Saagar Kote
Directed by Deborah Chow, Lifetime’s ‘Flowers in the Attic’ is a psychological thriller drama film that follows the Dollanganger siblings after the sudden death of their father leaves the family in financial ruin. With nowhere else to go, their mother, Corrine Dollanganger (Heather Graham), brings her four children to the estate of her mother, Olivia Foxworth (Ellen Burstyn). The children discover that their existence must remain a secret. Confined to an isolated section of the mansion and hidden from the outside world, Christopher (Mason Dye), Cathy (Kiernan Shipka), and their younger twin siblings endure increasingly harsh treatment under the strict supervision of their grandmother.
As time passes and their mother’s visits become less frequent, the siblings grow increasingly dependent on one another while becoming trapped within the disturbing realities of their family’s past. With physical and emotional needs confusing the trapped kids and their fates remaining uncertain, they must find a way to survive. Adapted from V. C. Andrews’ novel of the same name, the movie is a commentary on abuse and survival. These movies, similar to ‘Flowers in the Attic,’ explore the emotional complexities of characters facing psychological battles, while also being engaging and unpredictable.
12. Rebecca (2020)
Adapted from Daphne du Maurier’s novel of the same name, ‘Rebecca’ follows an unnamed young woman (Lily James) whose romance with widower Maxim de Winter (Armie Hammer) quickly leads to marriage and a new life at his grand estate on the English coast. As she arrives at her new home, the bride struggles to adjust to the expectations that come with her position. Her unease grows as she realizes that the memory of Maxim’s first wife, Rebecca, continues to dominate the estate despite her death. The situation is made even more difficult by the presence of Mrs. Danvers (Kristin Scott Thomas), the housekeeper whose devotion to Rebecca remains unwavering.
As the new bride settles into this reality, she finds herself increasingly overshadowed by a past that refuses to fade away. Ben Wheatley is at the helm of this Netflix British romantic thriller film, which focuses on the bride’s tribulations as she uncovers harrowing secrets and comes to terms with the gravity of her situation. These experiences of the bride are comparable to those of the children in ‘Flowers in the Attic,’ who also struggle to adjust to their isolated lives in a big estate where things are not what they seem.
11. The Beguiled (2017)
Crafted under the guidance of Sofia Coppola, ‘The Beguiled’ is set during the American Civil War. Based on Thomas P. Cullinan’s eponymous novel, the thriller film unfolds at Miss Martha Farnsworth’s Seminary for Young Ladies, an isolated boarding school in Virginia that remains occupied by a small group of women and girls. Their secluded existence is disrupted when a young student discovers an injured Union soldier, Corporal John McBurney (Colin Farrell), and brings him to the school. Although initially reluctant, headmistress Martha Farnsworth (Nicole Kidman) allows him to stay while he recovers.
As McBurney becomes part of daily life at the seminary, his presence begins to alter relationships there. Tensions rise as rivalries emerge among the residents, upsetting the balance that has kept the school functioning in the past. The psychological tensions between the characters, unexpected revelations, claustrophobic spaces, secrets, and the consequences of conflict are ideas that both ‘Flowers in the Attic’ and ‘The Beguiled’ explore intricately.
10. The Glass House (2001)
‘The Glass House’ revolves around siblings Ruby Baker (Leelee Sobieski) and Rhett Baker (Trevor Morgan), whose lives are upended after their wealthy parents die in a car accident. Placed under the guardianship of former family friends Terry Glass (Stellan Skarsgård) and Erin Glass (Diane Lane), the two move into their guardians’ luxurious Malibu home while their inheritance remains under the supervision of a family attorney. Although Rhett quickly embraces their new lifestyle, Ruby grows suspicious about the hosts and begins noticing troubling behavior.
With mounting concerns and people not willing to believe her, Ruby finds herself increasingly isolated as she searches for the truth about her parents’ death and the behavior of her new guardians. With Daniel Sackheim in the director’s chair, the thriller film is an unpredictable ride. Akin to the siblings in ‘Flowers in the Attic,’ the young characters in ‘The Glass House’ face unprecedented challenges at the very house they live in. The people around them become a puzzle that tests them at every turn, even as they hope to survive.
9. Hidden Jewel (2021)
Steered by the ideas of Michael Robison, Lifetime’s ‘Hidden Jewel’ is a drama film that is a part of the V.C. Andrews’ Landry Family TV movie series. Based on the eponymous book by V.C. Andrews, it centers on Ruby Landry (Raechelle Banno), who hopes to leave behind the shadows of her past and build a better life for her children. However, her efforts are tested when old secrets begin resurfacing. Ruby’s daughter, Pearl, dreams of becoming a doctor, but her future is thrown into uncertainty after one of her twin brothers suffers a devastating accident and the other falls mysteriously ill.
