What Is Obsession About?
The premise of Obsession in 278 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a London still marked by the scars of war, the city’s shadowed streets and bomb‑scarred neighborhoods provide a bleak backdrop for a story of concealed passions and mounting dread. Clive Riordan, a well‑heeled psychiatrist, moves through this world with the measured certainty of a man accustomed to dissecting the minds of others, yet his own interior life is beginning to fray under the weight of unseen forces.
His wife, Storm Riordan, glides through their upscale domestic sphere with an elegance that masks a restless yearning. Behind closed doors she has found a connection with Bill Kronin, an American whose foreign allure adds a volatile edge to the already fragile marriage. The three of them inhabit a delicate triangle, each aware that something vital is being hidden, each feeling the pressure of unspoken fears.
When the truth surfaces, Clive’s clinical mind shifts from observation to invention. The psychiatrist’s expertise in manipulation and control becomes the engine of a dark, meticulously plotted response—a revenge that reflects his desire to dominate the very chaos threatening his orderly existence. Even his faithful dog, Monty, drifts through the narrative, a silent witness to the growing tension and a subtle reminder that every detail may turn against him.
All the while, the methodical presence of Superintendent Finsbury of Scotland Yard looms, a figure whose keen instincts begin to pry at the seams of Clive’s carefully constructed façade. The film balances the moody chiaroscuro of post‑war noir with a psychological thriller’s edge, inviting the audience to linger in the space where love, hatred, and fear intertwine, and where the promise of retribution hangs like a thin veil over a city still trying to heal.
What Happens in Obsession?
The complete story of Obsession, from the first scene to the last, in 486 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Dr. Clive Riordan, Robert Newton, a wealthy London psychiatrist, learns that his wife Storm Riordan, Sally Gray, is having an affair with Bill Kronin, Phil Brown, an American. This discovery sparks a cold, calculated plan to execute the perfect murder of Kronin, driven by jealousy and a desire for control over a situation spiraling out of his hands.
Riordan kidnaps Kronin at gunpoint and confines him for months in a hidden room tucked behind a garage in a bomb-damaged sector of the city. With no solid leads, the authorities search in vain, and the case slowly fades from the public eye. Riordan convinces himself that keeping Kronin alive for so long will erase any connection to him once Kronin disappears, allowing the crime to stay unsolved and his motive to remain buried beneath the surface.
During one routine visit to bring Kronin food, Riordan is unknowingly trailed by his dog Monty, a detail that tightens the stakes. In a chilling moment of brutal resolve, Riordan reveals his plan to Kronin: to kill him and dissolve the body in an acid bath. He grows increasingly paranoid about Monty giving away the secret, and for a time contemplates using the bath prepared for Kronin on the loyal dog as well. Yet Kronin refuses to yield and manages to protect Monty from harm.
The plot thickens as Riordan’s meticulously laid trap begins to crack. He has even prepared hot water bottles filled with acid to ensure a thorough disposal. The tension peaks when Superintendent Finsbury, from Scotland Yard, visits Riordan’s office. Naunton Wayne plays the perceptive investigator who suspects something is amiss, especially after picking up little tells like Riordan’s American-sounding phrases and the way he interacts with an American—clues that keep gnawing at him.
Riordan’s plan nearly unravels when he overhears a conversation between Storm and Finsbury, prompting him to act with a desperate move: he poisons Kronin. But Kronin has learned enough from Monty to outmaneuver him—Monty somehow manages to pull the plug chain and drain the acid bath, foiling Riordan’s lethal plan. The police soon close in, finding Riordan’s car in the garage and tracing the clues to a hidden room where Kronin’s fate could have been sealed.
Confronted with the failure of his scheme, Riordan accepts the grim reality of a likely arrest, retreating to his club to await what comes next. In a dramatic turn, Finsbury arrives to reveal that Kronin survived, sparing Riordan from a murder charge and leaving the doctor to face the consequences of his actions in the end.
Storm’s visit to Kronin in hospital adds a subtle, uneasy note to the conclusion. She tells him she plans to travel abroad for a while, and as she departs, Monty suddenly leaps his lead and darts back to Kronin’s bedside to show affection. Storm offers a faint, knowing smile and steps out, leaving the two men to their uncertain, fragile future together.
