When representing domestic abuse on screen there's always an attempt to present the vitcim as far from being a 'type' as possible; there's no one out there who inherently deserves it to happen to them. What's often less explored is that it can be the same on the other side; there are people out there who are naturally violent, sure, but most domestic abuse regrettably comes from people who wouldn't even expect it themselves. The film plays with the dark nature of this with Amy's accusations; like you'd expect any man to be, Nick was noticeably shocked by the initial claims of domestic abuse, with him clearly uncomfortable with having to later on accept the accusations on TV to clear Amy's story. Which only makes the moment when, after slinging the c-word back and forth, Nick slams Amy into a wall all the more shocking. She could of course use this as fuel against Nick, but given how all the previous claims were false it's less what she could do with it and more what it says about him. Even though it's after murder and arrests, the moment is still one that leaves you taken aback and serves as one of many ways the fictional thriller feels incredibly relevant. It's not in any way condoning or excusing it, but here we're seeing how even the most docile person can be pushed to extremes. How it happened is borderline fantastical, but the general notion - that anyone can have a lapse of control - is a potent one.
