Tagline: All’s fair when love war.
Sharon Charles (Beyoncé Knowles) is a smart young woman with a charmed life. She has a handsome husband, Derek; a sweet young son; and they’ve just moved into their dream home thanks to Derek’s promotion. Then one day Derek meets a new temp at the office: Lisa (Ali Larter).
Beautiful, poised, and perpetually cheerful, Lisa is the perfect co-worker. Soon Derek finds her crying at work over a boyfriend and tries to comfort her. Then Lisa comes on to him at the company Christmas party, and he firmly tells her she’s got the wrong idea. The next day she tries again. Lisa won’t take no for an answer, and begins to come more and more unhinged with each and every refusal. Soon, Derek becomes terrified by how far it appears Lisa’s obsession will go.
At first Derek says nothing about Lisa to his wife, thinking he has things under control. He resolves to fire her but finds she’s already quit, and he believes Lisa is gone from his life. But a few weeks later, Derek receives a series of eerie, sexual e-mails, all from the same sender: “Tempgirl.” Then Lisa shows up at his office retreat. Sharon is pulled into the triangle as Lisa builds a case against Derek in an effort to drive a wedge.
As events unfold, Sharon sees that Lisa’s infatuation with her husband is actually the delusion-fueled quest of a woman who will stop at nothing to obtain the object of her obsession. Lisa is hell bent on tearing Sharon’s family apart to claim what she’s sure is rightfully hers. When Sharon comes home one day to find that Lisa has been inside her home, she’s had enough…and takes matters into her own hands. What started as an office flirtation culminates in a shocking, no-holds-barred, violent and bloody standoff between two women who both feel they have everything to lose – and they’re willing to die to keep from losing it.
Obsessed is a 2009 American thriller film directed by Steve Shill. The Rainforest Films production stars Idris Elba, Beyoncé, and Ali Larter. Obsessed tells the story of Lisa, an office temp played by Larter, who develops romantic feelings for her boss, Derek Charles (Elba), and repeatedly attempts to seduce him. Derek’s wife, Sharon (Beyoncé), learns of Lisa’s obsessive behavior, and suspects an affair.
Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper conceived the basic idea of Obsessed, which was then developed by writer David Loughery, allocated a production budget of $20 million, and filmed in the summer of 2008. Obsessed was inspired by the work of directors Roman Polanski and Alfred Hitchcock, and its score was written by James Dooley. Lisa and Sharon were dressed in contrasting styles to reinforce their conflicting characters. Obsessed opened in US theaters on April 24, 2009, and UK theaters on May 29, 2009, and was distributed by ScreenGems.
Looking Obsessed
When designing the set for Obsessed, the filmmakers challenged themselves to create a tense, eerie atmosphere within a domestic setting. “This is a psychodrama and a thriller, so I thought, ‘We want a touch of Roman Polanski about this,’” says Shill. “It’s got that uneasy edge to it.” On board as director of photography was Ken Seng, whose work Shill admired in his previous Screen Gems production Quarantine. “It didn’t look like typical Hollywood; it didn’t look cosmetic,” says Shill of Seng’s work. “It looked real, and that was something that we were all very interested in.”
Seng hoped to create an updated Hitchcock feel, using a wide variety of shooting styles. “We have some really gritty scenes inside the hospital and in the kitchen, hand-held with very long lenses and people going slightly in and out of focus. I think that really breathes a lot of energy and life into those scenes,” says the DP. “Then we have a lot of those Hitchcock-style dolly moves in the office and in the house, where things are slowed down and it’s a very subjective kind of camera.”
Another star of Obsessed was the Charles’ house, where most of the drama would take place as well as the final action sequence. The house has special significance in the film, Gainor explains, because it represents a family’s hopes and dreams, which are literally shattered by the end of the film. The filmmakers set out to find a dream home for the fictional family, and decided on a craftsman house in Alta Dena for all exteriors, built in 1923. The size of the house helped to set the film’s uneasy atmosphere. “It’s a little too big for just Sharon and the baby because Derek is out at work all the time,” says Shill. “It’s a little awkward and a little bit eerie.”
For the action-intense interior scenes, the studio decided to build a set versus filming inside an actual house. “We asked someone if we could go in their house and smash through the attic and destroy the living room ceilings and so forth, and they said no,” says Gainor. “So we set out to construct the perfect environment.” The filmmakers believed a controlled environment would be the best place for the actors to focus on their highly emotional performances. A sound stage also offered safety advantages, and was beneficial because the filmmakers did not have to worry about the time of day.
Creating the Charles’ house interior was an eco-conscious process, with a touch of old Hollywood. The set was constructed on the Sony lot on two 15,500 square foot sound stages. The house was a reincarnation of a craftsman house built for Screen Gems’ The Stepfather, which had previously been an apartment complex for the film Quarantine. Of recycling sets, Gainor says, “There’s so much waste that goes into films, and when you take a set and reuse it you’re being more green. It’s cool to preserve the environment as best you can.”
The Charles’ home had to be luxurious and cozy at the same time. “Warm and fuzzy is kind of what Shill asked for,” says production designer Gary Steele.
