Watch Safe

Safe, a psychological thriller film from 1995, stars Julianne Moore as Carol White, a housewife living a seemingly perfect life in an affluent suburb of Los Angeles in the 1980s. Carol is married to Greg (Xander Berkeley), a wealthy businessman, and has a young son. However, despite having everything she could ever want, Carol feels increasingly dissatisfied and unfulfilled with her life.

This feeling is exacerbated when Carol begins to experience strange and unexplained symptoms such as rashes, breathing difficulties, and a heightened sensitivity to chemicals and other environmental triggers. The medical community is unable to diagnose or treat her symptoms, leading Carol to believe that her illness is all in her head.

As Carol's condition worsens, she becomes increasingly isolated from her family and friends, who struggle to understand the extent of her suffering. Desperate for answers, Carol turns to a New Age group led by Peter Dunning (Peter Friedman), who believes that her symptoms may be caused by a spiritual ailment rather than a physical one.

As Carol delves deeper into the group's teachings and practices, her physical and mental health spiral out of control. She becomes obsessed with cleanliness and control, and her relationships with her husband, son, and even herself begin to crumble.

Throughout the film, director Todd Haynes uses his signature visual style to create a haunting and oppressive atmosphere that mirrors Carol's deteriorating mental state. The camera frequently lingers on the sterile, colorless interiors of Carol's suburban home, emphasizing the suffocating nature of her existence.

Moore gives a nuanced and deeply affecting performance as Carol, portraying her character's inner turmoil and isolation with heartbreaking authenticity. The supporting cast, including Berkeley as Carol's distant husband and Dean Norris as her sympathetic doctor, also delivers strong performances.

Safe is a haunting exploration of the corrosive effects of modernity and conformity on the human psyche. Haynes' masterful direction and Moore's powerful performance create a film that is both profoundly disturbing and deeply moving.

Safe is a 1995 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 59 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 76.