Arthouse thriller Berlin Syndrome lands on Showmax

Update: Berlin Syndrome has unfortunately expired. Browse the full Showmax movie catalogue for similar titles here.

• Premiered at Sundance 2017 to four-star reviews
• “Unbearably tense… left me in a cold sweat.” Time Out
• From Cate Shortland, recently signed by Marvel to direct Black Widow with Scarlett Johansson
• Starring Teresa Palmer, now the lead in 2018 hit series A Discovery of Witches

Berlin Syndrome is now streaming first and only on Showmax, continuing the platform’s run of exclusive, critically acclaimed arthouse hit films like Raw and A Ghost Story, two of critic aggregator Rotten Tomatoes’ highest rated films of 2017.

While holidaying in Berlin, Australian photographer Clare (Teresa Palmer from I Am Number Four and Warm Bodies) meets Andi (Max Riemelt from Sense8), a charismatic local. There is an instant attraction and a night of passion ensues. Clare wakes the next morning to discover Andi has left for work and locked her in his apartment. An easy mistake to make, of course, if it is a mistake…

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Berlin Syndrome premiered at Sundance last year, earning four-star reviews in the likes of The Guardian, Empire and Time Out. The Guardian wrote, “The film creates the kind of tension that sucks the very air from the cinema”; Empire called it “A corker… a complex battle of wills, full of compelling character dynamics, psychological nuance, great filmmaking and high-voltage tension”; and Time Out praised it as “unbearably tense… the final showdown left me in a cold sweat.”

Adapted from Melanie Joosten’s award-winning debut novel, Berlin Syndrome was nominated for five 2018 Film Critics Circle of Australia awards, including Best Film, winning Best Original Music for Bryony Marks.

As Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus says, “Berlin Syndrome offers thriller fans an uncommonly well-written descent into dangerous obsession, enlivened by taut direction and a committed performance from Teresa Palmer.”

Berlin Syndrome is the third feature from director Cate Shortland, following on from Somersault, which screened in Un Certain Regard at Cannes, and Lore, which won the Audience Award at Locarno and Best Narrative Feature at Abu Dhabi and was Australia’s Oscar entry. As Empire says, “Berlin Syndrome confirms Cate Shortland as a distinctive, cherishable talent in her most accessible movie to date.” So much so that Marvel has since hired her to direct Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johansson.

Similarly, lead actress Teresa Palmer graduated from Berlin Syndrome to the lead role in A Discovery of Witches, based on Deborah Harkness’ bestselling fantasy novels and currently at #22 on IMDB’s Most Popular TV Shows list. It’s been such a hit that Sky One have already ordered two more seasons.

Watch Berlin Syndrome first and only on Showmax. But be warned: it may ruin carefree one-night-stands for you forever…

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