Whirlpool 1970

Tulia meets Sara at the studio and is invited to stay

Tulia, a fashion model, meets Sara at her studio and they form a tense connection. Sara invites Tulia to stay at her country home with Theo, her aspiring photographer nephew, creating a fragile living arrangement. The invitation marks the start of a dangerous dynamic that will unfold over the next days.

Wooded photo session interrupted by a cloaked observer

Tulia and Theo photograph in the woods, but the session is abruptly halted when Tulia spots a cloaked figure spying on them. The figure disappears into the trees, leaving Tulia shaken and wary. The moment signals the beginning of Theo's troubling influence.

Rhonda's fear discussed; she vanishes

Tulia recounts how Rhonda—an earlier guest and friend who stayed at Sara's home—was frightened by the nearby lake. Shortly after returning to London, Rhonda disappears, fueling growing concern. The unresolved disappearance foreshadows darker events to come.

Evening drinks, cards, and a tense sexual tension

The trio has drinks and plays cards late into the night. Tulia and Sara undress, and Theo and Tulia begin to kiss, creating a charged moment that Sara ultimately withdraws from. The scene marks a shift toward an intimate, unsettling dynamic.

Morning rebuke over boundaries

In the morning, Sara chastises Theo for not bringing Tulia into her room, exposing their complicated boundaries and desire. The confrontation reveals the adults' shared but problematic dynamic. The tension simmers as the day begins.

Inspector Field arrives to question Rhonda's disappearance

Mr. Field, an inspector, arrives at Sara's house and begins questioning Theo about Rhonda. He searches the property and checks the rooms, stirring anxiety among the occupants. The investigation adds real-world pressure to the house's already strained atmosphere.

Theo escorts Tulia to a pub and arranges a payoff

Theo takes Tulia to a local pub and offers a man money for an encounter. The exchange hints at Theo's willingness to manipulate others for sexual thrill. The incident foreshadows the later staged assault.

Staged assault in the woods with a photo opportunity

Theo brings Tulia and the man to a secluded woods area where the man begins a staged sexual assault on Tulia and Theo photographs the scene. Tulia is revolted by the deceit and demands to be returned to London. The act reveals Theo's sadistic impulses and the price Tulia pays for staying in the house.

That night: sex photographed, culminating in a threesome

Back at the house, Sarah calms Tulia after the day’s horrors. Later that night, Tulia and Sarah have sex, which Theo photographs, culminating in a threesome. The scene underscores the disturbing sexual dynamic at the center of the film.

Mr. Field confronts Theo; Field is killed

Mr. Field continues to investigate Rhonda's disappearance and triggers Theo's violence. He enters the house and, during a confrontation, Theo chases him to his car and stabs him to death in the woods. The murder marks a brutal escalation.

Rhonda is killed and disposed in the lake

Rhonda is murdered by Theo (with the involvement of the pub man and a tramp) and her corpse is disposed of in the lake. The act completes the trio's criminal complicity and tightens Theo's control over the situation. The lake becomes a macabre symbol of their crimes.

Tulia discovers Rhonda's death photos in the basement darkroom

Tulia descends to Theo's darkroom in the basement and uncovers disturbing photographs showing Rhonda's rape and murder by Theo, the pub man, and a tramp. The images shatter any remaining pretense of safety in the household. The revelation sets the stage for the final confrontation.

Theo reveals his sadism and makes a last attempt on Tulia

Theo returns to the house and openly declares that he is a sadist. He tries to stab Tulia, but she fights back by striking him with a developing tray and fleeing the house. The confession confirms the threat she faces and intensifies the climax.