The erotic thriller, often unfairly labeled as exploitative, cheap, and gratuitous, holds a dubious reputation in the world of cinema. While some examples, like the aptly named *Body of Evidence*, do live up to this infamous legacy, the genre offers more than just titillating scenes. At its best, the erotic thriller delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche, examining themes of ambition, desire, obsession, guilt, and vulnerability. These films provide insightful commentary on these complex emotions, proving that a film can be steamy, sexy, affecting, and poignant all at once.
Here are ten of the best examples of this unjustly slandered genre, brilliant and even acclaimed movies that challenge preconceived notions and demonstrate the potential for the erotic thriller to be both entertaining and thought-provoking.
10. Body Heat (1981)
Oscar nominee Kathleen Turner delivers a powerful screen debut in Lawrence Kasdan’s 1981 erotic thriller *Body Heat*. William Hurt stars as Ned Racine, an inept lawyer who embarks on an affair with Matty Walker (Turner), a seductive woman married to a powerful tycoon. Ned hatches a plan to kill Matty’s husband and run away with her and his fortune. However, things are not as they seem, and Ned finds himself trapped in a web of deceit and danger.
Inspired by the classic film noir *Double Indemnity*, *Body Heat* is a steamier and more provocative take on the genre. Turner excels as the classic femme fatale, and her performance is perfectly complemented by Hurt’s portrayal of the pathetic, yet surprisingly resourceful Ned. The film’s success lies in its ability to find the right balance between classic noir elements and a modern approach, resulting in one of the earliest neo-noirs that showcases the talent of its stars.
9. Dressed to Kill (1980)
Brian De Palma’s divisive 1980 erotic thriller *Dressed to Kill* remains a subject of debate. Two-time Oscar winner Michael Caine stars as Dr. Robert Elliott, who is treating a sexually repressed housewife, Kate. When Kate is brutally murdered, her son joins forces with a prostitute who witnessed the crime to try and find the killer before he strikes again.
Like many great thrillers, *Dressed to Kill* is heavily influenced by Alfred Hitchcock’s work; it even contains several direct references to Hitchcock’s classic *Psycho*. The plot, which features a male assassin with a dual, murderous female personality, remains controversial for its alleged negative portrayal of sexual minorities. However, the film is one of De Palma’s most engrossing, with intense and somewhat garish visuals, a gripping mystery, and another over-the-top performance from Caine.
8. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
The name “Stanley Kubrick” might not be the first to come to mind when discussing the erotic thriller. Kubrick, known for masterpieces in genres ranging from sci-fi to satire, also directed this unconventional erotic thriller/drama starring the iconic duo Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. *Eyes Wide Shut* follows a wealthy doctor who attends an underground sex party following an argument with his wife. He soon realizes that he is in over his head.
Cruise is the perfect protagonist for this eerie film, which effortlessly blends sensuality with mystery. Ever curious about the darker aspects of the human mind, Kubrick’s lens lingers on Cruise, finding the inherent eroticism in every interaction. *Eyes Wide Shut* features one of the most talked-about scenes in 90s cinema, a bizarre orgy where Kubrick plunges his audience into an enthralling, yet deeply disturbing world that walks the line between dream and reality. As much a psychological drama as an erotic thriller, *Eyes Wide Shut* is a remarkable collaboration between three of cinema’s greatest creative forces.
7. Wild Things (1998)
Neve Campbell, Denise Richards, Matt Dillon, and Kevin Bacon star in the 1998 erotic thriller *Wild Things*. The plot revolves around a high school guidance counselor accused of sexual assault by two students. However, the story quickly becomes complicated, revealing a web of intricate lies that will surely surprise the audience.
No erotic thriller has ever featured a more convoluted or deliciously absurd plot than *Wild Things*. The film pushes the boundaries of the genre, taking classic tropes and adding a refreshing, albeit illogical, spin. It features one scandalous twist after another; few make sense, and the infamous ending falls apart upon close examination. However, the cast is so captivating – particularly a phenomenal Campbell in one of her most unforgettable roles – that it effortlessly elevates *Wild Things* to the apex of erotic thrillers.
6. Fatal Attraction (1987)
Adrian Lyne’s 1987 erotic psychological thriller *Fatal Attraction* is one of the most well-known and celebrated examples of the genre. In her breakout performance, Glenn Close stars as Alex Forrest, a single editor who becomes obsessed with Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas), the married man she had a one-night stand with. What begins as a casual encounter quickly spirals into a dangerous ordeal as Alex loses control of her sanity.
With *Fatal Attraction*, Glenn Close did for the femme fatale what Margaret Hamilton did for the witch trope in *The Wizard of Oz*. Close has said that men would approach her on the streets and actually thank her for supposedly saving their marriages; in other words, her performance terrified men into fidelity. Aside from Close’s tour de force, *Fatal Attraction* excels as a tense and emotionally demanding thriller that taps into our deepest insecurities. Doubt, fear of loneliness, intimacy, and the need to be needed by another are all expertly juggled by Lyne, Close, and Douglas.
