The Comfort of Strangers 1991

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.