained Colin with tales of his family, adroitly steering clear of any inquiries related to his photographs.

As Mary’s unease escalated, she began to feel dizzy and suspect she had been drugged. Caroline guided her to a bedroom, where she was met with a harrowing sight: walls adorned with photographs capturing Colin’s every moment throughout their vacation. It became evident that Robert had been stalking Colin since their arrival.

The culmination of eerie events unfolded upon Robert’s return from his excursion. Mary, grappling with her newfound horror, found herself tongue-tied as Colin frantically urged both Robert and Caroline to summon medical help. Instead, they turned on him, brutally attacking Colin while Mary stood by helplessly.

After the chaos subsided, Mary faced an interrogation by Italian authorities before finally being permitted to see Colin’s lifeless body. Exiting the police station, she saw Robert and Caroline being led away in handcuffs for questioning. During their interrogation, Robert recounted a chilling tale about his father, weaving a narrative that eerily mirrored the one he had shared with Colin only hours before.

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Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for The Comfort of Strangers

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THE COMFORT OF STRANGERS - TRAILER

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


drugged beveragemale nuditymale objectificationmale pubic hairdangerous frienderoticadysfunctional marriagesexual fantasychampagnepubic hairsunsetbased on novelindependent filmgay slurstrangerhusband wife relationshipvacationseductionvoyeursleeping nudevenice italysexphotographobsessionfemale nuditylooking at oneself in a mirroritalyscene during opening creditsvacation gone wrongcoupleerotic thrillerfemale star appears nudewinerestaurantmirrorpsycho thrillerthroat slitmurderstanding on a balconyphilosophyneck painfemale rear nudityfemale topless nuditymarriageinvestigationculture clashcross cultural relationsice creameating ice creamsoccer

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