While Ruby returns to the bayou in search of answers connected to her family’s past, Pearl follows her mother’s trail and begins investigating the strange events herself. As mother and daughter pursue the truth, they uncover revelations that threaten their reality. Familial trauma, generational issues, secrets, hidden motives, and the consequences of trust and loyalty are the core of the narrative, much like ‘Flowers in the Attic.’ The unsettling natures of the two films and the ways in which their characters process trauma connect them on a deeper level.
8. Pearl in the Mist (2021)
‘Pearl in the Mist’ or ‘V.C. Andrews’ Pearl in the Mist’ chronicles the experiences of Ruby Landry (Raechelle Banno) as she continues searching for happiness after spending a year in her father’s wealthy household. Hoping to leave behind the difficulties of her past, Ruby looks forward to a fresh beginning when she and her twin sister, Gisselle (Karina Banno), are sent to an exclusive girls’ boarding school. Instead of finding acceptance, Ruby becomes the target of ridicule because of her bayou upbringing. Forced to endure harsh treatment, Ruby struggles to hold on to her dreams of a better future as she finds herself surrounded by manipulation and tragedy.
With David Bercovici-Artieda behind the lens, the Lifetime drama film is part of the V.C. Andrews’ Landry Family TV movie series and is based on the author’s eponymous book. Akin to ‘Flowers in the Attic,’ the movie depicts the layers of siblings’ bond through the eyes of ambitious characters who strive for survival. The movies explore the darker sides of family and loyalty, while also delving into the psychological battles of siblings.
7. Gates of Paradise (2019)
Crafted by the ideas of Gail Harvey, Lifetime’s ‘Gates of Paradise’ is a drama film that delves into the life of Annie Stonewall (Lizzie Boys). She is an aspiring artist whose life is shattered when her parents die in an accident that also leaves her paralyzed. Annie accepts an invitation from Tony Tatterton (Jason Priestley) to recover at the Farthinggale Manor in Boston. Separated from her beloved half-brother Luke Casteel (Keenan Tracey), Annie finds no comfort in her new surroundings. Under Tony’s watchful eye, she begins to feel trapped within the estate.
Determined to learn more about her family’s history, Annie investigates the mysteries surrounding Farthinggale Manor, and the past gradually begins to surface. Based on the fourth novel of V. C. Andrews’s ‘The Casteel’ series, the movie is a haunting navigation of the secrets of a complicated family through the eyes of a young and vulnerable character. This theme and the visual styles of the narrative connect it to the world and characters of ‘Flowers in the Attic.’
6. Dogtooth (2009)
‘Dogtooth’ or ‘Kynodontas’ focuses on a family living almost in total isolation from the outside world. Within the boundaries of a secluded estate, a father (Christos Stergioglou) and mother (Michele Valley) raise their two daughters (Angeliki Papoulia and Mary Tsoni) and a son (Christos Passalis), under a strict system of control. Having spent their entire lives confined to the family property, the siblings depend on their parents for their understanding of the world. Through rigid rules and lies, the household maintains a carefully constructed reality that keeps the children obedient and disconnected from reality.
This changes when an outsider named Christina (Anna Kalaitzidou) enters their lives. Her presence introduces new influences and temptations, threatening the control that has defined the family for years. The creative ideas of renowned director Yorgos Lanthimos give shape to the bold and original Greek psychological drama film. The element of family, trauma, psychological manipulation, secrets, domineering adults, the fates of kids, the consequences of isolation, and the overall visuals of the film connect it to the world and characters of ‘Flowers in the Attic.’
5. Stoker (2013)
With the South Korean maestro Park Chan-wook behind the lens, ‘Stoker’ is a psychological thriller film that follows India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska), a reserved teenager whose life is transformed by the sudden death of her father, Richard, on her eighteenth birthday. Living on an isolated Connecticut estate, India struggles with grief and her distant relationship with her mother, Evie Stoker (Nicole Kidman). The family’s fragile routine is disrupted further when Charlie Stoker (Matthew Goode), Richard’s younger brother, unexpectedly arrives for the funeral. He gradually becomes a constant presence in their lives.
