10 Overlooked Erotic Thrillers You Should Watch

      Casey Chong highlights a collection of overlooked erotic thrillers that deserve attention…

      While erotic thrillers have significantly decreased in prominence today, the subgenre still occasionally resurfaces with films like the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, Netflix’s Fair Play, and the recently released Babygirl starring Nicole Kidman. This genre experienced its prime during the ‘80s and ‘90s, particularly with influential titles like Body Heat, Fatal Attraction, and Basic Instinct. The success of these films opened the door to many other erotic thrillers, many of which have faded from memory, but some still merit viewing. Here are ten worth checking out…

      **Payback (1995)**

      The late Anthony Hickox, known mostly for his horror films such as the Waxwork series and Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, occasionally explored other genres, as demonstrated with Payback, an erotic thriller reminiscent of The Postman Always Rings Twice. Surprisingly, it surpasses expectations, thanks to Hickox’s confident direction that blends neo-noir elements—featuring a cynical protagonist (C. Thomas Howell’s Oscar Bonsetter) and a femme fatale (Joan Severance’s Rose Gullerman)—along with several memorable erotic scenes. Despite Howell’s distracting mustache, he convincingly portrays an ex-con seeking revenge on the prison guard (Marshall Bell) who killed his friend. The film's standout moments arise from the palpable chemistry between Howell and Severance, who plays the prison guard’s alluring wife. Hickox exceeds even Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange’s famous tabletop scene with a raw portrayal of Howell and Severance’s passionate kitchen encounter.

      **Femme Fatale (2002)**

      Until the disappointing final twist, Brian De Palma employs every tool in his filmmaking arsenal effectively. He showcases his directorial skills from the beginning, featuring an audacious diamond heist with a daring bathroom stall scene between Rebecca Romijn-Stamos (now Rebecca Romijn) and Rie Rasmussen. This elaborate introduction echoes De Palma’s impressive work in Mission: Impossible, highlighting every movement through meticulous camera work and editing that builds suspense from multiple perspectives. The film is filled with betrayals, seduction, and manipulation, focusing on the complex plan of the protagonist, who uses paparazzo Nicolas Bardo (Antonio Banderas) as bait. De Palma’s playful exploitation of these tropes reveals the film's seductive and entertaining nature, culminating in a memorable moment featuring Romijn’s striptease and a quick liaison.

      **Jade (1995)**

      After a brief comeback with 1985’s To Live and Die in L.A., the 1990s were not kind to William Friedkin. One of his projects was Jade, released during the erotic-thriller wave, but it unfortunately underperformed at the box office. Unlike Paul Verhoeven’s Basic Instinct, which effectively reignited the genre, Friedkin has his own unique approach to erotic thrillers, opting for a raw portrayal of sex scenes. Linda Fiorentino plays the classic femme fatale, while David Caruso delivers a strong performance as the determined assistant district attorney. Jade also showcases Friedkin’s visceral directorial style, especially noted in the thrilling car chase through the hilly streets of San Francisco, capturing the urgency and tactile nature of the scene.

      **Sea of Love (1989)**

      The 1980s were not particularly fruitful for Al Pacino, especially after his remarkable performances in the ‘70s with the first two Godfather films, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon. Except for Scarface, most of his 1980s roles were forgettable until Sea of Love came along, marking a significant comeback as he perfectly encapsulates the role of a weary cop grappling with alcoholism. Director Harold Becker skillfully blends police procedural and erotic thriller elements, introduced with Ellen Barkin’s breakout performance as the seductive divorcée Helen Cruger. The film thrives on the chemistry between Pacino’s Detective Frank Keller and Barkin’s Cruger, starting with an enticing dynamic. Becker adeptly navigates the shifting power balance as sexual tension builds between Frank and Helen, with Helen steering the course of their encounters.

      **Color of Night (1994)**

      By the early 1990s, Bruce Willis was a huge star, largely due to Die Hard. In 1994, he appeared in four films, including a standout role in Pulp Fiction; among them was Color of Night, an unusual entry in Willis’ filmography where he takes on a role in an erotic thriller. He plays a psychologist suffering from color blindness due to witnessing a suicide. The film marks the return of director Richard Rush, whose previous feature was The Stunt Man in 1980, and his odd foray into the erotic thriller genre can be described as an over-the-top guilty pleasure. Rush incorporates numerous red herrings, mingling different genres—from Hitchcock-style whodunits to slasher horror and action sequences (notably a car