🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Peter Strickland
- Genre: Horror, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller
- Release year: 2018
- Runtime (length): 1h 58min
- IMDb rating: 6.2/10 (15K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A killer dress terrorizes department store customers, but mostly just inconveniences people by making their washing machines explode.
🍿 In Fabric: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Introduction: Sheila and the Alluring Department Store
Sheila, a recently divorced woman, seeks solace and a fresh start in the bewitching Dentley & Soper department store. Lured by a striking ‘artery red’ dress, she hopes it will transform her life and love prospects. The store itself is surreal, staffed by peculiar individuals like Miss Luckmoore, who speaks in cryptic pronouncements.

The Cursed Dress: Unraveling Horror
The red dress proves to be more than just a garment; it’s a malevolent force. Sheila experiences bizarre occurrences: skin rashes, a possessed washing machine, and unsettling visions. The dress seems to have a life of its own, wreaking havoc on her life and those around her.

Transition: Reg and the Washing Machine Repairman
Midway through the film, the narrative shifts to Reg, a washing machine repairman, and his impending marriage to Babs. The cursed dress finds its way into Reg’s possession, bringing a new wave of bizarre and unsettling events to his life. This transition is jarring for some viewers, as the focus shifts away from Sheila.

Reg’s Tribulations and the Store’s Influence
Reg’s experience with the dress mirrors Sheila’s, with escalating strangeness and misfortune. Simultaneously, the department store’s surreal and sinister nature is further explored, highlighting themes of consumerism and corporate control. The store’s employees continue their strange rituals and pronouncements, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Sheila (Marianne Jean-Baptiste): A recently divorced bank teller who buys a cursed dress that brings chaos into her life.
- Miss Luckmoore (Fatma Mohamed): An enigmatic and unsettling saleswoman at Dentley & Soper’s who sells the cursed dress.
- Stash (Julian Barratt): One of Sheila’s eccentric and demanding bosses at the bank.
- Clive (Steve Oram): The other of Sheila’s oddball bosses, working alongside Stash.
- Reg (Leo Bill): A washing machine repairman who later encounters the cursed dress.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Miss Luckmoore: “The hesitation in your voice is soon to be an echo in the recesses of the spheres of retail.” – The eerily articulate saleswoman uses strange pronouncements to entice Sheila to buy the dress.
- Miss Luckmoore: “Our perspectives on the specters of mortality must not be confused by an askew index of commerce.” – Miss Luckmoore spouts nonsensical retail jargon that is meant to sound profound.
- Stash: “Did the transaction validate your paradigm of consumerism?” – Miss Luckmoore asks this to one of her customers, displaying a bizarre and unsettling sales technique.
💰Box Office
- Budget: None
- Domestic Gross: None
- Worldwide Gross: $197,592
💥 In Fabric Reviews
Personal Review
Wow, ‘In Fabric’ was such a trip! I went in expecting a simple horror flick, but it was so much more. The department store scenes were mesmerizing and creepy, and I loved how the movie blended humor with genuine unease. The dress itself became this iconic, menacing presence, and I found myself completely absorbed in its bizarre journey. The ending was a bit confusing, but honestly, it just added to the film’s overall surreal vibe. I keep thinking about it days later!
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of arthouse horror”
- “Viewers who appreciate surreal and bizarre films”
- “Those interested in social commentary on consumerism”
- “Fans of director Peter Strickland’s other works”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Disturbing imagery”
- “Brief nudity”
- “Sexual content”
- “Some gore”
- “Themes of consumerism and obsession”
Professional Reviews
- Rotten Tomatoes: “In Fabric is visually striking and narratively daring, even if it doesn’t quite stitch its intriguing ideas together into a seamless whole. The film’s unsettling atmosphere and unique premise make it a memorable cinematic experience. It’s a stylish and thought-provoking horror.
- IMDB: “Peter Strickland delivers another uniquely unsettling film. In Fabric dives deep into consumerism and the supernatural with a darkly comedic edge. While the film’s pacing can be uneven, the visuals are stunning, and the performances are captivating, making it a rewarding experience for fans of arthouse horror.
- Metacritic: “A visually arresting and tonally bizarre experience, In Fabric is unlike anything else you’ll see this year. Strickland’s blend of giallo aesthetics, social commentary, and dark humor results in a film that is both fascinating and unsettling, challenging audiences with its unconventional approach.
Audience Reactions
The surreal department store atmosphere was captivating.: Viewers raved about the film’s unique visual style and unsettling tone.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s performance was phenomenal.: Many praised the acting, especially Jean-Baptiste’s portrayal of a woman haunted by the dress.
Overall Consensus: In Fabric is a visually stunning and unsettling arthouse horror film that divides audiences with its bizarre tone and surreal narrative. It’s praised for its atmosphere, performances, and unique premise, but criticized for its pacing and confusing plot.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The film’s distinctive visual style draws heavy inspiration from Italian giallo films of the 1970s, particularly those of Dario Argento.”
- “Director Peter Strickland is known for his meticulous attention to sound design, and In Fabric is no exception, featuring a haunting and unsettling soundscape.”
- “The fictional department store, Dentley & Soper, is a key element of the film’s atmosphere, designed to feel both alluring and deeply unsettling.”
🖥️ How to Watch In Fabric?
As of October 26, 2023, ‘In Fabric’ is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability on other streaming services or for potential broadcast options.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed In Fabric, you might like these similar films:
- Berberian Sound Studio (2012): Another Peter Strickland film known for its unique atmosphere and unsettling themes. It explores the world of sound design in Italian horror films.
- Suspiria (1977): Shares a similar visual style and surreal horror elements, with a focus on unsettling atmosphere and psychological horror.
- Black Swan (2010): Similar themes of obsession and the destructive nature of desire, with a focus on psychological breakdown and surreal imagery.
🛒 In Fabric Related Products
- In Fabric [Blu-ray]: A limited edition Blu-ray featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes content, director’s commentary, and a collectible booklet.
- Dentley & Soper Department Store T-Shirt: A vintage-style t-shirt featuring the logo of the eerie Dentley & Soper department store from the movie.
- Red Dress Enamel Pin: A beautifully crafted enamel pin of the infamous red dress from In Fabric.
- In Fabric: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Vinyl]: Immerse yourself in the film’s atmospheric soundscape with the original soundtrack on vinyl, featuring haunting synth melodies and unsettling sound design.
🎧 Soundtrack
In Fabric features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
- “Remote Control” – performed by James Ferraro
- “Theme from ‘In Fabric'” – performed by Cavern of Anti-Matter
- “Department Store Ambience” – performed by Sound Design by Martin Pavey
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
In Fabric is a horror-comedy about a cursed red dress that brings misfortune and bizarre events to its wearers, set against the backdrop of a surreal department store. It explores themes of consumerism, desire, and corporate control.
You can rent or purchase ‘In Fabric’ on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for other streaming options.
In Fabric is more unsettling and surreal than outright scary. It blends horror elements with dark humor and bizarre imagery, creating a unique and often disturbing atmosphere. Viewer reactions vary widely.
The ending suggests a cyclical nature of consumerism and its consequences. The surviving dress and the fate of the characters hint at an eternal damnation linked to their desires and the manipulative forces of the department store, offering a bleak commentary on modern society.
🔥 Bonus Content
Fabric Made By Human Blood Infects Anyone Who Wears The Fabric
Want a quick rundown of what ‘In Fabric’ is all about? This recap breaks down the bizarre story of the killer dress and all the chaos it causes. It’s a wild ride, and this video helps make sense of it all – I personally found it super helpful!
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