Movies about voyeurism - Mental Health Related Films

Human lives and behaviour are far more nuanced and emotive than any psychiatric diagnostic system or symptom checklist can ever portray.

Most people recognise aspects of themselves in at least a few psychiatric diagnostic categories. The difference between normal and disorder is not straight forward and often has more to do with degree rather than kind, i.e. does it cause big problems?

While movies are not perfect depictions of reality, they often present themes in relatable, enriching, usefully challenging, and thought-provoking ways.

We invite you to explore mental health through movies that raise awareness, open dialogue, present complexity, entertain, and/or normalise experiences.

Click to see the Ultimate List of Mental Health Movies index

What is Voyeurism?

Voyeurism is the act of taking sexual pleasure in watching another unsuspecting person. The voyeur is not after physical sexual contact, rather it is the act of peeping that is pleasurable. Voyeurism is common, and many people find that they can enjoy this element of sexual life through reading erotic, or even by finding a consenting partner.

What is Voyeuristic Disorder?

Voyeurism becomes a voyeuristic disorder when act begins to take harmful forms, e.g. in the person struggles to control the urge to seek out and peep on unsuspecting and non-consenting others.

In psychiatry, the voyeuristic disorder is defined in the DSM-5 (diagnostic manual) as follows…

DSM-V Diagnostic Criteria of voyeuristic disorder 302.82 (F65.3)

A. Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent and intense sexual arousal from observing an unsuspecting person who is naked, in the process of disrobing, or engaging in sexual activity, as manifested by fantasies, urges, or behaviours.

B. The individual has acted on these sexual urges with a nonconsenting person, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

C. The individual experiencing the arousal and/or acting on the urges is at least 18 years of age.

Specify if:

In a controlled environment: This specifier is primarily applicable to individuals living in institutional or other settings where opportunities to engage in voyeuristic behavior are restricted.

In full remission: The individual lias not acted on the urges with a nonconsenting person, and there has been no distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning, for at least 5 years while in an uncontrolled environment.

Movies about Voyeurism

If we missed an essential film about voyeurism, please let us know. We would love to include it.

Note: Movies may trigger painful memories and emotions. Please use your judgement and ensure support is available if need be.

Movie Title: The Voyeurs - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2021

Rated: 6.0

Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Justice Smith, Ben Hardy

Storyline: A couple who becomes obsessed with the secretive lives of their neighbors, delving into a dangerous world of voyeurism that unravels their own desires and tests the boundaries of their relationships.

Movie Title: 14 Cameras - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2018

Rated: 4.6

Cast: Zach Dulin, Kodi Lane, Neville Archambault

Storyline: A family's idyllic vacation turns into a nightmare when they discover that their rental house is equipped with hidden cameras, exposing them to the sinister voyeurism of a deranged landlord.

Movie Title: In the House - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2012

Rated: 7.4

Cast: Fabrice Luchini, Vincent Schmitt, Ernst Umhauer

Storyline: A high school literature teacher becomes increasingly obsessed with his student's captivating and voyeuristic storytelling, blurring the lines between reality and fiction as he delves deeper into their lives.

Movie Title: Watcher - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2022

Rated: 6.3

Cast: Maika Monroe, Karl Glusman, Burn Gorman

Storyline: A couple moves into their dream home, only to discover they are being watched by a mysterious voyeur who becomes increasingly intrusive and threatens to unravel their lives.

Movie Title: Hardkor Disko

Release: 2014

Rated: 5.6

Cast: Marcin Kowalczyk, Jasmina Polak, Agnieszka Wosinska

Storyline: A lonely and disillusioned man finds solace and escape from his mundane life by indulging in voyeuristic activities, ultimately leading to unexpected consequences.

Movie Title: Sliver - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1993

Rated: 5.1

Cast: Sharon Stone, William Baldwin, Tom Berenger

Storyline: A young woman moves into an upscale apartment building where she discovers a dark secret involving voyeurism and becomes entangled in a dangerous game of obsession and manipulation.

Movie Title: The Resident - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2011

Rated: 5.3

Cast: Hilary Swank, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lee Pace

Storyline: A young woman becomes the victim of voyeurism as she discovers that her landlord has been secretly spying on her through hidden cameras in her apartment, leading her to unravel a terrifying web of invasion and manipulation.

Movie Title: Monogamy - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2010

Rated: 5.0

Cast: Chris Messina, Rashida Jones, Meital Dohan

Storyline: A wedding photographer's fascination with voyeurism leads him down a dangerous path as he becomes obsessed with a mysterious client and begins crossing boundaries between his professional life and personal desires.

Movie Title: American Beauty - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1999

Rated: 8.3

Cast: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch

Storyline: A middle-aged man who's unhappy with his life becomes infatuated with his daughter's best friend. In this film, Ricky Fitts shows his sense of voyeurism by filming the middle-aged man's daughter through his window.

Movie Title: Sleep Tight (Spanish) - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2011

Rated: 7.2

Cast: Luis Tosar, Marta Elura, Alberto San Juan, Petra Martinez

Storyline: A psychological thriller film about a concierge of an apartment building who is unhappy with his life and satisfies his voyeuristic urges by stalking a girl named Clara.

Movie Title: One Hour Photo - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2002

Rated: 6.8

Cast: Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan, Dylan Smith

Storyline: A mentally unstable photo developer becomes obsessed with a family and satisfies his voyeurism by making doubled copies of a family's photograph. His behaviour becomes more disturbing once he discovers the secret of a family member.

Movie Title: Disturbia - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2007

Rated: 6.6

Cast: Shia LaBeouf, David Morse, Carrie-Anne Moss

Storyline: Voyeurism becomes a behaviour of a troubled high school student when he is placed under house arrest.

Movie Title: Alone With Her - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2006

Rated: 6.1

Cast: Ana Claudia Talancon, Colin Hanks, Jordan Spiro, Jonathan Trent

Storyline: A suspense film about a tech-savvy man who becomes obsessed with a woman and satisfies his voyeurism by using a hidden camera to spy on her.

References and Links

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

More on Voyeuristic Disorder: https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/mental-health-disorders/sexuality-and-sexual-disorders/voyeurism

What is voyeurism?: https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-voyeurism

Voyeurism according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyeurism

Acknowledgements

The above article was written under my close direction and supervision. However, much credit goes to Charlene Poliquit (my right-hand man) and Andri Eigenberger (my beloved aunt) for their huge efforts in bringing this task to life.

Vincenzo Sinisi

Photo by Dylan Nolte on Unsplash