Red Flags" (2025) by Lodewijk van Lelyveld: Love, Lies, and Unheeded Warnings

Movie Summary: A Gap Year Romance Tests Boundaries

"Red Flags" is a 2025 Dutch drama and romance film directed by Lodewijk van Lelyveld. The story follows Tess, a free-spirited traveler on her gap year, who finds herself swept into a whirlwind romance with the enigmatic Fender. They meet in the hotel where Tess works and Fender is staying, and love strikes hard. However, as their relationship progresses, Tess begins to uncover troubling "red flags" about Fender. The film explores whether ignoring these warning signs is wise, and if love has a chance when one or both partners aren't truly ready for it, blending themes of romance and self-discovery.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34573452/

Link Review: https://deadline.com/2025/05/plaion-italian-rights-dutch-romance-red-flags-cannes-1236389031/

About movie: https://www.see-nl.com/artikel/20250507-red-flags

Link to watch: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0J08A50LVAZNNOI6X7A8LPBYOF/ref=dvm_src_ret_nl_xx_s (Netherlands)

Detailed Summary: Love, Deception, and Self-Discovery

• Tess's Gap Year Journey: The film introduces Tess, who is taking a gap year to find herself and plans to travel through Europe. Her initial plan to meet her boyfriend, Bas, in Thailand is derailed when he confesses to cheating on her, forcing her to return to the Netherlands to regroup.

• Encounter with Fender: Back in the Netherlands, Tess takes a job at a hotel. Here, she meets Fender, a mysterious and incredibly charming man who is staying at the hotel. Despite her earlier resolve to avoid romantic entanglements, she is powerfully drawn to him.

• The Whirlwind Romance: Their connection quickly develops into an intense romance. Fender appears to be the perfect, attentive partner, sweeping Tess off her feet.

• Unveiling the "Red Flags": As their relationship deepens, Tess starts to notice inconsistencies and troubling aspects of Fender's character and past. These "red flags" challenge her initial infatuation and force her to question the authenticity of their love.

• The Dilemma: Both Tess and Fender attempt to overlook these warning signs, caught between their intense feelings and the growing sense that something isn't right. Tess, particularly, grapples with whether to follow her heart despite her instincts or acknowledge that their love might be fundamentally flawed or ill-timed.

• Truth and Consequences: The narrative builds as the truth about Fender slowly unravels, pushing Tess to a critical decision point. She must determine if this seemingly ideal love is her greatest mistake or if she can navigate the complexities and find genuine connection.

Plot Summary: A Dangerous Attraction Unfolds

• During her gap year, Tess's travel plans are disrupted by a personal betrayal, leading her back to the Netherlands.

• She meets the enigmatic and charming Fender at the hotel where she works, and they quickly fall into a passionate romance.

• Despite Fender's seemingly perfect demeanor, Tess begins to notice concerning "red flags" about him, prompting her to question the true nature of their relationship.

• As the truth about Fender slowly comes to light, Tess faces a difficult choice: ignore the warning signs for love or confront the reality that their romance may be built on unstable ground.

• The film explores themes of self-discovery, the allure of escaping one's problems through romance, and the challenges of being ready for true love.

Director's Vision: Lodewijk van Lelyveld's Exploration of Modern Romance

Lodewijk van Lelyveld, as the director and co-writer of "Red Flags," aims to deliver a contemporary romantic drama that is both relatable and insightful. His vision likely centers on:

• Contemporary Relevance: The film explicitly targets young adult audiences, blending universal themes of romance and self-discovery with the specific challenges of modern dating culture, where "red flags" are a common discussion point.

• Psychological Nuance: By focusing on Tess's internal struggle and her attempts to ignore warning signs, the film delves into the psychological aspects of infatuation versus genuine connection.

• Visual Storytelling: While specific details on the visual style are limited, the genre suggests an emphasis on capturing the emotional intensity of a whirlwind romance and the growing tension as truths are revealed.

• Authentic Portrayal: With a cast that includes emerging talents, the film likely seeks to authentically portray the experiences and dilemmas faced by young adults in relationships.

