The erotic thriller is a film subgenre defined as a film that "combines romanticized, 'erotic' appeal with a dangerous 'thriller' narrative—a "pleasure/danger" principle". The elements of bodily danger and pleasure are central to the plot. Most erotic thrillers contain scenes of softcore sex, though the frequency and explicitness of those scenes varies. British academic Linda Ruth Williams described erotic thriller films as "noirish stories of sexual intrigue incorporating some form of criminality or duplicity, often as the flimsy framework for onscreen softcore sex".
The word "erotic" began to adhere to "thriller" during the 1980s to describe a sudden boom in noir-like thriller films with sexually provocative content. The late 1980s to the mid-1990s are regarded as the "classic period" of the erotic thriller, and the most recognizable films of the genre, such as Basic Instinct, Fatal Attraction, and The Last Seduction were released in this era.
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Precursors to the erotic thriller
In his book Hollywood's Dark Cinema: The American Film Noir, Robert Barton Palmer claimed "perhaps the most popular genre in the 1990s, the so-called erotic thriller [...] is a direct descendant of the classic film noir". Many films of the 1960s and 70s also provocatively mixed noir themes with softcore sex, erotic fantasy, and voyeurism. The erotic thriller also contains influences from the genres of mystery and horror, as well as from pornography.
Notable figures
Certain filmmakers and actors are associated with the genre. Brian De Palma helped usher in the classic period of the genre with films Dressed to Kill and Body Double, and directed Femme Fatale and Passion later in his career. Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven directed Basic Instinct, Showgirls, and Benedetta. Joe Eszterhas became a sought-after screenwriter in the classic period, writing the screenplays for Jagged Edge, Basic Instinct, Showgirls, and Jade. Adrian Lyne has directed several films of the genre, including 9½ Weeks, Fatal Attraction, Indecent Proposal, Unfaithful, and Deep Water. Other filmmakers include Atom Egoyan, Paul Schrader, Abel Ferrara, William Friedkin, David Cronenberg, and Zalman King.
The most recognizable actor associated with erotic thrillers is Michael Douglas, who starred in four films—Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, Disclosure, and A Perfect Murder. Mickey Rourke, Richard Gere, James Spader, and Tom Berenger have also starred in multiple films of the genre. Notable actresses include Sharon Stone, Linda Fiorentino, Glenn Close, Kathleen Turner, Demi Moore, and Greta Scacchi.
List of films: 1930–1940
1931
Safe in Hell
List of films: 1940–1970
1944
Double Indemnity[a]
1958
Vertigo[a]
1962
Lolita[a]
1966
Trans-Europ-Express
1969
Blind Beast
Venus in Furs (a.k.a. Black Angel and Paroxismus)
List of films: 1970–1980
1971
She Killed in Ecstasy
1972
Last Tango in Paris[a]
Punarjanmam
The Stepmother
1973
Maru Piravi
1974
The Teacher
Wife to Be Sacrificed
1975
Waves of Lust
1976
The Hook (a.k.a. To Agistri)
Obsession[a]
Vortex (a.k.a. Blondie, Blondy, and Germacide)
1977
Looking for Mr. Goodbar
1978
Attacked!! (a.k.a. Attack!!)
The Eyes of Laura Mars[a]
Nicole (a.k.a. Crazed and The Widow's Revenge)
List of films: 1980–1989
1982
Cat People (erotic-horror)
The Seduction
1983
American Nightmare
Female Cats
The Fourth Man[a]
The Hunger (erotic-horror)
List of films: 1990–1996
List of films: 1997–2007
2006
Aksar
Basic Instinct 2, neo-noir
Ganda Hendathi
Red Road
2007
Boarding Gate
I Know Who Killed Me, psychological erotic-thriller
Socket
List of films: 2008–2019
2008
Death in Love
Deception
The Kreutzer Sonata
Loft
Poison Ivy: The Secret Society
Sex and Lies in Sin City
2010
The Housemaid
Secret Love
Vlees
A Serbian Film
2011
Murder 2
Ragini MMS
Silver Tongues
X: Night of Vengeance
The Skin I Live In
2012
Dangerous Liaisons
Hate Story
In the House
Jism 2
Passion
The Taste of Money
Under My Nails
2017
Aksar 2
L'Amant double (a.k.a. Double Lover)
Unforgettable
2018
Acrimony
Hate Story 4
In Darkness
Knife+Heart
2019
Sequin in a Blue Room
Queen of Hearts (erotic drama)
List of films: 2020–present
2020
365 Days
Fatale
Lost Girls & Love Hotels
What Lies Below
2021
Benedetta
The Beta Test
Deadly Illusions
The Voyeurs
2022
Deep Water
365 Days: This Day
The Next 365 Days
X
2023
Femme
Fair Play
Saltburn
Rotting in the Sun
Suitable Flesh
2024
Miller's Girl
Love Lies Bleeding
Babygirl
2025
The Housemaid
Fall for Me
Night Stage
Pretty Thing
2026
I Want Your Sex
Night Nurse
Soulm8te
Verity
Miscellaneous crossover films
Macabre, 1980, erotic-horror
The Fan, 1981, erotic-horror
Lovely But Deadly, 1981, erotic-action
Ms .45,[a] 1981, erotic exploitation
The Postman Always Rings Twice,[a] 1981, erotic-drama
Naked Killer, 1992, Hong Kong erotic-action
Shadows Run Black, 1984, erotic-crime thriller
Sole Survivor, 1984, erotic-horror
Sea of Love,[a] 1989, neo-noir
Kill Me Again,[a] 1989, erotic neo-noir
Inner Sanctum, 1991, erotic-drama
Basic Instinct,[a] 1992, neo-noir
Romeo Is Bleeding, 1993, erotic neo-noir
Inner Sanctum II, 1994, erotic-drama
China Moon,[a] 1994, erotic neo-noir
The Last Seduction,[a] 1994, erotic neo-noir
Bound,[a] 1996, erotic neo-noir crime thriller
The Last Seduction II,[a] 1999, erotic neo-noir
Post-period crossover films
Femme Fatale,[a] 2002 mystery/thriller neo-noir
Unfaithful 2002, erotic-drama
Basic Instinct 2, 2006, neo-noir
Lust, Caution, 2007, erotic-drama
Chloe 2009 lesbian romantic drama
Compulsion, 2013, psychological dark comedy erotic thriller
Frank & Lola, 2016, erotic neo-noir
The Handmaiden 2016 lesbian romantic drama