As India develops a complicated fascination with her uncle, a series of unsettling events deepens her suspicions about him. The film’s treatment of familial bonds, combined with its haunting visual tone and its focus on the power of secrets, makes it complementary to ‘Flowers in the Attic,’ which is also a complex tale of family and isolation. The journeys of the younger characters in the movies and the troubling experiences they encounter connect the two movies on a deeper level.
4. Crimson Peak (2015)
Set in 1880s Buffalo, New York, ‘Crimson Peak’ tells the story of Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska), an aspiring young writer. Affected by the loss of her mother, Edith experiences unsettling visions that continue to haunt her. Her life changes when she falls in love with English entrepreneur Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston). Despite the objections of her father, Carter Cushing (Jim Beaver), Edith eventually marries Thomas. She then relocates to England with her new husband and his sister, Lucille Sharpe (Jessica Chastain), settling in their decaying, dilapidated estate, Allerdale Hall. Once there, Edith finds herself surrounded by disturbing and increasingly strange occurrences.
As the mansion’s unsettling atmosphere grows more oppressive, she begins searching for the truth behind the mysteries concealed within its walls. Guillermo del Toro orchestrates the puzzling story of this Gothic-themed romantic drama film. There is much in common between the experiences of the siblings in ‘Flowers in the Attic,’ and the puzzling situations that Edith encounters in ‘Crimson Peak.’ Along with this, the claustrophobic visual styles also play a significant role in both movies, adding a sense of uncertainty.
3. Dark Angel (2019)
Lifetime’s ‘Dark Angel’ is a horror thriller film based on the second book in V. C. Andrews’ ‘Casteel’ series. The Paul Shapiro directorial is the tale of Heaven Casteel (Annalise Basso). She believes she has finally found the fresh start she has always wanted after discovering her wealthy maternal grandparents. From West Virginia, Heaven moves to Farthinggale Manor in Boston to live with her grandmother, Jillian Tatterton (Kelly Rutherford), and step-grandfather, Tony Tatterton (Jason Priestley).
Although the estate appears to offer comfort, Heaven soon realizes that she is not entirely welcome. While trying to secure her place within the household, she is warned to leave her past behind and stay away from certain parts of the manor, which might be dangerous. A young character experiencing the horrors of a house that she is not familiar with, family secrets, claustrophobic visuals, and an eerie sense of uncertainty are some of the commonalities between ‘Dark Angel’ and ‘Flowers in the Attic.’
2. Heaven (2019)
Helmed by Paul Shapiro and based on the eponymous novel by V. C. Andrews, Lifetime’s ‘Heaven’ centers on Heaven Leigh Casteel (Annalise Basso). She is the ambitious eldest daughter of a struggling family living in the mountains of West Virginia. Despite her family being seen as unworthy by the community around her, Heaven dreams of building a better future for herself and her siblings. Her life is thrown into turmoil when family secrets begin coming to light, and her stepmother abandons the household. Soon afterward, her father, Luke Casteel (Chris William Martin), separates the children by sending them to different families.
Heaven is placed in the home of Kitty (Julie Benz), her father’s former lover, where she endures manipulation and hostility. As she fights to reconnect her fractured family, Heaven uncovers troubling truths about her past and the legacy surrounding the Casteel family. The horror thriller drama film, like ‘Flowers in the Attic,’ is about a family pushed to a point of no return due to secretive reasons. In both films, younger characters are forced to adjust to unfamiliar residential environments that are controlled by dubious individuals, while also learning the truths about their families in unexpected ways.
1. My Sweet Audrina (2016)
Lifetime’s ‘My Sweet Audrina’ unfolds at the secluded Winterfern estate. The mystery thriller drama film tells the story of Audrina Adare (India Eisley), a sheltered young woman whose life is overshadowed by the memory of her deceased older sister, who shared the same name. Isolated from the outside world and raised under the watchful eye of her father, Damian Adare (James Tupper), Audrina is plagued by recurring nightmares about the past. As she grows older, she begins questioning the stories she has been told about her family. With support from Arden Lowe (William Moseley), the son of the estate manager, Audrina gradually gains the confidence to seek answers. Her search for the truth is further complicated by the actions of her half-sister Vera (Tess Atkins), as mysteries begin to unravel.
Based on the eponymous novel by V. C. Andrews, the movie is brought to life by the vision of Mike Rohl. Audrina is a layered and complex young character whose experiences in the movie capture the dread and isolation that the siblings feel in ‘Flowers in the Attic.’ The films are characterized by their unpredictability and their darker interpretations of the institution of family and the destructive power it sometimes possesses. In addition to the thematic choices, the stories also feature comparable visual styles.
