Diamond Skulls (Dark Obsession) (1990)
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36% of critics liked it
(11 reviews) -
38% of users liked it
(63 ratings)
Dark Obsession is a slow, English-made, psychological thriller dealing with erotic obsession, guilt and betrayal. Sir Hugo Buckton (Gabriel Byrne), an aristocrat strapped for money, is married to beautiful, sensual and successful Virginia (Amanda Donohoe). His alcoholism and his envy of her lead to… More Dark Obsession is a slow, English-made, psychological thriller dealing with erotic obsession, guilt and betrayal. Sir Hugo Buckton (Gabriel Byrne), an aristocrat strapped for money, is married to beautiful, sensual and successful Virginia (Amanda Donohoe). His alcoholism and his envy of her lead to his obsessive jealousy and belief in her lack of fidelity. During one drunken evening while out driving with friends, Hugo hits and kills a pedestrian who resembles Virginia. When Hugo begins to receive vague blackmail letters, he suspects one of his friends, and the group begins to plot a murder. Dark Obsession has all the ingredients of a first-rate thriller but fails despite its excellent cast to generate any excitement. The pace of the film is languid, the motivations of the characters are unclear, and after the accidental death, nothing much really happens. Dark Obsession, originally released as Diamond Skulls, despite the best efforts of its cast, is a thriller that fails to thrill. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi
- Directed By
- Nick Broomfield
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense
R,
- In Theaters
- Jun 17, 1991 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
A stylish melodrama about sex and violence among the British aristocracy, Diamond Skulls never quite delivers the punches it promises.
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, Time Out
The controlled technique echoes the theme of domination, but combined with the largely unsympathetic characters, results in a film that affects emotion and remains curiously hollow.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
Rarely does a documentary film maker make the transition to fiction as adroitly as Nicholas Broomfield has in "Dark Obsession," a psychological thriller displaying a documentarian's fascination for small, telling details.
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Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Intended as a psycho-thriller, Broomfield's film is in fact a skimpily plotted rumination on what's rank among the privileged.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
[Broomfield] wants to show us how the very fabric of the lives of these aristocrats has undercut their human perspective, has convinced them they are above and beyond the law.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Gabriel Byrne
as Sir Hugo Buckton
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Amanda Donohoe
as Ginny
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Michael Hordern
as Lord Crewne
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Judy Parfitt
as Lady Crewne
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Douglas Hodge
as Jamie
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Sadie Frost
as Rebecca
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Struan Rodger
as Peter
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Ian Carmichael
as Exeter
- Clare Anderson
- Jerry Baker
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Jay Benedict
as Joe Dimandino
- Emma Boulting
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Edward Burnham
as John the Gardener
- Karin Charlesworth
- Michael Clark
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Alexander Clempson
as Edward
- Mandy Curzon
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David Delve
as Alec
- Tracey Eddon
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Patrick Field
as Detective
- Noel Hawkins
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Phyllida Hewat
as Lady Castlemere
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William Hoyland
as Inspector Orchard
- Mandy Lee James
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Eiji Kusuhara
as Ewo Nagasaky
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Catherine Livesey
as Nanny
- Ned Lynch
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Matthew Marsh
as Raul
- Paul Merick
- Kristina Overton
- Bev Ramsden
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Peter Sands
as Colonel
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Robin Summers
as Detective
- Lucy Boulting
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Ralph Brown
as Jack
- Peter Allen
