The 1990's marked the climax of the erotic
thriller. Coasting on the experimental success of the late 80's, the
first two years of the 90's saw a plethora of themes and extremes.
Ranging from classic, sex tinged neo noir potboilers to uncomfortable
explorations of sex workers, 1990-1991 formed a strong foundation for the
monolithic years that were soon to follow within the subgenre. Here are
ten films from that era, and where to view them.
The Hot
Spot (1990)
Dennis Hopper's noir homage recalls the sweat
slicked sets of the 50's, particularly the isolation and borderline
inappropriateness of relationships in Ride the Pink Horse. Set in
a quite Texas town, the story is deceptively simple: A mysterious drifter gets
involved with a dangerous women and what follows is sex, murder, and
mayhem. Hopper's unmistakable madcap touch drenches everything,
amplifying the sexual tension and heights of the archetypal characters.
Starring Don Johnson, Jennifer Connelly, and the absolutely mesmerizing
Virginia Madsen (Candyman), The Hot Spot demonstrates that staying
(mostly) within the lines of noirish staples can still set the screen
ablaze.
Availability: Pluto TV (w/ Ads), Shout Factory
Special Edition
Impulse
(1990)
Theresa Russell returns in a back-alley nightmare
helmed by the remarkable Sandra Locke. Russell stars as Lottie, an undercover
vice detective who enjoys her work possibly more than she should. She
begins a relationship with a well-meaning prosecutor, a vulnerable and humane
Jeff Fahey, while also being used as bait in a dangerous sting operation.
While not as steamy as some of her other offerings, Impulse has an
undeniable aura of forbidden desires that permeates throughout. Featuring
a striking villainous turn by George Dzunda and a heart pounding chase sequence
during the second act, this film showcases Locke's talent, reminding viewers of
what could have been before her fallout with Clint Eastwood.
Availability: Digital Rental
After
Dark My Sweet (1990)
James Foley's nihilistic masterpiece features a
trio of unforgettable performances. Jason Patric leads as a mentally ill
former boxer who drifts into a seedy forgotten town. He is supported by
Bruce Dern, in one of the best performances of his career as a corrupt schemer
who draws Patric into his web. Rounding out the trifecta is Rachel Ward
as the sultry not-so-femme fatale. Featuring a beyond steamy sex sequence
and some absolutely soul crushing twists and turns, this bleak neo noir
powerhouse stares into the void of greed and lust and never looks
away.
Availability: Digital Rental
In the
Cold of the Night (1990)
Mind Control. Glowing Waterbeds. Indoor
Motorcycles. Marbles as an erotic party favor. If Vaporwave
was possessed by the sexual specter that haunts the forgotten hallways of VHS
splendor and given a rogue form of cinematic life, it would look like Nico
Mastorakis' sextech-noir In the Cold of the Night. The premise
involves a photographer who begins to have nightmares about killing a woman and
naturally he seeks her out with...unusual consequences. This is a film
that has no regrets about its influences. An homage to Blow Up and
Kiss Me Deadly, Mastorakis' sexual neon warhead plows through any sense
of coherence to deliver the viewer into a world of his own desire.
Featuring a meta cameo by The Bird's Tippy Hedren, Shannon Tweed (the
erotic thriller queen), and remarkable visuals captured by Andreas Bellis'
gorgeous cinematography, this is not only one of the best films in this risque
troupe, it is easily one of the greatest films of the 1990's.
Availability: Vinegar Syndrome Special Edition
Availability: Vinegar Syndrome Special Edition
Mortal
Passions (1990)
Starring Zach Galligan (Gremlins) as Todd,
this is vintage early 90's trash with a heart of wicked gold. The story
centers on a suicidal man who is recovering and while he is out of work, his
duplicitous wife begins working as a cocktail waitress, the result of which is
an extra marital affair. The lovers' plot to kill Todd is complicated by
the arrival of his brother Berke, played by Breaking Bad's Michael
Bowen. What follows is an endless stream of quasi-surreal confrontations
that are bolstered by several sex scenes that enhances the danger and
psychological hijinks that are underway. Add in an absolutely insane
finale and the yield is a memorable, if laughably dramatic thriller.
