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| Images Courtesy of Neon |
At the heart of the Erotic Thriller is almost always a story about power dynamics. Even at the sleaziest heights of the direct to video 90's. The kinky thrillers were always concerned with people who have power and those who do not. Zachary Wigon's sophomore feature film, Sanctuary is perhaps one of the most unique approaches to the subject matter attempted thus far. Blending elements of vintage comedies and mystery thrillers while taking a less is more approach to the erotic undertones; this is a chamber piece that delves into the complexities of dominant and submissive relationships while paying an homage to the genre that allowed it to come into creation.
Hal is the heir to a hotel empire who is meeting with
Rebecca, a professional dominatrix. As their meeting begins to escalate
and agendas are revealed, it becomes clear that nothing is what it seems. Micah
Bloomberg's script is a unique creature. It is based on a stage play and
it translates seamlessly to the screen, without losing any of the
ambiance. The way the dialogue crackles and the manner in which Wigon blocks
them is fascinating, with little details dappled throughout that only enhance
the faux mystery as it begins to shed away layer after layer.
Despite a lack of actual graphic sex, this is an extremely
romantic and sultry film that only works because of the intensity that its
principals bring. Christopher Abbott does a remarkable job as the possibly
submissive half of the relationship while Qualley almost threatens to steal
every scene as the dominant of the pair. Their chemistry is outright sexy
and believable, even as deception after deception are revealed. The
attention to detail both in dialogue and physicality on display tells as much
of the story as their body language, which allows for some levity and humor to
slowly work its way into the viewer's mind.
Now playing in theaters and coming soon to digital on demand, Sanctuary is
a fun film that demands surrender to its premise. It works solely due to
the talent of the cast and because of its fresh approach to subjects that are
still (regrettably) considered taboo or comedic fodder within mainstream media
today. However, if given a chance, this is a film that ultimately reveals
how such misunderstood relationships are often full of love and sometimes even
stronger and longer lasting than "traditional" concepts of
partnerships. If you are looking for something that can be both
terrifying and heartwarming, this is a must see.
--Kyle Jonathan