The Erotic Thriller in Contemporary Cinema

Linda Ruth Williams

Published by Edinburgh University Press 2005

The Erotic Thriller in Contemporary Cinema

Linda Ruth Williams

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474473606

Overview
Contents

About this book

A bold and original study, this is the first book to examine in detail a new genre which evolved since the 1980s in tandem with shifts in the culture of sexuality and the rise of video - the erotic thriller. The book traces the erotic thriller's exploitation of pornography and noir, discusses mainstream stars (such as Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone) alongside genre-branded direct-to-video stars, charts the work of key producers and directors, and reads home-viewing as a distinct form of spectatorial pleasure. It maps the history of 'suspense in suspenders' films, analysing hundreds of movies from blockbusters such as Basic Instinct, Fatal Attraction and In the Cut to straight-to-video film titles such as Carnal Crimes, Sins of Desire and Night Eyes.

The Erotic Thriller in Contemporary Cinema reads genre as laying bare the poetics of the cinematic marketplace. The erotic thriller plays out the sexual fantasies of contemporary America, which are marketed globally. Williams's witty and illuminating readings not only tell the story of this sensational genre, but contribute to the analysis of mainstream screen sex - and its censorship - at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

Key Features

The first study of an important new film genre.
Of interest to general film-goers and fans of the genre, the book also fills a major gap in the academic market.
Includes interviews with important industry personnel such as Paul Verhoeven, William Friedkin, Brian De Palma, Gregory Dark, Katt Shea and Jag Mundhra.

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Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
CONTENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Acknowledgements and thanks Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
1 Introduction: Carnal Crimes: The Erotic Thriller from Noir to the 1990s Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
PART I Blockbuster Thrills: Erotic Noir in the Mainstream
Definitions and Precursors Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	77
2 Femme Fatales, Fall-Guys and Paranoid Women: Sexual and Narrative Blueprints Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	97
3 ‘Meisters of Porno-noir’ – Key Players in the Cinematic Erotic Thriller Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	147
PART II Suspense in Suspenders: The Direct-to-Video Erotic Thriller
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	249
4 Softcore on the Sofa Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	253
5 The Bad and the Beautiful: Key Players in the Direct-to-Video Erotic Thriller Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	284
6 Uncovered and Undercover: Issues in the Direct-to-Video Erotic Thriller Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	331
Conclusion: The Erotic Thriller’s Hybrid Children Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	377
Afterword on In the Cut: New Century, Old Sex? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	417
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	421
Films Cited Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	444
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	456

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 480
Keywords: Film, Media & Cultural Studies

eBook

Published: July 11, 2005
ISBN: 9781474473606