Let's Talk About Sex, Baby

The first and perhaps most important rule about Hollywood is that nobody knows anything. With that in mind, we are declaring the erotic thriller is back.

Okay, I, a lone writer, am declaring the erotic thriller is back. No, I did not consult tarot cards or look into a crystal ball. Instead, I saw Babygirl, Saltburn, and The Handmaiden pop up over the last several years, not to mention Sanctuary, Love Lies Bleeding, Motel Destino, The Voyeurs, Femme, and Deep Water, among a slew of other films that combine sensual with suspenseful. And while these films range in subject matter, they all contain the threads of the erotic thriller genre popularized in the 80s and 90s.

What is an Erotic Thriller?

In short, erotic thrillers use bodily danger and pleasure as part of the character’s story. There’s often soft-core sex and nudity, but explicitness ranges. That said, this kind of film can include murder mysteries, psychological thrillers, suspense stories, illicit romances and affairs, sexual obsessions, or even gothic themes. Not to be confused with sexploitation, it’s got far more in common with film noir.

Babygirl has an obvious sexy hook—what if a high-powered female CEO into a specific kink had an affair with her young male intern? Love Lies Bleeding features thrills, chills, and neo-noir queers. Challengers, on the other hand, never once depicts actual sex, but implies there is a lingering threesome lasting over a decade between tennis pros.

Here’s a sampling of some features that exemplify the genre:

American Gigolo: Richard Gere’s breakout role as a luxury male escort who gets mixed up in a murder was fresh, exciting, and of its time. Plus, full-frontal nudity!

Basic Instinct: A violent yet stylish film with detective Michael Douglas hot on the trail of novelist, femme fatale, and murderess Sharon Stone. Paul Verhoeven (of Robocop and Showgirls) influenced a generation and made millions at the box office.

Body Double: While it’s a clear Alfred Hitchcock mash-up of Read Window meets Vertigo, it’s also Brian de Palma, so it gets weird. Violence and sex intersect when an actor afraid of small spaces keeps spying on an erotic dancer.

Body Heat: Kathleen Turner is a rich bombshell married to someone she hates. William Hurt is a seedy lawyer having an affair with Kathleen Turner. They plot the murder of her husband—double-crossings and erotic chaos ensue.

Fatal Attraction: Glenn Close has an affair with Michael Douglas. He breaks it off; she suffers a breakdown. Everyone suffers the consequences.

Why the Erotic Thriller is BACK!

Like low-rise jeans and Pamela Anderson, many things from the 90s seem to be on their way back. For years, the erotic thriller wasn’t much of a hit thanks to—but not limited to:

1. The desire for four-quadrant hits. Not only should your child absolutely not see these films until they are much, much older, but it’s difficult to immerse yourself in the story when you’re sitting next to your grandpa. Thus, studios may be less likely to purchase an erotic thriller script, especially if they’re trying to appeal to family markets or all ages.
2. The easy access to pornography online. If you can see titillating scenes on your screen in seconds, there’s no need to head to the movies.
3. Changing attitudes. The #MeToo movement was much needed and still has a long way to go. But it’s also made studios skittish about featuring sex in films. Plus, a lot of those films from the 80s and 90s can “give the ick”—the tropes surrounding femme fatales, the male gaze, etc., have become stale. We’re better than that.

On the other hand…

1. They’re cheaper to produce. Unlike big-budget affairs or action flicks, erotic thrillers tend to lean on small casts and easy-to-shoot locations. That makes them an easier sell.
2. Streaming remains on the rise. Deep Water debuted at number one on Hulu. Adults want films for date night that they can easily put on at home. And streaming services want cheap, easy-to-produce material they can add to these catalogs.
3. Tastes are changing again. Let’s face it: modern sexual politics are brimming with possibilities for this genre. Between hook-up culture, parasocial relationships with influencers, and dating app hell, there is plenty to pull from in the digital age. And frankly, we need more stories and roles that involve marginalized communities, queer relationships, and women of all ages.

So, what does it take to make an erotic thriller that stands the test of time? The connection between “horny” and “suspense.” However, great storytelling with powerful protagonists always triumphs provocativeness. Every scene, even the erotic ones, is integrated into the plot. Sexual tension is woven to help serve the character, not the other way around.

Sexual encounters are great, but how can they heighten to increase tension or reveal character? How is your protagonist in danger? How do their actions set them up to experience more danger? And how does your story end—what is the most thrilling point for your climax? (I swear, no pun intended.) What does your protagonist fear, and how will that stand in the way of them reaching a satisfying ending?

Remember, no one in Hollywood knows anything. But everyone knows sex sells.

Even if you don’t think the erotic thriller is on its way back or is something you’d never think about writing, it never hurts to try outlining an idea that’s outside your comfort zone.

*Feature photo from Babygirl (A24)