A Woman Under the Influence
Film

A Woman Under the Influence (1974)

2 critics 10 lists ★ 7.8 TMDb 155 min DramaRomance

Mabel Longhetti, desperate and lonely, is married to a Los Angeles municipal construction worker, Nick. Increasingly unstable, especially in the company of others, she craves happiness, but her extremely volatile behavior convinces Nick that she poses a danger to their family and decides to commit her to an institution for six months. Alone with a trio of kids to raise on his own, he awaits her return, which holds more than a few surprises.

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The Generation GapWhat our critics say

The Craftsman
The CraftsmanGen X

John Cassavetes' raw, improvisational style brilliantly captures the unraveling of a marriage under the strain of mental illness. Gena Rowlands delivers an astonishing, heart-wrenching performance as Mabel Longhetti, a housewife struggling with societal expectations and her own fragile psyche. The film is a deeply empathetic, often uncomfortable, exploration of domesticity, love, and the profound challenges of understanding another's inner world.

from “11 Cinematic Journeys You've Likely Overlooked, But Shouldn't” →
The Lore Architect
The Lore ArchitectMillennial

John Cassavetes’ cinéma vérité style here is just brutal, exposing the raw nerves of a woman struggling with her mental health in a suffocating domestic sphere. Gena Rowlands gives a performance so utterly fearless it feels less like acting and more like a public breakdown. It's an uncomfortable, unvarnished look at marriage and societal expectations, proving that some stories are best told without a filter, leaving you profoundly unsettled and reflective.

from “7 Films That Prove Cinema Still Has Secrets” →

Featured in 10 lists

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Movies like A Woman Under the Influence

What most often shares a list with it, according to our critics.

Miracle Mile Miracle Mile 1989 The Piano Teacher The Piano Teacher 2001 Harold and Maude Harold and Maude 1971 Wake in Fright Wake in Fright 1971 Valerie and Her Week of Wonders Valerie and Her Week of Wonders 1970 Mikey and Nicky Mikey and Nicky 1976 Chop Shop Chop Shop 2008 The Man Who Wasn't There The Man Who Wasn't There 2001