A teenage orphan faces a controlling husband and dark intrigue in turn-of-the-century New Zealand.
MESMERIZED
An arranged marriage. A deranged murder.
An orphan weds an older man in circa-1900 New Zealand, then finds out he's a miser who spies on her.
Mesmerized is a 1985 Australia/New Zealand/UK drama film directed by Michael Laughlin about an orphaned New Zealand girl who marries an older businessman and must navigate his strange desires and controlling nature.
Themes & Keywords
Synopsis
- Director
- Michael Laughlin
- Writers
- Michael Laughlin, Jerzy Skolimowski
- Release
- 1985
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Country
- Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Genres
- Drama
- Also Known As
- Shocked, My Letter to George
Why Cult
Set in circa-1900 New Zealand, the film layers colonial atmosphere with classic gothic drama tropes.
An orphaned teenager faces her older husband's voyeurism and abusive control, weaving tension into every scene.
Themes of hypnosis, investigation, and unlikely criminality add layers of suspense beyond the standard period drama.
Jodie Foster commands the screen as Victoria, balancing vulnerability and resolve amid escalating peril.
Trailer
Questions from the Vault
What is Mesmerized about? +
Mesmerized is about an orphaned New Zealand girl who marries an older, wealthy businessman and must contend with his strange sexual desires and controlling behavior.
When was Mesmerized released? +
Mesmerized was released in 1985.
Who directed Mesmerized? +
Mesmerized was directed by Michael Laughlin.
How long is Mesmerized? +
Mesmerized has a runtime of 97 minutes.
What genre is Mesmerized? +
Mesmerized is a drama film.
