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Chloe (2009 film)

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Chloe is a 2009 erotic thriller helmed by director Atom Egoyan, serving as a remake of the 2003 French movie Nathalie.... The film features performances by Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, and Amanda Seyfried portraying the titular character. The script, crafted by Erin Cressida Wilson, draws inspiration from the original French work by filmmaker Anne Fontaine.

Although critics offered mixed opinions, the movie achieved commercial success, earning $13.6 million globally—exceeding the box office returns of any prior Egoyan project. The estimated production costs were between $12 million and $14 million. Production was managed by The Montecito Picture Company alongside StudioCanal, with distribution responsibilities assigned to Sony Pictures Classics in the U.S., E1 Distribution in Canada, and StudioCanal handling the French market.

Plot

Catherine works as a gynecologist, while her spouse David holds a position as a college professor. They share a teenage son named Michael. Catherine becomes suspicious of David’s fidelity after spotting a photograph showing him with a female student.

During a dinner at a restaurant, Catherine encounters Chloe, who is a call girl. Subsequently, she observes Chloe entering an exclusive bar near their workplaces and hires her to investigate David’s faithfulness. Chloe later informs Catherine that David kissed her, which causes Catherine distress. She requests Chloe’s sexually transmitted infection test results; Chloe delivers these to Catherine’s office and also flirts with Michael during the visit.

Repeated meetings occur between Catherine and Chloe, with Chloe recounting her interactions with David, which stimulate Catherine emotionally. At one hotel rendezvous where Chloe claims to have been intimate with David, Chloe kisses Catherine, prompting Catherine to abruptly leave. Catherine then detects David recognizing the scent of her lotion—also used by Chloe—leading to her emotional turmoil. When they meet again at a hotel, Catherine inquires about David’s conduct. Noticing Catherine’s pain, Chloe seduces and asserts dominance over her.

Following an intense encounter with Chloe, Catherine arrives home late; David grows suspicious of her fidelity. They engage in an argument during which Catherine accuses him of cheating. When Chloe confronts Catherine about the true nature of their relationship, Catherine insists it was purely professional and ends their association. However, upon discovering that David contacted Chloe again, Catherine organizes a meeting at a café including both parties. David arrives before Chloe; Catherine demands he confess to an affair. Chloe enters but David fails to recognize her and she departs quietly. This leads Catherine to realize that Chloe fabricated the stories about David.

David admits to flirting but denies any actual affair. Catherine reveals she slept with Chloe and apologizes, expressing feelings of invisibility as she aged while perceiving David as increasingly attractive. The couple reconciles.

Later, Chloe visits Catherine’s home and engages in sexual activity with Michael in Catherine’s bedroom. Upon Catherine’s arrival, Chloe confesses her love for Catherine and explains that she slept with Michael because he reminds her of herself. She threatens harm unless kissed; Catherine complies under duress. Michael witnesses this scene, alarming Catherine who pushes Chloe through a bedroom window. Chloe deliberately releases herself and falls to her death. At Michael’s graduation celebration afterward, Catherine wears Chloe’s hairpin as a symbol of family healing and unity.

Cast

Production

Chloe marks director Atom Egoyan's first project not penned by himself. The film was shot over 35 days, fully financed in France, with principal photography conducted in Toronto and along Lake Ontario, Canada. Multiple recognizable local sites are depicted under their authentic names, including Allan Gardens, Cafe Diplomatico, The Rivoli, Windsor Arms Hotel, Royal York Hotel, Royal Ontario Museum, The Royal Conservatory of Music, CN Tower, Art Gallery of Ontario, and Ontario College of Art.

Producer Jason Reitman was instrumental in casting Amanda Seyfried; she accepted the role after a friend withdrew due to concerns about nudity. Julianne Moore commended Seyfried as a "highly reliable" co-star and emphasized the emotional intensity present in their characters' intimate scenes.

During production, Liam Neeson's wife, Natasha Richardson, tragically died in a skiing accident. Neeson temporarily left the set to be with her; filming schedules were adjusted to accommodate this. He returned soon after her passing and completed his remaining scenes within two days.

