366:
neither knows which intention the other has. Reed resolves that she wants him to kill her, and he gets up to grab his gear from across the room. Yet Jackie is confused, thinking he wanted sex. As he moves towards her, she again suggests dinner. They eat, and Reed begins to suffer from violent and nightmarish hallucinations of people he's killed, notably his domineering mother who tortures him with a lit cigarette. Jackie explains she spiked his soup with narcotics and he falls into a state of unconsciousness. He moans his wife's name and this infuriates Jackie, leading to her beating him with a can opener. Towards the end, Reed gains the upper hand and Jackie still does not believe he is a killer. She allows him to tie her up, thinking he will finally have sex with her. Yet he pulls out an ice pick and right as he attempts to stab her, he passes out once more. Jackie unties herself and looks through his bags, she finds his notebook and reads the sadistic plans he had intended for her.
358:
of his intended victim. She brings with her a collection of kinky fetish gear and a sadistic impulse. After a bad first encounter, she hides in the bathroom, and Reed nervously awaits. He grows impatient and enters the bathroom after Jackie ignores his calls. Upon entry, he sees her repeatedly stabbing herself with a pair of scissors in the leg. He overpowers her and carries her to the bed where she passes out, most likely due to the pills she swallowed earlier. He quickly bandages her and ditches his plans to murder. He grabs his belongings and attempts to leave the hotel, but returns after seeing Jackie leaving the room undressed and bleeding.
829:
354:
have to do, right?". He then decides that he must enact his murderous impulses upon a prostitute, so as to protect his daughter from himself. He has convinced his wife that he is going on a business trip. However, he actually intends to rent a hotel room, hire the services of a sex worker, and go through with his meticulous plot of killing the person with an ice pick, while getting away with the crime.
362:
and being a voice of reason, suggesting either Jackie does not know what his true intentions are, and he still may be able to kill her, or that she played coy and is alerting the hospital staff and will get Reed imprisoned. He reasons that she does not know and she returns excited to see him still there.
361:
Reed decides to dress and transport Jackie to the hospital, but on the taxi ride there, Jackie whispers that she "was onto him", suggesting she knew of his plans to kill her. She asks him to wait for her at the hospital, and he promises he will. While waiting, Reed imagines his wife giving him advice
357:
Reed makes his way to a hotel at the beginning of the night. Once he enters the room, he begins a rehearsal of his plans. He continually wipes fingerprints and times himself in a notebook after falling unconsciousness by chloroform. However, when the appointed time arrives, Jackie has arrived instead
353:
Reed stands over his infant daughter with an ice pick, while his wife sleeps across the room unaware. He has an overwhelming desire to stab his daughter with the ice pick, but is able to push the urge down in the moment. Later, while calming the baby, she looks up at him and says, "You know what you
369:
When Reed awakes the following morning, he finds himself bound and gagged. Jackie sits at her mirror, and pierces her nipple. She then climbs on top of him, readying the ice pick. As she raises it, he wails, and she hesitates. She ungags him and they stare at each other. After a beat, Reed asks the
365:
After establishing that trust, they go to Jackie's apartment. Jackie cordially offers dinner, but Reed is quiet and appears uninterested. Jackie attempts seduction which ultimately leads to them lying in her bed. They continually speak in double meaning, either conveying ideas of sex or murder, yet
29:
461:, Naima Abed, Al Di, Phil Hoelting will serve as executive producers under their Boderline Films, Memento Films, Paradise City, YL Pictures banners, respectively. Production concluded that same month.
958:
978:
683:
604:
993:
998:
968:
963:
943:
867:
493:, 72% of 101 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The critical consensus states, "Stylish with a sadistic streak,
983:
711:
441:
had joined the cast of the film, with
Nicolas Pesce directing from a screenplay written by himself, based upon the novel of the same name by
640:
948:
933:
577:
938:
618:
988:
973:
860:
450:
288:
88:
502:
505:, assigned the film a score of 63 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
198:
953:
905:
853:
653:
648:
614:
609:
470:
338:
225:
889:
497:
pairs gripping lead performances with a smartly macabre story that delivers unpredictable thrills."
928:
688:
582:
474:
422:
379:
342:
308:
193:
107:
657:
551:
813:
486:
300:
61:
477:
acquired distribution rights to the film in May 2018. It was released on
February 1, 2019.
840:
828:
743:
529:
490:
442:
304:
67:
524:
748:
458:
438:
426:
409:
385:
328:
312:
132:
112:
922:
877:
712:"'Piercing' Exclusive Trailer: Mia Wasikowska Won't Be Killed Without a Bloody Fight"
434:
397:
324:
296:
292:
127:
42:
430:
403:
320:
122:
845:
578:"Mia Wasikowska, Christopher Abbott Starring in Thriller 'Piercing' (EXCLUSIVE)"
454:
824:
774:
498:
391:
316:
117:
28:
370:
same question she did before he attempted to murder her, "Can we eat first?"
