1994
and 1995 marked the beginning of the end for popular adult oriented
cinema. As studios began to run out of ideas and softcore features began
to dominate direct to video offerings, original ideas were in short supply,
leading to some interesting films that would demonstrate the elasticity of the
genre, being able to ebb between art house depth and Penthouse schlock. What
follows are ten films from the time period and where to find them.
Color of Night (1994)
Hailed
by Maxim as having the greatest sex scene of all time, Richard Rush's infamous
neo-noir is top shelf trash. Featuring a convoluted, and yet predictable
plot, Bruce Willis portrays a troubled psychiatrist who is trying to figure out
who murdered his best friend and colleague by taking over his therapy group
that consists of a rogue's gallery of character actors. Matters
become complicated when a mysterious woman (Jane March) enters his life.
Featuring some of the steamiest sex scenes ever filmed, Bruce Willis' member,
and a wonderful blend of Giallo influences, the director's cut is a cornerstone
of erotic cinema.
Availability:
Digital Rental
Disclosure (1994)
Michael
Douglas (yet again) and Demi Moore star in a corporate thriller that focuses on
sexual harassment, power and gender dynamics, and corporate espionage. This
is an interesting film with complicated ideas that nevee truly manifest.
While the central sex sequence is both simultaneously awkward and enticing, the
aftermath is focused more on sexism and gender expectations, which is perhaps
more intriguing than the incident at the core, however these concepts are sidestepped
in favor of a clean ending that focuses on the corporate elements at play.
Availability:
Digital Rental
Exotica (1994)
Atom
Egoyan's masterwork, Exotica is a sexual dirge. The central plot
revolves around Francis (Bruce Greenwood), a bereft man and Christina (Mia
Kirshner), an exotic dancer. Their relationship is defined by boundaries
and pain as they form the center of a tragic web that connects the various
lives in orbit around them. Taking the FIPRESCI at Cannes, this is a
remarkable meditation on the power of memory, sexual obsession, and
guilt.
Availability:
DVD
The Last Seduction (1994)
Neo-noir
master John Dahl's The Last Seduction is a pitch black descent into
greed, murder, and sex. Featuring Bill Pullman, Peter Berg, and Linda
Fiorentino in her best performance, the story follows a femme fatale who leaves
her husband with a bag full of cash. The intriguing aspect, aside from
Fiorentino's breathtaking bravura, is in how the twists and turns play
out. Everything is part of Bridget's (Fiorentino) murderous design and
Steve Barancik's remarkable script refuses to hold back. Doom
is on the horizon for those in Bridget's wake, and the result is an
unforgettable, sleazy good time.
Availability: HBOGO, Digital Rental
Availability: HBOGO, Digital Rental
Dangerous Touch (1994)
A
perfect guilty pleasure, Lou Diamond Phillips' (who also stars) Dangerous Touch
also stars Kate Vernon (Battlestar Galactica) as a radio talk show host who
begins a relationship with a shady grifter. What begins as a con slowly
devolves into a complex power dynamic. While the usual elements are at
play (murder, betrayal, bedroom gymnastics) Phillips clearly understands the
genre and has fun with it, sometimes bordering on satire. The finale is amazing
and worth the rental price alone.
Availability: Digital Rental
Availability: Digital Rental
Showgirls (1995)
While a satire and a garbage pail twin of All About Eve,
Showgirls is clearly making several statements at once. Sexual violence,
sexual acrobatics, and sexual currency are all under the microscope, disguised
by the amazing costuming of Ellen Mirojnick and the luscious cinematography of
Jost Vacano. The film captures the essence behind the lights of the city and
presents Nomi's story as a neon-induced, sexually charged Alice in
Wonderland, in which the monsters are men and the rabbit is the idea of
fame rather than its unpleasant realities. Showgirls is the
ultimate adult fairy tale that will forever be known for its colossal failure,
but it will always be remembered for its jaw dropping delivery. A beautiful
mess of a film.
Availability: Digital Rental
Sorceress (1995)
Softcore
icon Jim Wynorski directs his best film, a supernatural horror exotica bonanza:
Sorceress. Julie Strain (Penthouse) is a witch who uses black
magic to ensure her husband's law career flourishes, at the expense of his
rivals. The wife of one of the victims (Linda Blair, Exorcist) is
also a witch who vows revenge. Also starring Michael Parks, Toni Naples,
Edward Albert, and Rochelle Swanson, this is an absolute marvel. The sex
sequences are some of Wynorski's best, fusing elements of horror and witchcraft
to create an ambiance that transcends low budget fare. The finale is
absolutely insane, involving dueling witches, mind control, and shower antics
while mimicking a slasher film. The end result is sexploitation at its
finest.
Embrace of the Vampire (1995)
Alyssa
Milano's infamous erotic horror film, Embrace of the Vampire was one of
the most popular direct to video films in the mid 90's, largely due to Milano's
risqué sex scenes. Directed by prolific editor Anne Goursand, who go on
to direct Milano in Poison Ivy 2: Lily, the story revolves around a
chaste college student whose dreams are being haunted by a vampire, intent on
turning her away from her milquetoast boyfriend. While the erotica was
scandalous at the time of its release, in retrospect, the scenes are filmed
tastefully, with art house sensibilities that only enhance the mystique that
hangs on each frame.
Availability:
Digital Rental
Stormswept (1995)
Directed
by pornographer David Frazier Marsh and cowritten by his wife Svetlana, an
adult film star, Stormswept is a marriage of porn film plotting with
late 70's horror sensitives. There is barely a plot, instead it focuses
on a group of people who are trapped in a haunted plantation manner due to a
storm. The evil presence (you guessed it) forces people to give into
their sexual desires. The is essentially a softcore hangout movie, with the
characters having random conversations before initiating another bedroom
romp. The final yield is an interesting attempt to bridge the gap between
pornography and adult focused cinema.
Availability: Amazon Prime
Availability: Amazon Prime
Jade (1995)
William
Friedkin's favorite film that he directed; Jade was a massive failure at
the box office. Written by erotic guru Joe Eszterhas, the script was
rewritten by Friedkin which led to nonsensical plotlines that would ultimately
doom production. Featuring another fatale performance by Linda Fiorentino
the story revolves around an attorney who is drawn into a murder investigation
involving prostitutes and politicians. At the center is Fiorentino's
upper class wife who moonlights as Jade, the eponymous call girl. Featuring
David Caruso, Chazz Palminteri, Richard Crenna, Michael Biehn, Holt McCallany,
and Angie Everhart, Jade is a labyrinthine noir journey that deals with
the power of sexual freedom while also making a sly commentary on the concept
of marriage and fidelity.
Availability:
Digital Rental
--Kyle
Jonathan