A Mother's Love: Phaedra (1962)

Phaedra is the kind of movie you discover when you have a mentally ill obsession with an actor and are tearing thru their horrific filmography, going places a mentally-sound and gainfully-employed version of you wouldn't go with a gun.

My obsession is with Anthony Perkins - I love him, I don't know why. He looks like if a coat rack was turned into a human being by an evil witch. I just love him all of the time and watch anything I can find him in. My criminal, everlasting, highly concerning love for him led me to Phaedra.

This isn't like some horribly incomprehensible, obscure film or anything, but it is kind of random and giving out-of-print vibes lol. The only reason I'm stumbling upon something like this is because I'm desperate for more Perkins, and thank god, because I really think this movie is a little gem. I don't even think it's like a generally good film - it's just fun to watch, and weird, and makes me feel uncomfortable and unsafe, and that's really all you can ask for in a movie. 

Anyway, here are a bunch of low-quality screencaps I took while watching Phaedra completely legally :)

The first shot of Big Phay and she immediately looks like a succubus demoness who claws your eyeballs out during the height of climax. Great way to look and great way to immediately let us know some demented psychosexual shit is shortly in store for us.

At the end of the day this movie is about the evils of commerce, boats, and in general Greek "people".

I loved how Phaedra looked on the boat here, throwing grapes into the water for her little sister. She looks so fresh and clean and evil, idk

I think this is the first time Alex is ever seeing his stepmommy. I think, don't quote me on that, but they made it seem as if Phaedra and Alex's dad got married while Alex was off with his mother in England somewhere, and the two never met. I love how kind of evil he looks. Kind of bratty rich kid evil, but also something else there. A special kind of evil. When a gay boy is immediately sexually obsessed at first sight with his stepmother. Dark forces are brewing here.

Phaedra looks so cunt here, but also it's crazy how they [she and Alex] "fall" for each other right away. Like, this is lunacy, no? Why are you falling in love with your stepson at first sight? Maybe it's a bored rich people thing. But also I think there's something to the fact that they have never met and it's not like Phaedra raised Alex or anything, so they don't really have that familial connection/bond, plus I think in the movie they are only ten years apart in age but, STILL. And I mean, it's right away with them. They barely speak before the sexual tension is on and poppin'. I guess you can't really control these things, I suppose. Anyway, I think the makers of this movie should be arrested :)

This is giving freshly-divorced alcoholic mother taking her son out for a nice day at the park so they can spend some quality time together before she ships him back off to boarding school.

Me talkin' about Anthony Perkins

This is so evil hag mother and her gay son frolicking about the park coded

There's like a five-minute-long sequence (I'm potentially exaggerating, but let's just say I'm not) of Alex molesting a car? Like, genuinely sexually caressing a car as if he wants to fuck it? I guess that's just the Greek in him. Or maybe the English? Perhaps both.

Phay laughing hard as hell at Alex creepily seducing that car. Girl, it's not that funny. Thirsting after dick from your gay stepson less than half an hour after meeting him is CRAZY. Close your mouth and close your legs to gay stepsons who are more sexually interested in cars than they would ever be in any woman (unless the woman is their mommy)

No, but why is Alex twerking on this car? No, I'm not exaggerating - he IS molesting this car???

Why did Phaedra and Alex go to a romantic restaurant? Y'all met an hour ago and are literally stepmommy and stepson???

Please??? I like their energy here, tho. They look on the same level in this scene, and pretty much only this scene lol. They look like a legit couple. But let us not forget the truth: Phaedra is an old married hag, and Alex is a young, gay, car-fucking rat. Also, they are related. Not, like, biologically, but still, like, on-the-record related as family, SO.

Wait, but can we address the demonic vibes of this restaurant? Why is it giving members-only clubhouse where they hold illuminati orgies vibes? I guess it's fitting.

What I love is that Alex is the dom in their dynamic. Despite him being a floppish gay twink, he holds the power. Or maybe I read it wrong, because at the end of the day, his life is destroyed over this relationship, so maybe they're both the bottoms, but honestly I felt like Alex set the tone of the relationship by his actions and "convictions" more so than Phaedra, but it's definitely debatable.

