This Universally Beloved 38-Year-Old Rom-Com Is Actually a Horror
For many years, Overboard was considered a romantic comedy classic. But now fans are realizing it's actually a horror story about a toxic abuser. Stay here to see why!
Romantic comedies are probably one of the most beloved genres out there, and there’s no wonder why: compelling stories and cringeworthy arcs are always what makes people laugh. And for decades 1987’s Overboard was considered one of the classics.
Starring a real life couple of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Overboard was always considered a rom-com for obvious reasons. But today’s audience has another opinion: the story at the core of the movie is terrifying.
What Is Overboard About and Why It’s Not a Rom-Com?
At the first sight, the movie has all the typical romantic comedy cliches, you soon realize that it is a psychological horror story hiding in plain sight.
The plot follows Goldie Hawn’s Joanna Stayton, a wealthy heiress who falls overboard from her yacht, develops amnesia, and ends up in a small-town hospital. After that Kurt Russell’s Dean Proffitt enters the story. He is a handyman she mistreated earlier. But instead of walking away, Dean sees a twisted opportunity.
He lies to hospital staff, claiming she’s his wife, and takes her home to his messy house, where he makes her cook, clean, and raise his children all under the false belief that it’s her real life. The man basically uses her as a slave, and that’s what terrifying.
“I used to think this movie was hilarious. Rewatching it now and all I can think about is that Kurt Russel went and kidnapped and gaslit himself a domestic slave to clean his house and raise his children for him. Talk about hell!” Redditor NightQueen0889 said.
This isn’t just a case of dated 1980s humor. Dean’s actions are disturbingly calculated. He doesn’t hesitate to manipulate a mentally vulnerable woman for revenge and convenience. That’s not a harmless prank, but truly sociopathic behavior. And Dean isn’t some lovable goofball: he’s an abuser.
What makes it all even worse is the finale, where when Joanna discovers the truth, she still chooses to stay with him…
Where to Stream Overboard?
Overboard is available for streaming on Prime and Roku.