5. Basic Instinct (1992)
Academy Award nominee Sharon Stone became an overnight sensation thanks to her deliciously wicked performance in Paul Verhoeven’s 1992 erotic thriller *Basic Instinct*. Michael Douglas stars as Nick Curran, a San Francisco police detective investigating the brutal death of a rock star. The prime suspect is Catherine Tramell (Stone), a seductive and mysterious writer who Nick finds himself impossibly drawn to.
Often described as a salacious and stylish Hitchcockian thriller, *Basic Instinct* is probably what most people think of when they hear the term “erotic thriller.” The film has all the hallmarks of a great Verhoeven movie: emotional violence, lurid themes, and compelling, yet unsettling characters. Stone anchors the film, delivering a star-making portrayal of shameless infamy. In her hands, Catherine Tramell is as irresistible as everyone in the film claims she is. It’s an impressive feat that few other actresses could achieve.
4. The Handmaiden (2016)
Directed, co-produced, and co-written by Park Chan-wook and based on the 2002 novel *Fingersmith*, *The Handmaiden* is, without a doubt, the best erotic thriller of the 21st century. The plot centers on Count Fujiwara, a Korean con man who hires a young orphan pickpocket to act as a handmaid to a wealthy Japanese woman, hoping to defraud her.
Highly stylized yet narratively rich, *The Handmaiden* strikes a remarkable balance between sumptuous visuals and evocative storytelling. Park’s camera is simultaneously voyeuristic and revealing, ogling his performers yet taking the time to care about their inner turmoil. Everything about this film is gorgeous, from the costumes to the staging to the lush production design that is both evocative and immersive. *The Handmaiden* is a rare film that blends style with substance, surrounding the entire affair in black humor and a distinctive bleakness that creates a fascinating viewing experience.
3. Bound (1996)
Leave it to the Wachowskis to create one of the best erotic thrillers in history. *Bride of Chucky* star Jennifer Tilly joins Gina Gershon in the directors’ daring and subversive *Bound*, which follows the story of Violet, the dissatisfied girlfriend of a mafioso. After entering into an affair with Corky (Gershon), a woman recently released from prison, Violet hatches a plan to steal a large sum of mafia money.
While many erotic thrillers focus more on the romantic aspect, *Bound* actually places more emphasis on the heist. A tight and kinetic throwback to the classic crime capers that gave rise to the genre, *Bound* showcases the Wachowskis at their most creative. Tilly and Gershon are spectacular together, delivering explosive performances, and they’re supported by an excellent ensemble that includes a genuinely menacing Joe Pantoliano. Fans of erotic cinema will find plenty to enjoy here, but *Bound* largely excels as an expertly made thriller that stands out as one of the best movies of the 90s.
2. Exotica (1994)
Atom Egoyan is a master of the adverse. His films often explore the inherent misery of existence, but none capture it better than *Exotica*, the second-best erotic thriller of 1994. *The Fall of the House of Usher* actor Bruce Greenwood stars as Francis Brown, a depressed man grieving the death of his daughter by spending his days in the Exotica nightclub, where he becomes obsessed with Christina (Mia Kirshner), a beautiful young dancer.
No erotic thriller has ever captured the bittersweet nature of human connection as hauntingly as *Exotica*. Egoyan is at his most confident, offering a bleak yet hopeful take on grief and the human condition. Greenwood is the perfect vessel to explore such complicated feelings, embodying Francis’ desolation with disturbing authenticity. Still, *Exotica*’s true star is Mia Kirshner, whose portrayal of Christina is haunting and hypnotizing. Somber yet vulnerable, Kirshner is utterly brilliant in the role, crafting a singular depiction of pain and trauma that should have earned her an Oscar nomination.
1. The Last Seduction (1994)
If anyone has ever come close to taking Barbara Stanwyck’s crown as cinema’s ultimate femme fatale, it’s Linda Florentino in the masterful 1994 erotic thriller *The Last Seduction*. The film centers on Bridget Gregory (Florentino), a ruthless woman who convinces her hapless husband to sell cocaine before running away with the money. En route to Chicago, she stops in a small town, where she enters into a relationship with an insurance agent, who she eventually convinces to help get rid of her husband.
Bridget Gregory embodies the femme fatale, and Florentino delivers a tour de force in the role. She’s sexy, vicious, provocative, dangerous, and utterly irresistible. You, me, and the men she seduces know she is trouble, but we don’t care; such is the strength of her allure. Florentino is mesmerizing in a role that should have earned her an Oscar, especially considering how weak the 1995 Best Actress category was. *The Last Seduction* is the crowning jewel of the erotic thriller: clever yet appropriately steamy, ruthless yet seductive. It’s a film that understands what it is and chooses to be the best possible version of itself. With such a performance at its center, how can it not be?.
