is a 2010 American psychological thriller directed by Michael Lander and written by Lander and Ryan Roy, starring Cillian Murphy, Elliot Page, and Susan Sarandon. The film follows John Skillpa (Cillian Murphy), a quiet bank clerk living alone in the small town of Peacock, Nebraska, who leads a hidden life due to dissociative identity disorder, a condition stemming from childhood trauma inflicted by his abusive mother. His alternate identity is Emma, a woman who performs daily chores and prepares breakfast for him each morning. The fragile balance of his life unravels when a freight train caboose derails and crashes into his backyard, drawing the attention of neighbors who mistakenly believe Emma is his wife. Forced to maintain the illusion, John and Emma must navigate the town's scrutiny while confronting personal secrets.
The story deepens when Maggie Bailey (Elliot Page), a young mother, arrives seeking financial help, having received checks from John’s deceased mother to support her and her two-year-old son, Jake (Flynn Milligan). It is revealed that Jake is John’s son, creating emotional and psychological tension. As the town mayor, Ray Crill (Keith Carradine), and his wife Fanny Crill (Susan Sarandon) become involved—particularly through a political rally planned at John’s home—John’s mental state deteriorates under the pressure of maintaining his dual identity. In a pivotal moment, Emma orchestrates a staged fire at a motel, using a man she seduces to feign John’s death, allowing her to help Maggie escape Peacock safely.
The film ends with Maggie and Jake leaving town, while Emma remains isolated in the house, symbolizing the enduring cost of John’s fractured identity. The movie was filmed in Iowa, primarily in Odebolt, Greenfield, and Boone, with the train derailment scene created using visual effects. It was released on April 20, 2010, and has a runtime of 91 minutes. The film is available for streaming on platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV, and Tubi. Elliot Page, who was credited as Ellen Page at the time, has since come out as transgender and changed their name.
2010 film directed by Michael Lander
Peacock (2010) movie ending *spoilers*
Parallels to new “Sick” movie on Peacock
[Suggest] Peacock (2010) A psychological thriller in which Cillian Murphy plays two personalities controlling one body. Murphy's performance is utterly convincing and the entire movie makes for uncomfortable viewing (in a good way). Easily available online.
going insane
How to download movies on Peacock?
How can I watch movies on Peacock?
What movies are leaving Peacock soon?
Videos
Just finished watching peacock (2010). Such an incredible movie.
I haven't come across what I consider a correct explanation of the events in the film "Peacock," so let me clarify my interpretation.
John and Emma represent two distinct personalities. They are completely unaware of each other's thoughts and actions, although they know of each other's existence. Emma only emerged after John's "mother" died. (The quotation marks are intentional, as will be explained later.) Following her death, John subconsciously created Emma to fill the void left by his "mother," assigning her the household responsibilities. Emma, who lacks John's childhood memories and trauma, is more emotionally stable than he is.
Throughout the film, Emma views John as unreasonable and selfish for ignoring Maggie's situation. She even uses John's voice to arrange a meeting with Maggie, during which she stages John's death using another man's body. To prevent John's return, Emma shaves her eyebrows, making it unlikely he would leave the house without them. This act might also be a way to assert her dominance as the primary personality.
I thought it was quite clear that John was jolted back to reality while taking the picture of the kid. It was John, not Emma, who sent Maggie and the child away.
Initially, Emma appeared to embody the ideal image of his mother—caring but not controlling or abusive. However, as her personality grew stronger, she became increasingly controlling, and her motives turned sinister. Her actions toward Maggie were not driven by a desire to help but rather by her intention to take the child for herself. I suspect she might have eventually killed Maggie.
It’s unclear who emerged as the dominant personality in the end. While John clearly achieved his goal, the identity of the dominant personality remains ambiguous. It seemed like John was the one in the chair at the end, dressed in a dress, possibly waiting for his eyebrows to grow back. Alternatively, he could be trapped in Emma's body. If it were Emma, she might have displayed some signs of distress given the events, but instead, the figure appeared calm and satisfied.
I’ve heard there is an alternative ending in the dvd 📀 version?