When passion therapy turns deadly, everyone is a suspect in this Canadian giallo.
THE SURROGATE
Stuck in a sexless marriage, a frustrated well-to-do couple agrees to see a female sex therapist. Unfortunately, she only helps escalate the tensions between them. Meanwhile, the police is baffled by a string of brutal nightly killings.
Quick Answer
The Surrogate is a 1984 Canadian crime, drama, horror, mystery, and thriller film directed by Don Carmody about a couple with marital troubles who hire a mysterious European woman for sexual therapy, while a string of brutal stabbings baffles the police.
Programmer's Pick
Erotic therapy sessions, a psychopathic killer on the loose, and a parade of classic Hollywood impressions—The Surrogate serves up Canadian giallo with a side of sleaze and suspicion. Shannon Tweed and Michael Ironside keep the tension as thick as the plot twists. If you like your marital drama with a body count, this one delivers.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Why This Matters
This Canadian erotic thriller brought together director-writer-producer Don Carmody with a cast including Art Hindle, Carole Laure, and Shannon Tweed, and was distributed by major studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1984.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
A rare North American spin on the giallo formula, blending sexual intrigue with murder mystery in a distinctly Canadian setting.
A marital sex crisis escalates into psychological games and deadly consequences, as a mysterious European surrogate pushes boundaries.
Expect references and impressions of Bette Davis, Mae West, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Humphrey Bogart woven into the film’s surreal therapy sessions.
Eric, the cross-dressing neighbor, adds a layer of ambiguity and suspicion to the whodunit plot.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Therapy sessions with the European surrogate
Psychopathic killer committing serial stabbings
A mounting body count of brutal nightly killings
Urban Canadian city and the Waites' home
Questions from the Vault
Who directed The Surrogate? +
The Surrogate was directed by Don Carmody.
How long is The Surrogate? +
The Surrogate has a runtime of 100 minutes.
What genre is The Surrogate? +
The Surrogate is a crime, drama, horror, mystery, and thriller film.
Where can I watch The Surrogate? +
The Surrogate is available to stream on SassyFlix.