Canadian indie rock group Raised by Swans contributed two tracks featured in the movie and is mentioned several times by the character Chloe.

Anne Fontaine, who wrote and directed Nathalie..., expressed admiration for Egoyan's reinterpretation but shared dissatisfaction with her own film due to resistance from lead actresses toward a planned lesbian storyline.

Egoyan is an alumnus of the University of Toronto; producer Joe Medjuck was among his instructors there.

Creative process

For the Nathalie... remake, investor StudioCanal emphasized securing a dependable screenwriter because of the film’s intricate family dynamics and emotional depth. Erin Cressida Wilson, recognized for erotic dramas such as Secretary (2002), was chosen. Wilson dedicated considerable effort to developing the script and found writing for Chloe—the alluring young woman—more straightforward than for Catherine.

Cinematography

Director Egoyan insisted on using 35 mm film for shooting Chloe, favoring this traditional but demanding method. Cinematographer Paul Sarossy interpreted this choice as symbolic—a conscious rejection of digital filmmaking trends. While some digital equipment was employed, the majority of filming utilized actual film stock.

Costume design

The film’s visual and costume elements centered on themes of reflection and duplication, utilizing objects such as mirrors and glass to reinforce this motif. Debra Hanson, the costume designer, employed layered mirror-like effects and recurring lace motifs to represent the complexity of the characters. The attire was carefully selected to express emotional states and interpersonal dynamics; for instance, Chloe’s outfit in the greenhouse scene incorporated leaf patterns that symbolized her internal turmoil, while Catherine’s clothing subtly mirrored Chloe’s style.

Financing and distribution

Chloe was entirely funded by StudioCanal, which recovered its investment through international pre-sale agreements. The movie made its debut at prominent 2009 film festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival, London Film Festival, and served as the opening feature at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.

For U.S. distribution, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group purchased the rights for a modest seven-figure amount, subsequently releasing the film in a limited theatrical run on March 26, 2010 via Sony Pictures Classics. The movie earned approximately $3 million at the U.S. box office, a performance deemed solid for an arthouse release during that period.

After Chloe, Egoyan was approached with numerous scripts within the erotic thriller genre, while Amanda Seyfried’s role garnered her increased attention in the industry, leading to additional opportunities.

Home media

The U.S. release of Chloe on DVD and Blu-ray Disc occurred on July 13, 2010, including special features such as audio commentary, a behind-the-scenes documentary, and deleted scenes. The title performed strongly in home rental markets, maintaining a position within the Redbox Top 10 DVD rentals for three weeks straight—a notable achievement for an arthouse film. Egoyan later revealed that Chloe generated higher revenue than any of his previous projects.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, Chloe has garnered a 52% approval rating from 160 critics, with an average rating of 5.71 out of 10. The site's consensus suggests the film does not quite fulfill its promise of suspense. Metacritic reports a score of 48 out of 100 based on 33 reviews, reflecting a range of mixed to average opinions.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three and a half stars out of four, commending its ambiguous storytelling approach. In contrast, Todd McCarthy from Variety delivered a lukewarm critique, noting a shift from initial intrigue to moments that felt frivolous.

Anthony Lane of The New Yorker unfavorably compared the film to its French predecessor, labeling Egoyan's version as an "unsmiling porno-farce."

Accolades

Award Ceremony Date Category Nominees Outcome
Canadian Society of Cinematographers 2 April 2011 Theatrical Feature Cinematography Paul Sarossy Template:Nom
Directors Guild of Canada September 25, 2010 Best Feature Film Template:Nom
Best Direction – Feature Film Atom Egoyan Template:Nom
Best Production Design – Feature Film Phillip Barker Template:Nom
Best Picture Editing – Feature Film Susan Shipton Template:Won
Best Sound Editing – Feature Film Steve Munro, David Drainie Taylor, Paul Shikata, Richard Cadger, John Loranger Template:Won

External links

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