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Julianne Moore, Peter Friedman, Xander Berkeley, James LeGros, Kate McGregor-Stewart ... see more see more... , Dana Anderson , John Apicella , Mary Carver , Peter Crombie , Brandon Cruz , Frank Dent , Ronnie Farer , Beth Grant , Jessica Harper , Chauncey Leopardi , Jodie Markell , Edith Meeks , Gerrielani Miyazaki , Susan Norman , Dean Norris , Jean Pflieger , Francesca Roberts , Saachiko , Allan Wasserman , James Lyons , Janel Moloney , Sarah Scott Davis , Steven Gilborn , April Grace , Lorna Scott , Cassy Friel , Brendan Dolan , Martha Velez-Johnson , Ravi Achar , Julie Burgess , Elinor O. Caplan , Joe Comando , Tricia Dong , Tim Gardner , Wendy Gayle , Eleanor Graham , Mitchell Greenhill , Wendy Haynes , Jo Wilkinson

Todd Haynes presents a revisionist take on the paranoia thriller with this story of a Southern California housewife who suddenly falls victim to an inexplicable, apparently incurable illness. Carol Wh... read more read more...ite (Julianne Moore) lives with her husband and son in suburban comfort until she collapses one day, for no apparent reason. Her condition worsens in the weeks that follow, as she suffers from coughing fits, exhaustion, and spontaneous nose bleeds, triggered by sources as disparate as car exhaust, cologne, and the sun. Failing to find any medical explanation for her maladies, her doctor refers her to a psychiatrist, who suggests that her physical ailments are psychosomatic -- a theory echoed by her callous and increasingly frustrated husband. At her wits' end, Carol withdraws to an expensive New Age retreat for sufferers of "20th century disease," where the community's guru (Peter Friedman) champions a dubious regimen of diet, climate control, introspection, and self-love. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Flixster Users

74% liked it

5,589 ratings

Critics

81% liked it

54 critics

R, 2 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: Todd Haynes

Release Date: June 23, 1995

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DVD Release Date: August 21, 2001

Stats: 364 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (364)

  • brooklynspo
    September 4, 2009
    brooklynspo
    Provoking look at how we struggle to deal with disease and mortality in our godless world.

    Relevant and frightening if perhaps a tad sluggish and studied. Director Todd Haynes does amazing things on shoestring budgets.
  • rubystevens
    August 29, 2011
    rubystevens
    i'm pretty sure this is a horror film. it's creepy as hell. director todd haynes walks a tightrope here. we never know for sure whose side he's on. it's verging on parody at some points but never quite. and the sound design is awesome. chilling from the first scene. i see ... read morea lot of comments about frustratingly slow pace and tbh it took me more than one sitting but i found it fascinating in the main
  • mjgildea
    July 20, 2008
    mjgildea
    With Safe, I'm sure there were some interesting things and comments going on but the extreme boredom I was overcome with while watching this movie killed my ability to recognize them. Julianne Moore plays a mousy, spineless and generally uninteresting wife overcome with a breakdo... read morewn of her immune system leaving her susceptible to environmental toxins such as car exhaust, pesticides, etc. Haynes' visual style is pretty interesting and I liked the fact that this was technically a period piece (a movie taking place in 1987 made in 1995) with a few quirks but if you don't know exactly what you're looking at or for, you're in for a very painful watch. Overall, just an interesting concept that never convinces us it is...
  • ceWEBrity
    July 25, 2007
    ceWEBrity
    Burningly unique and very evocative. It may be a little bit overdone in its lingering, interminably long shots of Julianne Moore wandering restlessly with no real purpose, but it kind of sums up her character's life.

    I do love Safe's sense of tact. The movie is exploding with s... read moreubtext; it allows plenty of room for interpretation. I am always really hesitant to use that phrase because when something has "room for interpretation", it almost always means that the writer/director didn't know what the fuck they were doing and willingly allowed the audiences to fill in the gaps (DAVID LYNCH COUGH COUGH). Safe instead allows its viewers to explore different facets of the problems within; it's thoughtful, interesting and complete.

    I have a serious problem with the gaudy arthouse ending, but it's just that thirty-second stretch. In terms of actual content, I do appreciate where Safe leaves off - on a very bleak note for Carol. It leaves you wanting to wish her luck because she's definitely going to need it.
  • lesleyanorton
    January 11, 2010
    lesleyanorton
    Insipid "sensitive" middle aged homemaker has expensive home, attentive husband, and docile stepchild plus maids to do all the work, leaving her free to do whatever she likes, for example buying a sofa, dropping off dry cleaning or swanning around a gym. Due to this ahem stressf... read moreul existence, she becomes allergic to chemicals and goes to an expensive new age retreat to get better. End of story.
    I can't believe I wasted two hours of my life watching this pile of self-obsessed trivial drivel, even if it did have Juliette Moore in it.
  • wbgoose13
    November 12, 2007
    wbgoose13
    Talk about a vague air of menace...
  • zeravenyoej
    April 4, 2007
    zeravenyoej
    Unique story about a woman with an environmental illness. The scene where she chokes on fumes in traffic is bizarrely gripping and claustraphobic.
  • divinetrash
    February 1, 2010
    divinetrash
    A great directing style from Todd Haynes and a very good performance by Julianne Moore help elevate the material above its frustrating slow pace.
  • toejambaseball24
    May 2, 2009
    toejambaseball24
    Somewhat interesting, but kind of lame at the same time.
  • fredcaligula
    April 16, 2012
    fredcaligula
    Brilliant movie about a human phenotype and her interaction with her environment, whether real or in her head, or both in a Schrodinger's cat sorta way. Even more meta than that, our heroine's socially odd behavior could even be a symptom of clarity and sanity in a clueless, emot... read moreionally vapid world. The kind of movie that invites intelligent projection -- or stupid projection! Hayne's best along with Far From Heaven.

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
July 21, 2010
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

This creepy art movie will stay with you. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
July 6, 2010
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

In a summer of heavyweight action movies and flyweight romantic comedies, I don't think you'll find a more provocative little number than Safe, which creeps under your skin like a rash. Full Review

Todd McCarthy
March 26, 2009
Todd McCarthy, Variety

The audaciousness that marked Todd Haynes' earlier work has been supplanted by self-important preachiness. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Brilliantly as it begins, Safe eventually succumbs to its own modern malady, as the film maker insists on a chilly ambiguity that breeds more detachment than interest. Full Review

Edward Guthmann
June 18, 2002
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

For all its flaws and vagueness, Safe is smart, challenging and provocative -- a film that gives you plenty to chew on, long after Carol's sad tale has wound down. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
February 13, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Safe, the elegantly unnerving new film by Todd Haynes, is all about uncertainty. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Haynes takes that Roy Lichtenstein world of postmodern angst and makes it tremendously affecting and eerily compassionate. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

An insightful and darkly comical social commentary. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Maybe the environment is poisoned, and the group is phony, and Carol is gnawing away at her own psychic health. Now there's a fine mess. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Todd Haynes takes what might have been a deadly disease-of-the-week movie and turns it into a chic postmodern chiller. Full Review

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Safe Trivia

  • "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water..." was a tagline for what film?  Answer »
  • finish this quote: "She's safe, just like I ______. And she's set to marry Norrington, just like she ______. And you get to die for her, just like you ______. So we're all men of our word, really. Except for Elizabeth, who is, in fact, a woman."  Answer »
  • In which film does it have the tagline " Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water"  Answer »
  • What movie is this quote from "Keep it secret, keep it safe"?  Answer »
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