There have been many casualties of today’s streaming world. Movies are more accessible than ever, but there is also a huge lack of variety. Unless you are a fan of superhero movies, true crime, or established franchises, there is not a lot to choose from. There are the occasional surprises like Squid Game and niche channels cater to genre fans to an extent, but overall there just is not as much stuff as there used to be.
We Kill for Love looks at a popular sub-genre that has all but disappeared. Erotic thrillers ruled the cable airwaves in the 1980s and 90s. They were so popular there was even an erotic drama anthology series. It seemed like the genre would be around forever since sex will always sell. Filmmaker Anthony Penta looks at the rise and fall of erotic thrillers and how they are now almost forgotten.
As with any documentary about film, there are a number of interviews. Film historians, those who were involved in the industry, and people who love the genre are all interviewed. This leads to a number of surprising takes including the importance of Alfred Hitchcock. One of the more interesting opinions is when someone states erotic thrillers still exist, it is just in a toned down form on the Lifetime Network.
Archival footage is also a big part of We Kill for Love. This enables Penta to showcase the sheer scope of erotic movies which at one point included big name productions along with its late night premium cable fare. There is also a great score that feels like it was right out of one of the films. The movie wraparound fits the spirit of a titillating thriller but sometimes feels too silly, however.
The documentary does not just talk about the most important moments in the genre’s torrid history. We Kill for Love is an exhaustive look that closely examines a number of points. No stone is left unturned or shirt left unbuttoned. At close to three hours it can feel like a stretch, but it is a must watch for cinema fans.
We Kill for Love is available On Demand September 1
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