Bored, rich, spiritually-maladjusted housewife proposing to her sinister gay stepson. This dynamic should be more prevalent in movies. This should be like a whole genre. Maybe it is and I'm just not moving in the right spaces. Ch, what else is new!

Ok, but the way he's looking at her??? Mind you, they just met and are related.

Again: just met, barely know one another, but one thing they *both know*, FOR A FACT, is that they are RELATED.

Alex kinda giving Norman Bates from the back of the head, leering at his mommy getting her freak on with the HUSBAND SHE IS MARRIED TO, who is ALSO HIS FATHER.

I like this little moment of Alex leaning over to see what his father was doing to Phaedra. Mostly, I thought he was just jealous and irritated and kind of panicking but also a small part of me suspects Alex might've been sexually intrigued. There's just something about the dynamic between him and his father. The movie doesn't really get into it, but there was some tension between him and his dad and I thought there might've been more to Alex seducing Phaedra than just a genuine sexual/romantic interest on his end. Dunno, could just be me and my sick and twisted mind making up shit that was not present there at all whatsoever lol. Wouldn't be the first time, and it DAMN SURE won't be the last!

Ok, Phaedra and her man kind of look goodt together. Age-appropriate and, ya know, not-related. Actually...let me not do too much. Didn't Thanos literally used to plow Phaedra's mother? Imagine taking dick that used to explore your mother's secret cavities. Sick and twisted. Phaedra not new to dis she true to dis.

Alex accepting a gentle kiss from papa

No, but like *gestures homophobically*

Please why is he the woman??

But this scene is Alex and Phaedra having their first sexual encounter, if you don't count when Phaedra watched with unbridled enthusiasm as Alex humped that car, or when they were at the bridge and Phaedra threw her diamond into the sea and then they embraced while staring deeply into each other's eyes. I count both of those, so this scene is just Alex about to lose his anal virginity for the first time to a woman (maybe)

Hello??? Y'all are mom and son - what's not clickin'???

Literally me when this movie spends even one single second not focused on Phaedra and Alex's gross and creepy relationship. Sorry, but they're the main attraction and my ship and I don't care what y'all have to say about it! Only God can judge me *is immediately struck to death by lightning*

Please! And who's surprised Alex is the bottom? Please why is he splayed out on his back like that. Stand up!! Get up son!!!

Aw the way Alex looks at his lover (his mother)

...And this is what he is staring in awe at. Girl, if you don't go back in that fitting room and take that shit off. They must be at JCPenney cuz there's no other explanation for this

Anthony Perkins' gay little butt being like the dom in this scene and demanding his mommy hurry up and take off her dress so they can bang? I really shouldn't buy it, but I do? Where's his Oscar? You all are JUST JEALOUS. No one's doing it like him. NO ONE!

Wait, I thought they were cute here. Idky. Alex look like a gay Republican pastor who murders his entire family from the profile. It's kinda workin' for me idk.

This is giving major Leave It to Beaver energy - meanwhile, they just got done having anal sex

Reality crashing down for these two dummies. I actually hate when the movie takes a turn and it gets all dark and depressing. Cuz basically they can't be together, but that doesn't work for me because I ship them, so. Like just kill anyone who'll have a problem with y'all being together and be done with it? Like, what's complicated?? Real lovers are going extinct and it's depressing me.

???

This is giving mommy tucking her son in for bed, telling him sweet dreams and don't let the bed bugs bite like??

Oop, and this where I lose my lovers. Phaedra gets a call from Thanny while Alex is in the shower and when he gets out she is acting all cold and horrid. *sighs* I still think it's Alex who sets the tone for the rest of the movie, because he's like right away screaming at her that she needs to go back to London with him (um, to your college dorm??) and then berating her when she doesn't immediately comply, calling her a whore or some such mean things. I felt like his response to reality coming back to the forefront for them was way more unhinged and violent, compared to Phaedra just being kind of stunned and going cold. I know partially it was a response to Phaedra's going cold, but if he wasn't so bratty and immature I think he would've had a different response and things wouldn't have spiraled so tragically. Like let's just both go home and we'll talk later after things settle down a bit. No need for all the intense dramatics. Tho, to be fair, pretty sure Alex tells Phay they need to talk and she turns him down, so I guess he's just frustrated. But, basically, once Phaedra leaves for Greece instead of leaving with Alex to London, she loses him. He's such a little brat, like wtf is she finna do with you in London? Sit in your dorm and watch you paint? (they never mention he lives in a dorm lmao)

Idk, it sucks. I just want my two crazy kids to be together. Also, for them to go to prison.

