A Good Marriage (2014) – A Dark Secret Unfolds
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A Good Marriage (2014) – A Dark Secret Unfolds
A Good Marriage is a psychological thriller film based on Stephen King’s short story from his collection Full Dark, No Stars. Directed by Peter Askin, the movie explores the unraveling of a seemingly perfect marriage when a horrifying secret comes to light.
The story follows Darcy Anderson (played by Joan Allen), a devoted wife and mother who has spent 25 years in what she believes to be a happy and stable marriage with her husband, Bob Anderson (Anthony LaPaglia). Bob is a respected accountant and a caring husband, and their life together appears to be idyllic. However, everything changes when Darcy stumbles upon a hidden box in the garage while searching for batteries. Inside, she discovers shocking evidence linking Bob to a series of brutal murders committed by a serial killer known as “Beadie.”
This discovery shatters Darcy’s world as she realizes that the man she has loved and trusted for decades is living a double life as a sadistic murderer. Bob soon confesses to his crimes, but he reassures Darcy that he has kept his dark urges separate from their family life. He promises her that he will never kill again and asks her to keep his secret, urging that their life together doesn’t have to change.
However, Darcy cannot simply ignore the horrors of what she has learned. She becomes consumed by paranoia and fear, questioning her own complicity if she chooses to remain silent. The psychological tension escalates as she wrestles with the moral dilemma—should she turn him in and destroy her family’s life, or should she pretend nothing happened?
As time passes, Darcy devises her own plan for justice, unwilling to live under the shadow of Bob’s monstrous crimes. The film builds toward a tense and shocking climax, exploring themes of deception, morality, and the dark truths that can exist behind the façade of a “good marriage.”
A Good Marriage delivers a slow-burning suspenseful experience, focusing more on psychological tension than action. Joan Allen gives a compelling performance as a woman trapped in a terrifying reality, and Anthony LaPaglia’s portrayal of Bob adds an unsettling charm to the character. The film ultimately questions whether true love can ever exist alongside monstrous secrets—and what happens when the truth is too unbearable to ignore.