Watch Confinement: A Modern Re-telling of"The Yellow Wallpaper"
- 2009
- 25 min
Confinement is a modern retelling of the classic short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The film features Colleen Lovett as Jane, a newlywed who moves into a secluded cabin in the woods with her husband John (played by Tony Pallone). John believes that Jane is suffering from a nervous condition and prescribes her a series of treatments, including long periods of rest and isolation. Jane is initially hesitant to embrace these treatments, but gradually becomes more and more confined to her bedroom, which has been outfitted with wall-to-wall yellow wallpaper.
As the days go by, Jane becomes increasingly fixated on the wallpaper, which seems to be moving and changing before her eyes. She begins to see patterns and shapes in the design, and imagines that there is a woman trapped behind the paper, desperately trying to escape.
Over time, Jane's mental state deteriorates as she becomes more and more convinced that the wallpaper is alive and trying to communicate with her. She begins to peel and tear at the wallpaper, hoping to release the woman behind it.
As the story unfolds, we see the toll that John's misguided attempts at treatment have taken on Jane's mental health. Despite her pleas for release, he continues to confine her to the small, yellow-walled room, oblivious to the harm he is causing.
Confinement is a darkly atmospheric and unsettling film, with strong performances from its two leads. Lovett brings a haunting intensity to her portrayal of a woman slowly descending into madness, while Pallone is convincing as the well-intentioned but ultimately harmful husband.
The film's use of the yellow wallpaper as a central motif is both visually striking and thematically resonant, highlighting the ways in which mental illness can be both invisible and suffocating. Director Claire Redfield has crafted a modern retelling that is faithful to the spirit of the original story while also offering a fresh perspective on its themes.
Overall, Confinement is a compelling and thought-provoking film that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled. It's a must-see for fans of psychological horror and anyone who appreciates a good, creepy tale.