Me when the movie has scenes where Thanos is conducting business - get back to your wife and son having sex, don't play with me, bitch!

Why does Phaedra have a lesbian nanny who is also her slave who is also a witch? Also, where can I get one?

Anna is kind of beautiful to me in a lesbian goblin witch kind of sense. Also, why is she literally Phaedra's girlfriend and it's never addressed? Maybe it's just fine in Greece to be married to a man but spend like 90% of your time with your witch lesbian girlfriend slave? Seems like something that would be just a normal thing there, so sure, checks out. I have no more questions.

Phaedra literally recoiling with rage when her husband tries to touch her. Both Phaedra and Alex are so ridiculous off this affair. Please be normal and just fuck each other in secret - what is with all these over the top dramatics lmao like if y'all not gone be together then start faking the funk and do it QUICK!

Me when I have to make a phone call

Lmao, me anytime Phaedra speaks.

Girl, me. These unhinged rich YTs running my nerves, chile.

Ooh, I loved when Phaedra was out sunbathing and Alex appeared standing over her, blocking out the sun. Really feel like the movie is taking the position that Alex is kind of malicious and foreboding. Not sure, but his vibe once Phaedra "rejects" him is so dark and sinister, like it's lowkey giving villain idk. (Phaedra also becomes very villain-coded, tho, so I don't want to put it all on Alex, but he is so scary after Phaedra returns to Greece, and honestly, I love it. I think I might be sexually interested in whatever he's got going on. Scared.)

God, she was so happy to see her man. Doing all this "I love you" type nonsense. Pretty sure he calls her ugly and then just stalks away, cracking her face. *trying not to laugh*

There's something sexually-weird going on between Dimitri and Anna and the movie never addresses it. Let's just chalk it up to the movie being set in Greece and move on.

There's like five minutes of footage of Alex just walking up and down stairs. The filmmakers understand what we want to see.

They are so doomed and gothic. Also why is it erotic when they're both just standing there like twenty feet apart??

Kind of shipping Thanos with Phaedra's mom, whom he's already bedded, by the way. These people are ghetto and they need to be arrested. You fucked a lady and then bedded and married her daughter? Just a nasty, musty, ghetto mess.

Please, everyone can see y'all??? (Look at him so cold now and ignoring her I want to SCREAM)

Ok, Miss Phay in her villain era now (um, she always was lmao). She don't care if the world burn (ma'am, you have a child?). She looks so unhinged here. Girl, stand up. Dick from a twink can't be THAT good (or is it?)

One of my fave moments of the movie is when Phaedra walks by a room her son is in (on the way to see her stepson-man) and he says hi to her and she completely ignores him??? She's so funny but honestly it's giving child abuse and child neglect lmao

Loved this scene. It's so INSANE and romantic I DON'T CARE!!

Please he hates her so bad now it's so hot like what's happening to meeeeeee

I forgot what Alex was saying to Phaedra in this scene. Oh, I think he dared her to kiss him (literally all the family is there) and she does and they have a little passionate moment and then he gets pissed and pushes her off. Pretty sure he said some slurs to her or told her to leave him alone, I don't know, but Phaedra interpreted it as Alex is madly in love with her. Despite him like, verbally abusing her every time he sees her. It's giving middle school, idk (and I'm eating it right up)

Alex telling Phaedra he's going to kill her lmao (it's so hot please)

Phaedra overjoyed because her man repeatedly told her he was going to end her life (she thinks this means he is deeply in love with her and honestly she is prob right)

I kinda ship Alex and Ercy, but also it's giving big brother little sister vibes (but no literally the family is legit shipping them as a couple too like Phaedra for once says something non insane and points out how Ercy is a child but the mom brushes that off and calls her "ripe" um..) (But like the family wants Alex and Ercy to get married like huh Ercy is like 14 wtf this movie is so ghetto and giving call the police)

Idk, I kind of ship it (why is every dynamic in this movie literally against the law??)