Obsession Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Storm Affair Sparks Revenge” to “Storm’s Departure and Kronin’s Recovery”. 12 events name a place, across 7 locations.
- 1
Storm Affair Sparks Revenge
Clive Riordan, a wealthy London psychiatrist, learns that his wife Storm is involved with Bill Kronin. He decides to exact revenge by staging the perfect murder. This revelation becomes the catalyst for a meticulously planned crime that will unfold over months.
When:Right after discovery Where:London
- 2
The Plan Takes Shape
Riordan resolves to abduct Kronin and keep him alive to avoid any obvious link to himself. He envisions a 'perfect' crime that would remove his rival without leaving a trace of motive or opportunity. The plan is to remove Kronin from the scene while his wife remains unaware of the danger.
When:Immediately after the decision Where:London
- 3
Kronin Kidnapped
Kronin is kidnapped at gunpoint and imprisoned in a hidden room accessed from a garage in a bomb-damaged area of London. Riordan controls every movement of the prisoner and begins the long, quiet captivity. The grim setup marks the start of the prolonged plot.
When:Day of kidnapping Where:Hidden room behind a garage, bomb-damaged London
- 4
The Months Drag On
Kronin remains imprisoned for months, during which Riordan fine-tunes his alibi and searches for a safe disposal. Authorities mount a search for the missing American, but leads dry up after a few weeks. Riordan believes the longer the captive remains, the less likely detection will be linked to him.
When:Months Where:Hidden room
- 5
Daily Visits and Monty the Tracker
Riordan makes daily visits to Kronin with food and supplies. Monty, Riordan's dog, trails him noisily, risking discovery as the secret room stays hidden. Kronin takes note of the dog and of the constant surveillance that surrounds his imprisonment.
When:During captivity Where:Hidden room
- 6
The Acid Bath Preparations
Riordan begins assembling the means to dispose of Kronin by dissolving him in acid. He brings hot water bottles filled with acid to the hidden bath, fearing Monty might reveal the location if the plan were exposed. The 'perfect' method now seems within reach.
When:During captivity Where:Hidden room, bath area
- 7
The Poison Plan Moves Forward
Riordan moves to lethal action and poisons Kronin, hoping the plot will succeed. He discovers, however, that Monty has been trained to pull the plug chain and drain the bath, foiling the murder just as it seems to be working.
When:During the murder attempt Where:Hidden room
- 8
Finsbury Grows Suspicious
Superintendent Finsbury from Scotland Yard visits Riordan's office, ostensibly to check on the missing dog. Their talks reveal that Finsbury suspects Riordan and connects him to the ongoing American case through subtle clues.
When:Weeks into captivity Where:Riordan's office
- 9
The Overheard Conversation
Riordan overhears a conversation between Storm and Finsbury, confirming that the police are closing in. Realizing danger, he resolves to act and intensifies his plan against Kronin.
When:Shortly after Finsbury's investigation Where:London
- 10
Evidence and Arrest Loom
Police find Riordan’s car in the garage, leading them to the hidden room and Kronin’s still-living body. Realizing his plan has failed, Riordan resigns himself to fate and awaits arrest at his club.
When:Following the failed attempt Where:Garage and Riordan's club
- 11
Riordan’s Fate Takes Shape
Finsbury returns and reveals that Kronin has survived, meaning Riordan has escaped a murder charge for now. The immediate danger passes, though Riordan remains under scrutiny and the affair lingers as a potential liability.
When:Soon after police discovery Where:London
- 12
Storm’s Departure and Kronin’s Recovery
Storm visits Kronin as he convalesces in hospital and tells him she will travel abroad for a while. Monty, loyal to Kronin, jumps his lead and pads over to the hospital bed, underscoring a fragile, quiet bond as Storm leaves them together.
When:After Kronin's recovery Where:Hospital
Who Are the Main Characters in Obsession?
5 characters, among them Dr. Clive Riordan (Robert Newton), Storm Riordan (Sally Gray) and Bill Kronin (Bill Kronin) (Phil Brown): who each one is and the part they play in the story. 4 of them link to the actor’s page.