Themes: Illusions of Love, Self-Discovery, Readiness for Romance, and Deception

• Illusions of Love: The core theme explores how initial infatuation and the desire to escape one's problems can create an illusion of perfect love, blinding individuals to potential dangers.

• Self-Discovery: Tess's journey is intrinsically linked to her gap year and her need to find herself, highlighting how relationships can either aid or hinder this personal growth.

• Readiness for Romance: The film directly poses the question: "if you are not ready for love, does that love even have a chance?" This explores emotional maturity and vulnerability in relationships.

• Deception and Trust: The unraveling of Fender's true nature brings themes of deception, betrayal, and the fundamental importance of trust in a relationship to the forefront.

• Consequences of Ignoring Warnings: The title "Red Flags" explicitly points to the theme of the perils of overlooking warning signs in a relationship.

Key Success Factors: Relatable Premise and Genre Appeal

• Relatable Premise: The concept of a romantic partner exhibiting "red flags" is a widely recognized and discussed phenomenon in modern dating, making the film highly relatable to its target audience.

• Popular Genre: As a drama/romance, it taps into a perennially popular genre, especially among young adults.

• European Film Market Presence: The film's presentation at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin and securing an Italian distribution deal (Plaion) indicates international sales potential and industry confidence.

• Talented Emerging Cast: The involvement of rising talents like Kes van den Broek and Danny Dorland can draw in audiences, particularly those familiar with their previous work.

• Director's Experience: Lodewijk van Lelyveld's prior work in Dutch film and TV suggests a capable hand in delivering a compelling narrative.

Awards & Nominations: A New Release

• "Red Flags" was released in April 2025 in cinemas in Belgium (April 9) and the Netherlands (April 17). As a very recent release, there are no major industry awards or nominations to report yet. Awards seasons typically occur later in the year and into the following year.

• The film premiered in Dutch cinemas and is currently (July 2025) available on HBO Max in some regions.

Summary: "Red Flags" is a very recent cinematic release and has not yet been considered for major film awards or nominations.

Critics' Reception: Familiar Tropes, Mixed Reviews

Critical reception for "Red Flags" has been mixed, with some reviewers finding it to be a familiar romantic drama that doesn't significantly innovate within the genre, while still acknowledging its potential appeal to a target audience.

• Familiar Romantic Comedy/Drama Formula: Critics note that the film largely follows a well-trodden path of "welles-nietesromance" (will-they-won't-they romance) with "expected wendingen" (expected twists) and "goedkope trucjes" (cheap tricks) (FilmTotaal). It is recognized as being self-aware of romantic comedy stereotypes but ultimately not innovating on them.

• Target Audience (Young Adults/Teens): Reviews suggest the film is "especially for teenagers" (FilmTotaal) and aims for a young adult audience, addressing relatable themes for this demographic.

• Dialogue and Character Development: Some critiques point to "basaal" (basic) dialogue and "minimaal" (minimal) character development. The narrative is sometimes driven by "endeloze miscommunicaties door een gebrek aan gesprek" (endless miscommunications due to a lack of conversation) between the main characters (FilmTotaal), which can feel frustrating for viewers.

• Pacing: Despite a runtime of 88 minutes, some reviewers felt the film "geen vaart te maken of vast te houden" (failed to gain or maintain pace), contributing to a lack of sustained engagement (FilmTotaal).

• Market Impact: While acknowledging its formulaic nature, it's suggested that "Red Flags" will likely attract its intended audience in a "verzadigd genre" (saturated genre), but may not make a "blijvende impact" (lasting impact) or become a classic (FilmTotaal).

Summary: "Red Flags" has received mixed reviews, often described as a conventional romantic drama that relies on familiar genre tropes. While it targets a young adult audience and offers a recognizable story, critics noted its basic dialogue, minimal character development, and inconsistent pacing, suggesting it's an enjoyable but not particularly innovative film.

Reviews: A Gap Year Romance and Troubling Signs

Reviews detail the central romantic conflict, focusing on the protagonist's attraction to a mysterious man despite growing unease.

• Plot Overview: The film centers on Sam (Kes van den Broek), a young woman on a gap year who is seeking to escape her ordinary life. While working at a hotel, she encounters the enigmatic Fender (Danny Dorland). Despite her initial decision to avoid men, Sam is powerfully drawn to Fender, but soon, "unexpected concerns begin to emerge" (MovieInsider). He seems "too perfect, too attentive, too good to be true" (Cinenews.be).