The only relatable character in this movie is Phaedra's fat little gay son Dimitri. He hates his grandpa, thinks it's too hot, and doesn't want to be here, and honestly, same.

This evil hag shoving through a sea of grieving families on her way to tell her husband she has fucked and is in love with his son. Nice!

So Phaedra spills the tea to Thanos about her affair with Alex. This because the family is planning a marriage between Alex and Phaedra's sister Ercy, and Phaedra responds in a totally normal fashion to the news. She is so far beyond unhinged once she catches whiff of the plan for the families to marry her man and her sister. I don't know if this makes me a bad person, but I was thinking while watching that Alex and Ercy getting married didn't need to be that big of a deal. Phaedra and Alex could still carry on their affair? Though I understand neither wanted it to be an affair, they wanted it to be a soulm8s 4ever sort of thing and if they weren't going to be together as stepson and wife then everything needed to burn (or that was Phaedra's POV, anyway), and honestly, it's so damn dramatic. But if either Alex or Phaedra approached their situtation more logically and less criminal and unhinged would I even be interested? The answer is no.

Anyway, in this scene^, Thanos is whooping on Alex for fucking his wife. He is tearing Alex up. Alex cries out "the ring" several times, because it's more than just some slaps, Thanos' ring keeps making contact with Alex's face and he's getting really injured. Thanos pauses for a millisecond when Alex says this to look at his hand, but immediately goes right back to smacking the shit out of his son, and I thought that was really sad. Also, again, I detected some psychosexual something or other happening here. Like Thanos was more than just mad at Alex fucking his wife, but also jealous in an illegal sense. Thanos seemed really excited that Alex was home and starting to work with the family business, then it's all immediately lost once he finds out what Alex and Phaedra have been up to. It could just be he was responding in the typical monkey-brained macho way and just whooping his son for fucking his wife and it was nothing more to it than that, but I don't know it seemed passionate to me and homoerotic idk idk

Aw, this was sad. I think Alex tells Thanos he loved him even after getting his ass whooped and Thanos reacts in a rage and is not tryna hear all that. Aw, I wish they could just have a cute little father and son relationship without all the violence and drama and nonsense, but, like, Alex brought it upon himself, literally no one told him to fuck his father's wife like that's literally insane bro lol

In this scene Alex is cleaning up in like a garage or something after getting beaten by Thanos. I don't know if it was intentional, but this little moment looked as if Alex was opening his own coffin. Can't tell if the Greek drama of it all just rubbed off on me and I'm seeing ridiculous shit that's not there or what but it kind of gave me the chills

I loved this moment where Alex was cleaning his wounds and Phaedra walks in and he just looks at her. I don't even know how to read his face or what he's thinking but it just feels really intimate and it makes my stomach hurt :)

This was soooooooo....

Pleaz I'm obsessed with them they're my otp I don't care what they did, what crimes they committed. Before you judge them, look in a mirror first and judge YOURSELF!

Hate the end of the film, so depressing. I think Phay tells Alex to take her back to London with him, but he totally rejects the idea and tells her he will never see her again and also that he hopes she dies :)

Phaedra in physical agony after her stepson-bae rejects her and takes off in his car. Honestly, you brought it upon yourself. Why did you initially turn down Alex's demand for you to return to London with him in the beginning of the movie if you were ultimately going to want to do that anyway? You were acting all crazy and trying to ruin lives and it's like if it was going to be all that you shoulda just went with your little twink stepson lover back to his dorm room like he asked in the first place. It's giving oh well.

The incomprehensible eroticism in the scene of Phaedra demanding Anna assist her with getting her prepared for her death bed (so dramatic smh)

LOVED Anthony Perkins' unhinged final scene in the movie right before he drives his car off a cliff. Totally deranged and I'm obsessed. But I think in this scene we finally see how Alex really felt about Big Phay? I think he really loved her, and was super tortured over it. I was really buying into his cold act and was believing he was over her, like it was that effective lol. But I think he was just hurt and being a brat. This movie is so childish and depressing smh

Me at the end of the movie, but also just me in general. #tired