I recently rewatched this movie and I realized why I liked it so much the first time. I have a major interest in "Cluster B" personality disorders (Narcissism, Borderline, and Psychopathy/Sociopathy) and the characters in this film are filled with traits from these disorders.

The lead character Amy is such a good "Cluster B" that she could have been written clinically. She's the daughter of Narcissistic parents, who made her feel perpetually insecure and worthless due to writing a book about her, but making her character in the book more like the perfect daughter they wanted her to be, while making sure that they pointed out all of her faults to her and how she could never truly live up to being this character. As an adult, Amy has traits of Narcissism, Borderline, and Sociopathy and, like a lot of adult children of Narcissists, acts interpersonally in manipulative and controlling ways, possibly because these were the only ways she could get her needs met growing up, or possibly because she believes no one will stay with her otherwise.

Naturally, Amy is married to Nick, who comes across as a very douchey Narcissist himself who loves the spotlight. Amy would be attracted to Nick because that's the kind of love she received from her parents growing up. Amy's former love interest Desi also has Cluster B traits. His obsessive behavior with her seems to suggest he may have Borderline Personality Disorder.

What makes Amy's character so tragic is that, while she believes that her manipulate behavior is the only way to get what she wants, she is also constantly finding that her behavior backfires on her. With Desi, she ends up with a mess on her hands, and the folks she befriends at the campsite end up robbing her. Basically, whenever she tries to pull someone's strings, they either end up turning the tables on her or the whole ordeal just blows up in an unexpected way.

Which sort of explains why Amy and Nick end up together again at the end I guess. Because Nick is the only one that Amy CAN effectively manipulate and control, due to the fact that she is a lot smarter than him, and due to his own Narcissistic cluelessness that makes him susceptible to someone who can fuel his pride. So after all the drama, she ends right back in the only relationship in which she feels "safe," if that makes sense, one where she is in the driver's seat with someone who doesn't actually love her but who also won't leave her, and who is just as interested as she is in presenting a "perfect couple" public face to the world around them.

All in all, it's a great movie, especially when viewing the characters through a psychological lens.