6 One-Night-Stand Thrillers That Go Beyond Fatal Attraction

      Casey Chong presents a selection of one-night stand thrillers for your viewing list...

      There's a unique aspect to thrillers that incorporate one-night stand scenarios, a theme that various filmmakers have revisited over the years. Typically, it involves two individuals of different genders who are attracted to each other. Regardless of their relationship status, the spontaneous decision to engage in a one-night stand usually arises from mutual physical attraction. The aftermath often spirals into a nightmare, especially when one party develops an unhealthy obsession, allowing filmmakers to intertwine elements of intrigue and psychological tension with the more provocative themes. Adrian Lyne's 1987 classic, Fatal Attraction, featuring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close, exemplifies what constitutes an excellent one-night stand thriller. However, we are going beyond that staple to highlight six notable one-night stand thrillers that expand on the theme beyond Fatal Attraction...

      **Play Misty for Me (1971)**

      Sixteen years before Fatal Attraction made its impact as a defining psychological thriller about a one-night stand gone awry, Play Misty for Me served as a significant precursor, setting the stage for modern storytelling. Reflecting on this 1971 thriller, it might seem unusual that Clint Eastwood chose it as his directorial debut instead of the western genre he was known for at the time. Nevertheless, Eastwood, who also stars as Dave Garver, a radio DJ who has a fling with a captivating stranger (Jessica Walter's Evelyn Draper), successfully escapes the confines of his typical genre.

      As an actor, Eastwood even sheds his usual tough-guy image for a more vulnerable male victim, which surprisingly works to his advantage without feeling out of character. Casting Jessica Walter as an obsessively deranged stalker adds to the film's intensity, showcasing one of the most recognizable roles of her career. Walter's Evelyn Draper, whose volatile emotions swing from sweet affection to a disturbed rage, heightens the tension. Play Misty for Me also highlights Eastwood’s directorial skills, effectively balancing psychological thrills with a cautionary tale about the darker aspects of casual sex.

      **Swimfan (2002)**

      Imagine if Fatal Attraction were reimagined as a teenage psychological thriller suitable for a PG-13 audience. This is the essence of Swimfan, featuring Jesse Bradford as Ben, a high-school swimming star in a stable relationship with his girlfriend, Amy (Shiri Appleby). Enter Madison (Erika Christensen), a new transfer student who becomes fixated on Ben.

      Swimfan closely follows the narrative of Adrian Lyne's 1987 classic, complete with the consequences of a one-night stand, where Christensen's Amy mirrors Glenn Close's Alex Forrest. Like the latter, Amy is obsessively infatuated and refuses to accept rejection, even as Ben continually dismisses her advances. While the intimate scenes are toned down due to the age rating, John Polson’s skilled direction provides enough genre thrills within its concise 85-minute runtime, complemented by the young cast’s performances, particularly Christensen's unhinged portrayal of the spurned Madison.

      **Strange Darling (2023)**

      Writer-director JT Mollner adopts a non-linear narrative approach, dividing the story into six chapters that engage the audience from the very beginning. Each chapter is clearly titled to avoid confusion. The plot revolves around two characters referred to only as "the Lady" (Willa Fitzgerald) and "the Demon" (Kyle Gallner), who partake in a one-night stand. While thrillers like this often lead to chaos, Mollner elevates the familiar storyline by subverting expectations regarding the dynamics of hunter and prey.

      Strange Darling is best experienced with minimal prior knowledge, as this adds to the unpredictability as the film progresses. The film is also notable for Giovanni Ribisi's textured 35mm cinematography, which contributes a unique visual style. Mollner deserves recognition for eliciting strong performances from Fitzgerald and Gallner, while he does not shy away from unsettling violence and graphic moments.

      **Berlin Syndrome (2017)**

      Long before Cate Shortland took on the monumental task of directing Black Widow, she explored the dark side of a one-night stand in Berlin Syndrome. The film follows Clare (Teresa Palmer), an Australian traveler in Berlin who meets a local, Andi (Max Riemelt). Their initial connection quickly leads to intimacy, but what starts as a pleasant evening at Andi’s apartment rapidly devolves into a nightmare for Clare.

      However, this nightmare is not immediately evident, as Shortland, adapting Shaun Grant's screenplay from Melanie Joosten’s 2012 novel, carefully builds tension through a slow-burning sense of dread. By the time Clare realizes she's trapped in Andi’s apartment with no escape, it’s too late. From that point, Berlin Syndrome transitions into a psychological chamber drama as Clare desperately seeks to escape the clutches of the sociopathic Andi. Credit goes to Shortland for crafting unsettling tension