Don't Look Now 1973
Directed by
Nicolas Roeg
Made by
Paramount Pictures
Plot Summary
Some time after the tragic drowning of their young daughter, Christine, at their English countryside residence, John Baxter and his heartbroken wife Laura embark on a trip to Venice. Here, John has accepted a commission from a bishop to restore an ancient church. During a meal at a local restaurant, Laura encounters two elderly sisters, Heather and Wendy, where Heather, despite being blind, astonishingly claims to have psychic abilities and reveals that she can “see” the deceased Christine. This unsettling revelation leaves Laura shaken, causing her to faint at the table.
After being taken to the hospital, Laura recounts Heather’s words to John, who remains skeptical but is pleasantly surprised by the noticeable uplift in Laura’s spirits. That evening, following their hospital visit, passionate intimacy ensues between John and Laura. Later, while heading out for dinner, they lose their way and briefly separate. In this moment, John catches a fleeting glimpse of a small figure clad in a red coat, reminiscent of the one Christine wore when she perished.
The following day, Laura reconnects with Heather and Wendy for a séance in hopes of communicating with Christine. Upon her return to the hotel, Laura informs John that Christine warned her of impending danger, urging them to leave Venice. An argument ensues, but that same night they receive a distressing phone call: their son has suffered injuries at boarding school. Laura quickly departs for England, while John remains in Venice to finish the restoration. Shortly after, he faces death when the scaffold he is on collapses, a moment he interprets as the danger foretold by the sisters.
Later, believing Laura is in England, John is taken aback when he spots her aboard a boat in a funeral procession, accompanied by the sisters. With concerns growing about Laura’s mental state and the looming threat of a serial killer in Venice, John reports her mysterious behavior to the police. The investigating inspector grows suspicious of John, initiating an undercover surveillance. In a desperate effort to find Laura and the sisters, John unsuccessfully searches the city, encountering the childlike figure in the red coat once more.
Upon reaching out to his son’s school to confirm his condition, John discovers that Laura is indeed there. Confused, he races back to the police station to inform them of his wife’s whereabouts. Meanwhile, the police have brought Heather in for questioning. An apologetic John offers to escort her back to the hotel.
Once they return, Heather unexpectedly slips into a trance. Urgently sensing danger, she implores her sister to pursue John, who has already left. As John ventures out, he suddenly spots the mysterious figure in red again and decides to chase it down. He corners the figure in an abandoned palazzo, believing it to be a child. However, when the figure turns to face him, the shocking reality unfolds—it is a deformed female dwarf. As John stands frozen in disbelief, the dwarf unsheathes a meat cleaver and cuts his throat. In his dying moments, John realizes that the unsettling visions he had experienced were premonitions of his own murder and impending funeral.
Timeline
The Drowning of Christine
The tragic drowning of young Christine marks the beginning of a profound grief for John and Laura Baxter. This heartbreaking event sets the tone for their unraveling lives as they grapple with the loss of their daughter.
Trip to Venice
In an attempt to escape their emotional turmoil, John and Laura embark on a trip to Venice. John has accepted a commission from a bishop to restore an ancient church, hoping that the change of scenery will aid their healing.
Meeting the Psychic Sisters
While dining at a local restaurant, Laura encounters two elderly sisters, Heather and Wendy. Heather astoundingly claims to have psychic abilities, revealing that she can see their deceased daughter, Christine.
Laura's Disturbing Revelation
Shaken by Heather's revelation, Laura faints at the dinner table. After being taken to the hospital, she shares the encounter with John, who remains skeptical but notices an uplift in Laura's mood.
Intimacy and Separation
That evening, after their hospital visit, John and Laura share a passionate moment of intimacy. However, while out for dinner, they lose their way and briefly separate, leading John to catch a glimpse of a small figure in a red coat.