834:
819:
738:
716:
446:
83:
684:"Nicolas Pesce's Sundance Title 'Piercing' Picked Up By UPHE Content Group"
341:
on
January 20, 2018 and was theatrically released on February 1, 2019, by
807:
769:
800:
453:, Schuyler Weiss, Jacob Wasserman, will produce the film, while
849:
605:"2018 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL: FEATURE FILMS ANNOUNCED"
552:"Nicolas Pesce on Piercing Making Sense of The Ending"
272:
264:
256:
246:
207:
186:
157:
149:
141:
100:
73:
56:
48:
38:
21:
345:, to generally positive reviews from critics.
959:Films about prostitution in the United States
861:
8:
868:
854:
846:
827:
27:
18:
979:Films with screenplays by Nicolas Pesce
513:
469:The film had its world premiere at the
994:English-language horror thriller films
682:D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 31, 2018).
519:
517:
7:
617:. November 29, 2017. Archived from
421:In February 2017, it was announced
999:English-language independent films
14:
710:Sharf, Zack (November 19, 2018).
576:McNary, Dave (February 7, 2017).
969:Films directed by Nicolas Pesce
964:Films based on Japanese novels
944:American horror thriller films
337:had its world premiere at the
1:
984:2010s English-language films
641:"Sundance Program Schedule"
1015:
949:American independent films
934:2018 horror thriller films
231:February 1, 2019
216:January 20, 2018
884:
33:Theatrical release poster
26:
295:written and directed by
457:, Max Born, Avi Stern,
199:Greenwich Entertainment
939:2018 independent films
654:The Sundance Institute
649:Sundance Film Festival
615:The Sundance Institute
610:Sundance Film Festival
471:Sundance Film Festival
339:Sundance Film Festival
301:novel of the same name
890:The Eyes of My Mother
473:on January 20, 2018.
331:in supporting roles.
989:2010s American films
621:on December 22, 2017
394:as Mona, Reed's wife
289:psychological horror
239: (United States)
974:Films set in hotels
287:is a 2018 American
876:Films directed by
770:"Piercing Reviews"
689:Deadline Hollywood
475:Universal Pictures
423:Christopher Abbott
380:Christopher Abbott
343:Universal Pictures
309:Christopher Abbott
194:Universal Pictures
153:Sofía Subercaseaux
108:Christopher Abbott
16:2018 American film
916:
915:
525:"Piercing (2018)"
487:review aggregator
280:
279:
1006:
870:
863:
856:
847:
831:
804:
803:
801:Official website
787:
786:
784:
782:
766:
760:
759:
757:
755:
735:
729:
728:
726:
724:
707:
701:
700:
698:
696:
679:
673:
672:
670:
668:
663:on June 14, 2018
662:
656:. Archived from
645:
637:
631:
630:
628:
626:
601:
595:
594:
592:
590:
573:
567:
566:
564:
563:
548:
542:
541:
539:
537:
521:
503:weighted average
400:as Reed's mother
238:
236:
223:
221:
175:Borderline Films
31:
19:
1014:
1013:
1009:
1008:
1007:
1005:
1004:
1003:
919:
918:
917:
912:
880:
874:
841:Rotten Tomatoes
799:
798:
795:
790:
780:
778:
768:
767:
763:
753:
751:
744:Rotten Tomatoes
737:
736:
732:
722:
720:
709:
708:
704:
694:
692:
681:
680:
676:
666:
664:
660:
643:
639:
638:
634:
624:
622:
603:
602:
598:
588:
586:
575:
574:
570:
561:
559:
550:
549:
545:
535:
533:
530:Box Office Mojo
523:
522:
515:
511:
501:, which uses a
491:Rotten Tomatoes
483:
467:
419:
376:
351:
319:, and features
299:, based on the
249:
242:
234:
232:
219:
217:
210:
203:
182:
181:
162:
160:
137:
96:
80:Jacob Wasserman
65:
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1012:
1010:
1002:
1001:
996:
991:
986:
981:
976:
971:
966:
961:
956:
951:
946:
941:
936:
931:
921:
920:
914:
913:
911:
910:
902:
894:
885:
882:
881:
875:
873:
872:
865:
858:
850:
844:
843:
832:
816:
805:
794:
793:External links
791:
789:
788:
761:
730:
702:
674:
632:
596:
568:
543:
512:
510:
507:
482:
479:
466:
463:
459:Emilie Georges
451:Antonio Campos
439:Wendell Pierce
427:Mia Wasikowska
418:
415:
414:
413:
410:Wendell Pierce
407:
401:
395:
389:
386:Mia Wasikowska
383:
375:
372:
350:
347:
329:Wendell Pierce
313:Mia Wasikowska
278:
277:
274:
270:
269:
266:
262:
261:
258:
254:
253:
250:
