Sanctuary is a 2022 American psychological thriller directed by Zachary Wigon from a screenplay by Micah Bloomberg. It stars Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott as a High-Class Call Girl and dominatrix and her client who have an emotionally intense final session as he transitions to the life of CEO of a large company.
This film provides examples of:
- Bittersweet Ending: More sweet than bitter. Rebecca has deleted the video of their sessions, and Hal gets the idea that Rebecca should become CEO of his dad's company, and that he can offer her support. Rebecca alleges that he has no way to even say that to his mother. He responds that he will say that they are in love and he is giving her his company. The two of them kiss.
- Blackmail: Rebecca tells Hal she's recorded all of their sessions together and threatens to leak the video to the public if he does not meet her demands.
- Bottle Episode: The film takes place entirely over one night within one hotel room (and the floor directly outside it) with only two actors.
- Convenient Photograph: The picture that just so happens to be on the wall by the elevator, which reveals that Hal's family runs the hotel business.
- Diagonal Billing: Margaret Qualley (left) and Christopher Abbott (right and higher) share the first credit.
- Finding the Bug: Subverted. When Rebecca reveals she's been recording their sessions together, Hal trashes the apartment in a rage looking for the camera as Rebecca dances to disco. He gives up before he finds it.
- Informed Judaism: Rebecca claims Hal specifically requested she be Ashkenazi Jewish and ordered a DNA test to confirm.note
- Innocently Insensitive: Rebecca sees Hal giving her a watch, even one worth thousands of dollars, as a parting gift as offensive, given he earns so much more than that.
- Lady in a Power Suit: Rebecca deliberately dresses in a power suit, in part because this is what Hal wants but also to reflect her power over him.
- Letting Her Hair Down: Rebecca taking her long black hair out from under the severe blonde bob is one of the first turning points.
- My Beloved Smother: Hal's mother is extremely possessive, to the point of Incest Subtext between them.
- Powerful People Are Subs: Hal is a high-powered CEO in training, and a submissive in his sessions with Rebecca. He gets off on being told how worthless he is.
- Power Hair: Rebecca wears a blonde bob wig to reflect the role she's playing as a High-Powered Career Woman. In reality, she has Margaret Qualley's natural Quirky Curls.
- Shaking Her Hair Loose: Rebecca's longer hair is naturally pinned up under the wig.
- Title Drop: "Sanctuary" is the safe word.
- Wham Shot: The photograph on the wall that reveals Hal's family owns the hotels.
