fbpx

5 Movies About Domestic Violence to Stream Right Now

Facebook
Twitter

Domestic violence has been on the rise for the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re seeking to understand the experience of a victim of abuse, there are a number of films that deal with the topic in a sensitive, respectful way. These include documentaries, dramas, and even horror films.

Here are five movies about domestic violence and where to watch them.

Content warning: some of these movies include graphic depictions or descriptions of domestic violence. Visit doesthedogdie.com for detailed content notes.

Private Violence

Where to stream: Amazon Prime or Tubi

Private Violence is a feature-length documentary film and audience engagement campaign that explores a simple, but deeply disturbing fact of American life: the most dangerous place for a woman in America is her own home. Every day in the US, at least four women are murdered by abusive (and often, ex) partners. The knee-jerk response is to ask: “why doesn’t she just leave?” Private Violence shatters the brutality of this logic. Through the eyes of two survivors – Deanna Walters, a mother who seeks justice for the crimes committed against her at the hands of her estranged husband, and Kit Gruelle, an advocate who seeks justice for all women – we bear witness to the complicated and complex realities of intimate partner violence. 

Custody

Where to stream: Amazon Prime

Miriam and Antoine Besson have divorced, and Miriam is seeking sole custody of their son Julien to protect him from a father she claims is violent. Antoine pleads his case as a scorned dad whose children have been turned against him by their vindictive mother. Unsure who is telling the truth, the appointed judge rules in favor of joint custody. A hostage to the escalating conflict between his parents, Julien is pushed to the edge to prevent the worst from happening.

*French Language

The Invisible Man

Where to stream: HBO

After staging his own suicide, a scientist uses his resources to become invisible to stalk and terrorize his ex-girlfriend. When the police refuse to believe her story, she decides to take matters into her own hands and fight back.
 

A Better Man

Where to stream: Kanopy

Filmmaker Attiya Khan documents her meeting with an abusive ex-boyfriend to show the healing and revelation that can happen for everyone involved when men take responsibility for their abuse.
 

Herself

Where to stream: Amazon Prime

Young mother Sandra escapes her abusive husband and fights back against a broken housing system. She sets out to build her own home and in the process rebuilds her life and rediscovers herself.