After kicking off July with discussions of queer director Roland Emmerich’s summer tentpole Independence Day (listen) and Joe Dante’s seminal werewolf film The Howling (listen), we’re tackling our very first Ken Russell film in his controversial 1984 erotic thriller Crimes of Passion!
Crimes of Passion sees successful fashion designer Joanna Crane (Kathleen Turner, Serial Mom) moonlight as a sex worker named China Blue. Complications arise when she is targeted by two men: one a lonely, married electronics store owner (John Laughlin) who falls in love with her while spying on her, and the other a psychotic, predatory preacher (Anthony Perkins, Psycho) who seeks to “save” her using a bladed vibrator name “Superman.”
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Episode 395: Crimes of Passion (1984)
Huff those poppers and wield that bladed stake vibrator thing you stupid douchebag, because we’re talking our very first Ken Russell film in his messy-but-fascinating erotic thriller Crimes of Passion (1984)!
Join us as we do a deep dive into what Joe describes as a John Waters fever dream. It’s a film that boasts fantastic performances from Kathleen Turner and Anthony Perkins (in a role we would deem “brave” for the actor), who electrify the screen when its not focused on the torturous mundane existence that is heterosexual marriage.
Plus, X-rated MPAA woes, that “magic” trick, silhouette sex, debating the mixed messaging of the ending, and genuinely wondering when the hell Joanna sleeps!
Cross out Crimes of Passion
Coming Up Next: We’re tackling one of Stephen King’s worst adaptations in Lawence Kasdan’s baffling 2003 misfire Dreamcatcher.
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