"Chloe" is listed under the drama, mystery and thriller genres. It starts as a psychological drama. Chloe (Amanda Seyfried) is a young woman whose path happens to cross that of Catherine Stewart (Julianne Moore). Later, Catherine--who is a gynecologist--observes Chloe on the street from her office window and realizes that Chloe is a prostitute.
The young woman is beautiful and she seems to possess some control over her life, which looks passionate and glamorous from afar. Catherine's life is rather sterile. She lives in a glass and metal house with a son who prefers to ignore her and a husband, David (Liam Neeson), who always has excuses to avoid intimacy and to be away from home.
Catherine suspects her husband of infidelity. When she watched Chloe on the street, she wondered if her husband could resist the young woman's charms. Chloe and Catherine meet again, in a bar. Catherine--who by now is obsessed with the conviction that her husband is disloyal--asks if she can purchase Chloe's services in an experiment to see if David will succumb to temptation. And thus the trap is set.
It was to be a one-time lure, but Catherine wants irrefutable proof and hires Chloe again. Eventually, Catherine gets what she is looking for. Or does she want something more from the mysterious siren Chloe?
Catherine's girlfriends think she is having an affair. The covert nature of the relationships between the three characters evolves into a dance of intrigue. The film now becomes a mystery. Chloe injects herself into every aspect of the couple's lives. What is her intention?
I don't think the story ever becomes a thriller, but the psychological drama plays out till the film's final moments.
The film is well made and well acted. Amanda Seyfried uses the ill-timed laugh and the inappropriate comment to keep the viewer off-balance. Portions of the film seem Hitchcockian. We are never sure where the story will lead and there are twists that surprise.
The young woman is beautiful and she seems to possess some control over her life, which looks passionate and glamorous from afar. Catherine's life is rather sterile. She lives in a glass and metal house with a son who prefers to ignore her and a husband, David (Liam Neeson), who always has excuses to avoid intimacy and to be away from home.
Catherine suspects her husband of infidelity. When she watched Chloe on the street, she wondered if her husband could resist the young woman's charms. Chloe and Catherine meet again, in a bar. Catherine--who by now is obsessed with the conviction that her husband is disloyal--asks if she can purchase Chloe's services in an experiment to see if David will succumb to temptation. And thus the trap is set.
It was to be a one-time lure, but Catherine wants irrefutable proof and hires Chloe again. Eventually, Catherine gets what she is looking for. Or does she want something more from the mysterious siren Chloe?
Catherine's girlfriends think she is having an affair. The covert nature of the relationships between the three characters evolves into a dance of intrigue. The film now becomes a mystery. Chloe injects herself into every aspect of the couple's lives. What is her intention?
I don't think the story ever becomes a thriller, but the psychological drama plays out till the film's final moments.
The film is well made and well acted. Amanda Seyfried uses the ill-timed laugh and the inappropriate comment to keep the viewer off-balance. Portions of the film seem Hitchcockian. We are never sure where the story will lead and there are twists that surprise.