In "Sanctuary," director Zachary Wigon presents a strange psychological story that blends elements of romance and suspense as a dominatrix and her wealthy client become entangled in an intense power dynamic within the confines of a luxurious hotel suite. While the movie suffers from inconsistent tone and uninspired direction, the performances by the two central actors are remarkable. Hal (Christopher Abbott), soon to assume leadership of his family’s company, attempts to end his long-standing professional arrangement with Rebecca (Margaret Qualley), a dominatrix, offering her an expensive parting gift. She resists this separation, leading to a night filled with sexual games and psychological manipulation as the balance of power shifts amidst a whirlwind of unpredictable events. The constant reversals in control proved very frustrating for me as a viewer. By nature of her profession, Rebecca is meant to hold all the authority over her client. The unusual element here is that Hal also possesses considerable influence. Both are skilled manipulators, capable of controlling each other with ease. This aspect ultimately became more tiresome than captivating, particularly when it was difficult to determine who was being truthful at any point in time. The entire narrative feels like a facade. Hal has little regard for himself, as demonstrated by the elaborate and demeaning scripts he writes for Rebecca to deliver verbatim. She is aware of his insecurities related to his father and exploits them. His influence over her stems from financial resources. The film’s impact diminishes when Rebecca resorts to blackmail, revealing an unfortunate triviality that damages her character's credibility. Though there are some thoughtful ideas about gender roles and economic systems explored, they are overshadowed by scenes that seem designed solely to provoke reactions or elicit awkward laughter. What starts as a story with feminist undertones evolves into something more unsettling and problematic. With only two actors carrying the entire film, their performances had to be exceptional. Fortunately, this isn't an issue. Qualley and Abbott portray these intricate characters with skill. She depicts Rebecca as a sort of unconventional counselor, while he convincingly portrays a man struggling with low self-esteem. The subgenre of dominatrix thrillers is not particularly widespread, and "Sanctuary" offers solid acting and raises some challenging questions. However, I was let down by the film's clumsy execution, and it seems unlikely to attract a large audience; it feels like something that would be shown at a film festival and nothing more.

Source on TMDB