-
Dr. Clive Riordan (Robert Newton)
Played by Robert Newton
A wealthy London psychiatrist who uses clinical poise to mask a brutal plan for revenge. His calculated calm masks a growing fixation with destroying the life he envies. The more his scheme progresses, the more he underestimates the cost of his own moral decline.
- 💼 Wealthy
- 🧠 Psychiatrist
- 😈 Obsessive
- SR
Storm Riordan (Sally Gray)
Played by Sally Gray
Riordan's wife whose affair with Kronin sets the revenge plot in motion. She maintains a composed exterior while navigating a marriage strained by betrayal. Her actions contribute to the emotional tension at the heart of the drama and to the sense of an unstable domestic world.
- 💍 Wife
- 💔 Affair
- 🎭 Emotional tension
- BK
Bill Kronin (Bill Kronin) (Phil Brown)
Played by Phil Brown
An American prisoner drawn into Riordan's plot, Kronin endures captivity with resilience. His quick thinking and resolve, along with an unexpected alliance with Monty, undermine Riordan’s plan. Kronin's survival becomes the turning point that exposes the killer's facade.
- 🗽 American
- 🎭 Captive
- 🧭 Outsider
- SF
Superintendent Finsbury (Naunton Wayne)
Played by Naunton Wayne
A dogged police investigator who sees through Riordan's veneer. He pieces together disparate clues and pursues the truth with steady pressure. His persistence culminates in the crucial discovery that prevents Riordan from escaping murder charges.
- 🕵️♂️ Detective
- 🧭 Suspicious
- 🎯 Persistent
- M(
Monty (dog)
Riordan's loyal dog who inadvertently sabotages the murder plot by following Riordan's routine, alerting Kronin to danger, and contributing to the unraveling of the scheme. The animal's unintentional interventions highlight how small, ordinary elements can disrupt a carefully constructed crime.
- 🐶 Dog
- 🕊️ Loyal
- 🐾 Companion
Where and When Is Obsession Set?
Obsession is set in London and United Kingdom (Late 1940s (postwar London)). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Late 1940s (postwar London)
The events take place after World War II, when London was still recovering from bombardments and shortages. Reconstruction and scarcity color daily life, heightening tension and distrust. The era's social norms amplify the drama around marriage, loyalty, and morally gray decisions.
Where
London, United Kingdom
The story unfolds in a bomb-damaged part of London, weaving between a discreet garage, a hidden room, and a quiet medical office. The urban landscape remains scarred from the war, lending a claustrophobic noir atmosphere to every corner. Settings like a seedy club and upscale residences underscore the clash between wealth and crime in a city still rebuilding.
- 🌆 Postwar London
- 🕰️ 1940s
- 🏚️ Bomb-damaged city
What Are the Themes of Obsession?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Obsession, Deception and Investigation.
-
01
Obsession
Riordan's jealousy drives a meticulously planned revenge that spirals into a near-obsessive fixation. The notion of a 'perfect murder' rests on his ability to control every variable, revealing how obsession warps judgment. The plot tracks the slow tightening of his grip as the plan begins to unravel. Ultimately, obsession clashes with reality, exposing the fragility of his scheme.
-
02
Deception
The narrative hinges on fronts, half-truths, and a concealed room that hides a dangerous secret. Riordan maintains clinical calm while manipulating those around him, illustrating how deception can masquerade as rationality. Kronin’s captivity and Riordan’s outward normalcy blur the line between truth and illusion. The pursuit of truth tests loyalties and reveals the hollowness of appearances.
-
03
Investigation
Superintendent Finsbury probes Riordan with careful, persistent scrutiny. Clues accumulate—from casual comments to Riordan's Americanistic phrases—until the detective narrows the field. The missing dog thread unexpectedly aids the case, driving the investigation toward a pivotal reveal. The pursuit shows how steady inquiry can dismantle a seemingly flawless plan.
What Kind of Film Is Obsession?
Tense in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A tense and psychologically heavy British noir that methodically charts a man's cold-blooded descent into obsessive revenge, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere of sustained dread.
- tense
- claustrophobic
- methodical
- paranoid
- obsessive
- grim
- revenge
- marital infidelity
- kidnapping
- obsession
Content notes: kidnapping, imprisonment, planned murder, psychological torture.
Where to Watch Obsession
Stream it on Criterion Channel and Tubi TV, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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