If you enjoyed the darkly seductive and psychologically rich world of 'Diary of a Chambermaid' (2015), you'll love these 10 similar films and shows. This article explores titles that share themes of power, class struggle, and forbidden desires, perfect for fans of period dramas with a twist.

The Rules of the Game (1939)
Description: A classic French film that exposes the moral decay of the upper class through a weekend hunting party at a country estate, featuring intricate social dynamics between masters and servants.
Fact: The film was initially banned in France for being 'demoralizing' and was nearly destroyed during World War II before being reconstructed in the 1950s.


The Beguiled (1971)
Description: A gothic drama set in a Southern girls' school during the Civil War, exploring themes of sexual tension, power struggles, and repressed desires in an isolated setting.
Fact: Clint Eastwood, known for his tough guy roles, plays against type as a wounded Union soldier taken in by the school's inhabitants.


The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)
Description: A surreal satire about a group of upper-class friends repeatedly attempting to have dinner together, exposing the absurdities and hypocrisies of bourgeois society.
Fact: The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, despite its unconventional narrative structure.


The Maids (1975)
Description: A psychological drama based on Jean Genet's play, examining the complex power dynamics and role-playing between two sisters working as maids for a wealthy woman.
Fact: The film was shot in just 18 days, with much of the dialogue improvised by the actors.


The Night Porter (1974)
Description: A controversial psychological drama exploring a sadomasochistic relationship between a former concentration camp prisoner and her Nazi tormentor, set in post-war Vienna.
Fact: The film was banned in several countries upon release due to its provocative subject matter.


The House of the Spirits (1993)
Description: A magical realist family saga set in an aristocratic household, exploring themes of class conflict, political upheaval, and the complex relationships between masters and servants.
Fact: The film marked the first and only time Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons appeared together on screen.


The Remains of the Day (1993)
Description: A period drama examining the repressed emotions and strict social hierarchy within an English aristocratic household, focusing on the perspective of a devoted butler.
Fact: The film's screenplay was adapted by Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro from his own novel of the same name.


The Others (2001)
Description: A gothic horror film set in a remote mansion, featuring themes of isolation, domestic servitude, and the blurring of reality and perception.
Fact: The film was shot almost entirely using natural light and candlelight to enhance its eerie atmosphere.


Gosford Park (2001)
Description: A murder mystery set in an English country house, delving into the complex relationships between aristocrats and their servants, with themes of class and secrecy.
Fact: The film was originally conceived as a parody of 1930s country house murder mysteries, but evolved into a more serious exploration of social hierarchy.


The Handmaiden (2016)
Description: A psychological thriller set in a grand estate, exploring themes of deception, power dynamics, and hidden desires among the upper class and their servants.
Fact: The film is based on the novel 'Fingersmith' by Sarah Waters, but transposes the setting from Victorian England to 1930s Korea under Japanese colonial rule.