A Kiss
Before Dying (1991)
A remake of a 1956 adaptation, James Dearden's A
Kiss Before Dying demonstrates that Matt Dillon's is one of the best
American Actors working today. Tapping a darkness that would not be
conjured again until Lars von Trier's The House that Jack Built, Dillon
steals every scene as a mysterious killer who insinuates himself into the lives
of a Copper Baron's family. Supported by Sean Young (Blade Runner)
in twin roles, this joins Cape Fear and The Silence of the Lambs as one of the
best thrillers of 91. Young and Dillon’s chemistry is intoxicating
in every one of their shared scenes, even as the relationship devolves to
terror.
Availability: Digital Rental, STARZ
Sleeping
with the Enemy (1991)
Perhaps the most unique film in this list, Sleeping
with the Enemy is a "light" erotic thriller that hints more at
sexuality, rather than show it. The bulk of the uncomfortable sex
scenes are in the first few minutes, highlighting Julia Roberts’ Laura's
domestic violence prison under Patrick Bergin's intensely creepy Martin. The
film broke Alien's record when it debuted making it the highest grossing
debut of a female focused film in history at that time. It also
demonstrated a divide that continues to grow today. It was critically
panned, yet went onto to make 175 million on a budget of 19 million, with
audiences loving it. Today it is still regarded as one of the best
revenge/erotic thriller of all time by avid fans. What makes the film
work is Bergin’s villainous command of the material juxtaposed by Robert’s slow
transition from fear to rage.
Availability: Digital Rental, STARZ
Whore
(1991)
If Shannon Tweed is the Queen, Theresa Russell is
the erotic Avatar. Her performances are legendary, balancing a volatile
mix of ardor and danger. Playing characters on the edge seems like second
nature, that is until her absolutely phenomenal turn in Ken Russell's deeply
controversial Whore is seen, as it reveals her immeasurable talent.
Russell plays Liz, a street-smart prostitute trying to escape an endless cycle
of drugs and abuse. What sets this film apart is how Russell continually
breaks the fourth wall with a matter of fact understanding of her predicaments,
a performance that undoubtedly influenced Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn.
One of the more disturbing aspects of the film is in how some of the darker
subject matter is handled, mainly because the matter of fact, this is life philosophy
does not change. However, this only enhances the hopeful moments when they
finally shine through at several points in the film, one of which being a
surprisingly tender sequence with a senior citizen client.
Availability: Region 2 DVD
Inner
Sanctum (1991)
The debut feature of professional wrestler
Fabulous Freddy Valentine (Fred Olen Ray), Inner Sanctum stars Tanya
Roberts, Margaux Hemingway, Joseph Bottoms, and Valerie Wildman. The plot,
which is of course not of much import, involves an unfaithful husband who is
trying to kill his wife. He hires a nurse with a shady past (Roberts) to
set up for the crime. Aside from Roberts' hilarious accent, one of the more
charming aspects of this direct to VHS trashterpiece is that the bulk of the
sex sequences take place in a dreamland, the haze of Wildman's drugged wife
endlessly forced to watch her husband's dalliances. While the acting is
meteorically cheesy, there's an undeniable sense of abandon that makes the
experience worth it.
Availability: Digital Rental
Angel in
Red (1991)
Also known as Uncaged, Lisa Hunt's furious
take on the Los Angeles underbelly (and spiritual successor to Streetwalkin') was also the acting debut of Jeffrey Dean
Morgan. The story focuses on siblings who run away into the city of
angels and the oldest turns to prostitution to care for her younger
brother. Her pimp is Morgan's Sharkey, a psychopathic killer who begins
hunting his former employee when she turns to another pimp for
protection. Featuring hilarious shoot outs and a literal duel of the
pimps, this is an excellent addition to the softcore pantheon.
Availability: Amazon Prime
--Kyle Jonathan