Séance with the Sisters
The next day, Laura reconnects with Heather and Wendy for a séance in hopes of contacting Christine. Afterward, she warns John that Christine urged them to leave Venice due to impending danger.
The Distressing Phone Call
An argument brews between John and Laura regarding the warning. That same night, they receive a distressing phone call informing them that their son has been injured at boarding school, forcing Laura to leave Venice.
John's Near-Death Experience
While finishing the restoration work in Venice, John faces a life-threatening incident when the scaffold he stands on collapses. He perceives this accident as a manifestation of the danger warned about by the sisters.
Mysterious Funeral Procession
John is shocked to see Laura aboard a boat in a funeral procession while believing she is in England. Accompanied by the psychic sisters, this sight raises concerns about Laura's mental state amidst a lurking threat.
Police Involvement
Worried for Laura, John reports her disturbing behavior to the police, which leads them to suspect him instead. As the investigation unfolds, John becomes desperate to find her and the sisters.
Search for Laura
In a frantic attempt to locate Laura and the sisters, John scours the city of Venice. During his search, he once again spots the mysterious figure in the red coat, heightening his fear.
Confirmation about Laura
John contacts his son's school to confirm his condition only to learn that Laura is indeed there in England. Confused and alarmed, he rushes back to the police station to inform them.
Heather's Trance
Upon returning with Heather after questioning, John witnesses her unexpectedly slipping into a trance. Sensing immediate danger, Heather pleads for Wendy to follow John, who has already left.
Chasing the Figure
As John ventures out once more, he is drawn to chase the enigmatic figure in red. He corners the figure in an abandoned palazzo, believing it to be a child, only to face a harrowing twist.
John's Fatal Realization
To John's shock, the figure turns out to be a deformed female dwarf who attacks him with a meat cleaver. In his final moments, John realizes that his unsettling visions were premonitions of his own murder and funeral.
Characters
John Baxter (Donald Sutherland)
John is a father, grieving the loss of his daughter while also attempting to fulfill a professional obligation. His skepticism contrasts with his wife's belief in the supernatural, showcasing his struggle between reason and the inexplicable. As the film progresses, John's resolve is tested as he confronts both danger and his emotional turmoil.
Laura Baxter (Julie Christie)
Laura is deeply affected by the loss of their daughter and seeks solace through connections with the supernatural. Her interactions with Heather and Wendy reflect her longing to communicate with Christine, showcasing her vulnerability and desperation. Laura's character embarks on a transformative journey that blurs the lines between reality and the spiritual.
Setting
Time period
The story unfolds in a contemporary setting, reflecting the societal norms and issues of the late 20th century. Themes of grief, psychic phenomena, and the unpredictability of danger are accentuated by the modern world that surrounds the characters.
Location
Venice, England
The movie is set primarily in the enchanting city of Venice, known for its intricate canals and historical architecture. Following the tragic loss of their daughter, the protagonists also have roots in the English countryside, a backdrop that highlights their emotional turmoil and longing for solace.
Themes
🌪️
Grief
Grief shapes the emotional landscape of the characters, particularly John and Laura, as they navigate the aftermath of their daughter's tragic death. Their journey reflects the complexities of mourning and the desperate search for connection with the deceased. The theme is explored through intimate moments as well as haunting visions that challenge their reality.
🔮
Psychic Phenomena
The involvement of psychic abilities introduces an eerie layer to the narrative. Laura's encounters with Heather and the séance seek to unveil truths about their lost daughter. This theme probes into belief and skepticism, linking the emotional experiences of loss with the supernatural.
🚨
Danger
The looming threat of danger amplifies the tension throughout the film. John's realization of foreboding warnings, coupled with the presence of a serial killer, drives the narrative toward a chilling climax. This theme resonates with the fragility of safety in unfamiliar environments, capturing the vulnerability of the characters.
Featured on this page
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Check out our other apps:
Actors
Companies
Latest Movies
© 2024 What's After the Movie?. All rights reserved.