• The "Red Flags": The core of the drama lies in Sam's struggle to ignore the "red flags"—the various warning signs and inconsistencies in Fender's behavior and story. The synopsis explicitly states: "She feels irresistibly drawn to him, but something feels off" (VPRO Gids).

• Love vs. Instinct: The narrative explores the conflict between Sam's strong feelings for Fender and her growing intuition that something is wrong. She must decide whether to "follow her heart, or will he be her biggest mistake?" (Cinenews.be).

• Miscommunication as a Driver: As noted in critics' reception, the plot is often driven by a lack of open communication between Sam and Fender, leading to misunderstandings and prolonged tension regarding the "red flags."

• Romance with Suspenseful Elements: While primarily a romance, the film incorporates elements of suspense as the truth about Fender "gravelijk komt aan het licht" (gradually comes to light) (Cinenews.be).

Summary: "Red Flags" is reviewed as a romantic drama focusing on Sam, a young woman on a gap year who falls for the mysterious Fender, despite numerous warning signs. The film explores the push and pull between her intense attraction and her growing doubts, culminating in her decision of whether to trust her heart or her instincts when the truth about Fender begins to unravel.

Release Date on Streaming: Available on Amazon Prime Video in Netherlands

"Red Flags (2025)" has been confirmed to be available on Amazon Prime Video in the Netherlands. While a global streaming release date is not widely specified, its presence on FlixPatrol data for Amazon Prime in the Netherlands as of July 22, 2025, indicates its streaming availability there.

Why to Watch This Movie: A Relatable Modern Romance

• Relatable Dating Dynamics: If you've ever experienced or heard about "red flags" in a relationship, this film directly tackles a very modern and common dating dilemma.

• Focus on Self-Discovery: The film explores a young woman's journey of self-discovery during a gap year, adding depth beyond a simple romance.

• Youthful Energy: Aimed at young adult audiences, it captures the intensity and sometimes messy reality of first loves and significant relationships in early adulthood.

• Dutch Cinema: For those interested in contemporary Dutch films, it offers a look into a popular domestic production.

• Easy Access: If you are in the Netherlands, it is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Movie Trend: The Relatable YA Romance Drama

"Red Flags" fits squarely into the trend of relatable Young Adult (YA) romance dramas that address contemporary dating challenges. This trend sees films that move beyond simplistic love stories to explore more nuanced aspects of modern relationships, such as the impact of social media, the complexities of consent, and the recognition of unhealthy patterns ("red flags"). These films often aim for authenticity in portraying the emotional highs and lows of young love, making them highly resonant with their target demographic by reflecting their lived experiences and anxieties about finding genuine connection in a confusing romantic landscape.

Social Trend: The Rise of "Red Flags" Discourse in Dating

The film directly leverages and contributes to the significant social trend of the widespread discourse around "red flags" in dating and relationships. In contemporary online and offline conversations, individuals, particularly younger generations, are increasingly educated about and vocal about identifying warning signs in romantic partners. This trend reflects a growing emphasis on healthy relationship boundaries, self-preservation, and a more critical approach to romantic pursuits, often fueled by personal experiences, shared anecdotes, and mental health awareness. "Red Flags" capitalizes on this cultural phenomenon by centering its narrative around the very act of encountering and grappling with these crucial warning signs in a burgeoning romance.

Final Verdict: A Timely Take on Modern Romance

"Red Flags (2025)," directed by Lodewijk van Lelyveld, is a timely and engaging Dutch drama-romance that taps directly into the contemporary discourse surrounding "red flags" in relationships. The film effectively captures the intense highs and challenging lows of a gap-year romance for its young adult audience. While critical reception has been mixed, noting some adherence to genre formulas, its strong performance in the Dutch box office and positive reception among its target demographic underscore its relevance. For viewers interested in a relatable and emotionally charged exploration of modern love, self-discovery, and the crucial lessons learned when confronting warning signs, "Red Flags" offers a compelling and thought-provoking watch.