A key space in the Charles’ house set was the living room, built with a 25-foot ceiling to house a chandelier, which would become the centerpiece for the film’s climax. “It’s all about emotion until somebody is dangling from a chandelier two stories up,” Gainor says of the deadly final scene. The chandelier had to be custom made after the crew was unable to find one that was big enough.
To dress Obsessed’s sexy cast, the filmmakers brought in fashion-savvy costume designer Maya Lieberman. “Maya was great,” says Knowles, “She is such a fashionista.” Lieberman’s job was to create a distinctive look for each character that conveyed his or her unique personality. The result was a wardrobe of designer clothes.
As a beautiful young wife and mother, Obsessed’s heroine Sharon had a style all her own. “We talked about a very natural look,” says Lieberman. “Beyoncé plays a housewife, and it was important that the clothes felt real, but not to let go of her sexy, glamorous side.” Sharon’s look would be comfortable and sophisticated, while channeling the natural glamour of Beyoncé herself.
“Sharon’s look is a little more similar to who I am in my real life, when I’m not performing or on the red carpet,” says Knowles. “I still had to make sure I had my Louis Vuittons so she had a little flair, but it was the easiest wardrobe I’ve ever worn – very carefree and comfortable.” Lieberman wanted Sharon’s wardrobe to be high-end, but to consist of believable choices for a young mother. “The Charles are well to-do, so designer stuff was okay, but we didn’t want it to go over the top.”
One of Sharon’s signature pieces was a curve-hugging Zac Posen skirt paired with a sumptuous cashmere sweater, which she wears when she visits Derek at the office. Topping off the look was an Yves Saint Laurent belt and brown suede Jimmy Choo boots. Another recurring piece was a navy and black Diane von Furstenberg dress, worn with Valentino shoes along with the YSL belt. Sharon’s stunning New Year’s Eve look was a simple, elegant cocktail dress by Zac Posen, again in navy and black.
Knowles was the perfect model for the sexy designer ensembles. “She’s a supreme hourglass,” says Lieberman, “She’s like Marilyn Monroe.”
For her final look during the fight scene, Knowles wanted something that would make her feel tough and sexy. She and Lieberman decided on high-waisted Stella McCartney jeans, tucked into suede Missoni boots. “We thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if she had some boots on to do some fighting?’” says the designer. “They wrap all the way up and tie in back – just super hot!”
Lieberman and the filmmakers wanted Sharon and Lisa’s styles to contrast as much as their personalities. “With Ali, our discussion started with wanting really clean, classic and sharp lines, whereas Beyoncé’s character is more soft, more textural cashmeres and knits.”
Lisa’s color palette, consisting of rich jewel tones, contrasted with Sharon’s earthy colors. Lieberman suggested to the production designers that the office be kept monochromatic so Lisa would stand out when she entered. “When Ali walks in, she’s this jewel against a grey palette,” says the designer. Sexy, fitted Gucci pencil skirts paired with chic blouses were wardrobe staples for Lisa. Her signature nighttime look was a black Dolce & Gabbana cocktail dress, worn with a red Burberry trench – a simple classic, but in a bright color to stand out during the Christmas party scene. Lieberman finished the outfit with pearls for an elegant Grace Kelly look.
Like Knowles, Larter says her personal style is similar to that of her character. “I’m not someone who likes fussiness,” says Larter. “I don’t like a lot of jewelry. Lisa’s style is very clean. She doesn’t draw attention to herself through her clothes, but definitely enjoys a saucy pair of heels.
But for her final look, Lisa swapped the sophisticated outfits for an old football jersey. “Ali said, wouldn’t it be great if she does the whole fight scene in something of Derek’s?” Lieberman says. “I got the idea it would be even more dramatic if it was Derek’s favorite shirt that Beyoncé wears to bed; it makes it that much more intimate.”
As a respected young businessman, Derek needed a look that was prestigious yet contemporary. “He’s kind of the peacock in the office,” says Lieberman. “Steve really liked the idea that Derek comes in looking sharper than pretty much everybody else.”
Derek’s sophisticated work attire consisted of timeless two-button suits, mostly Dolce & Gabbana or Versace, with thin lapels to update the look. “Idris wears clothes so well,” raves the designer. “For him, suits fit like a glove. A lot of the stuff we used didn’t even need much alternation.” Underneath a suit jacket, Derek wore classic shirts by Thomas Pink, with French cuffs and cufflinks to add flare.
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Obsessed (2009)
Directed by: Steve Shill
Starring: Beyonce Knowles, Ali Larter, Idris Elba, Scout Taylor-Compton, Christine Lahti, Bonnie Perlman, Nathan Myers, Matthew Humphreys, Scout Taylor-Compton, Richard Ruccolo, Bryan Ross
Screenplay by: David Loughery
Production Design by: Jon Gary Steele
Cinematography by: Ken Seng
Film Editing by: Paul Seydor
Costume Design by: Maya Lieberman
Set Decoration by: Dena Roth
Art Direction by: Chris Cornwell
Music by: Jim Dooley
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual material including some suggestive dialogue, some violence and thematic content.
Distributed by: Sony ScreenGems
Release Date: April 24, 2009
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