247:
244:
243:
241:
240:
229:
213:
211:
208:
205:
204:
202:
201:
196:
190:
188:
187:Distributed by
184:
183:
180:
179:
176:
173:
172:YL Pictures Co
170:
166:
165:
163:
158:
155:
154:
151:
147:
146:
143:
142:Cinematography
139:
138:
136:
135:
133:Wendell Pierce
130:
125:
120:
115:
113:Mia Wasikowska
110:
104:
102:
98:
97:
95:
94:
93:Schuyler Weiss
91:
89:Antonio Campos
86:
81:
77:
75:
71:
70:
58:
54:
53:
50:
46:
45:
40:
36:
35:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1011:
1000:
997:
995:
992:
990:
987:
985:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
970:
967:
965:
962:
960:
957:
955:
954:BDSM in films
952:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
935:
932:
930:
927:
926:
924:
908:
907:
903:
900:
899:
895:
892:
891:
887:
886:
883:
879:
878:Nicolas Pesce
871:
866:
864:
859:
857:
852:
851:
848:
842:
838:
837:
833:
830:
826:
822:
821:
817:
815:
811:
810:
806:
802:
797:
796:
792:
777:
776:
771:
765:
762:
750:
746:
745:
740:
734:
731:
719:
718:
713:
706:
703:
691:
690:
685:
678:
675:
659:
655:
651:
650:
642:
636:
633:
620:
616:
612:
611:
606:
600:
597:
585:
584:
579:
572:
569:
557:
553:
547:
544:
532:
531:
526:
520:
518:
514:
508:
506:
504:
500:
496:
492:
488:
480:
478:
476:
472:
464:
462:
460:
456:
452:
448:
444:
440:
436:
435:Marin Ireland
432:
428:
424:
416:
412:as the doctor
411:
408:
405:
402:
399:
398:Marin Ireland
396:
393:
390:
387:
384:
381:
378:
377:
373:
371:
367:
363:
359:
355:
348:
346:
344:
340:
336:
332:
330:
326:
325:Marin Ireland
322:
318:
314:
310:
306:
302:
298:
297:Nicolas Pesce
294:
293:thriller film
290:
286:
285:
275:
271:
267:
263:
260:United States
259:
255:
251:
245:
230:
227:
215:
214:
212:
209:Release dates
206:
200:
197:
195:
192:
191:
189:
185:
178:Memento Films
177:
174:
171:
169:Paradise City
168:
167:
164:
156:
152:
148:
144:
140:
134:
131:
129:
128:Marin Ireland
126:
124:
121:
119:
116:
114:
111:
109:
106:
105:
103:
99:
92:
90:
87:
85:
82:
79:
78:
76:
72:
69:
64:
63:
59:
55:
52:Nicolas Pesce
51:
49:Screenplay by
47:
44:
43:Nicolas Pesce
41:
37:
30:
25:
20:
904:
897:
896:
888:
835:
818:
808:
781:February 22,
779:. Retrieved
773:
764:
752:. Retrieved
742:
733:
723:November 19,
721:. Retrieved
715:
705:
693:. Retrieved
687:
677:
665:. Retrieved
658:the original
647:
635:
623:. Retrieved
619:the original
608:
599:
587:. Retrieved
581:
571:
560:. Retrieved
558:. 2019-02-08
555:
546:
536:December 21,
534:. Retrieved
528:
494:
484:
468:
443:Ryū Murakami
431:Maria Dizzia
420:
404:Maria Dizzia
368:
364:
360:
356:
352:
334:
333:
321:Maria Dizzia
305:Ryū Murakami
283:
282:
281:
248:Running time
123:Maria Dizzia
68:Ryū Murakami
60:
754:October 10,
455:Sean Durkin
406:as Chevonne
307:. It stars
145:Zack Galler
74:Produced by
39:Directed by
929:2018 films
923:Categories
906:The Grudge
825:Metacritic
775:Metacritic
739:"Piercing"
562:2023-05-19
509:References
499:Metacritic
417:Production
392:Laia Costa
317:Laia Costa
273:Box office
252:81 minutes
235:2019-02-01
220:2018-01-20
159:Production
118:Laia Costa
717:IndieWire
481:Reception
447:Josh Mond
388:as Jackie
276:$ 149,211
161:companies
150:Edited by
84:Josh Mond
898:Piercing
836:Piercing
820:Piercing
809:Piercing
749:Fandango
556:Collider
495:Piercing
489:website
335:Piercing
284:Piercing
265:Language
226:Sundance
101:Starring
62:Piercing
57:Based on
22:Piercing
695:May 31,
667:May 31,
625:May 31,
589:May 31,
583:Variety
485:On the
465:Release
382:as Reed
268:English
257:Country
233: (
218: (
909:(2019)
901:(2018)
893:(2016)
327:, and
315:, and
224: (
661:(PDF)
644:(PDF)
814:IMDb
783:2019
756:2021
725:2018
697:2018
669:2018
627:2018
591:2018
538:2019
437:and
374:Cast
349:Plot
839:at
823:at
812:at
303:by
66:by
925::
772:.
747:.
741:.
714:.
686:.
652:.
646:.
613:.
607:.
580:.
554:.
527:.
516:^
449:,
445:.
433:,
429:,
425:,
323:,
311:,
869:e
862:t
855:v
785:.
758:.
727:.
699:.
671:.
629:.
593:.
565:.
540:.
291:-
237:)
228:)
222:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.