• It’s a Ken Russell film which means it’s controversial in subject matter, visually experimental, and basis much of it around sex vs religion. Basically John Laughlin and Kathleen Turner fall in love through sex and a crazy Anthony Perkins (priest) tries to kill her
  • Lewd—choice phrases and jokes in the opening at the couples/sex therapy meeting
  • Heavy on the neon lights—(Bava Blood and Black Lace, Vertigo) and detailed set arrangement
  • Great opening shot of Perkins through a gloryhole—heavy on hypocrisy
  • Turner (in blonde wig and that trademark deep lauren bacall raspy voice) is all out here and she’s on- superb— Perkins doesn’t hit quite as well but he’s creepy- disheveled and sweaty
  • Rock soundtrack
  • Expressionist – Refn, Lynn Ramsay—flashing lights (some Kama Sutra artwork inserts)
  • There’s almost like a music video (this is 1984) sketch insert as well
  • It also goes nearly complete soft core in a few scenes
  • The screenplay is a little in love with itself with all the playful sexual innuendo and jokes
  • Even in a long dialogue scene with John Laughlin and his wife—Russell spices it up visually which I appreciate—he uses the shadows from the trees on the two in bed
  • It’s all about sex- a meditation on it- reminded me of Carnal Knowledge– every conversation is coming back to this
  • There are some flaws or it would have a great shot of being in the top 10 of 1984- there are tone issues- it’s a love story (a weird one), there’s an odd scene where Turner helps/connects with a dying man, it’s part sexploitation, part comedy (singing and dancing and threatening with a marital aid) part thriller
  • Russell bookends the film with the therapy scene and then we have a smirk wink ending-
  • Recommend