It’s often said that the line between pleasure and pain is very thin. That’s certainly true for those who love spicy food, for example, or who skydive, or for horror fans. I’d also say it is for my friends who do ski mountaineering, for my cousin who eats gorgonzola straight from the jar, and for my boyfriend who squeezes blackheads on his nose – but in this case, “it’s me, not you.”
It’s that unique feeling of pain caused not so much by a tangible, aggressive force, but rather by an emotional disturbance, softening the actual physical discomfort with an inexplicable reaction of pleasure. Once the burn of wasabi fades, the sweet, fresh aftertaste left in our mouth is delightful; after a 2,500-meter free fall, we’ve never felt so grateful to be back on solid ground; and when Sweeney Todd slits his clients’ throats and sends them to Mrs. Lovett, who turns them into meat pies, the underlying thought that he’s dismembering innocents to find the culprit who robbed him of his daughter’s custody – and to avenge his suffering – is moving enough to make us forget all that blood and cannibalism.
Not to mention how many horror movies aren’t pure scare factories but intersperse brutal twists with soft-core elements that help us overlook the rest… actually, let’s talk about that. It’s clear that more or less subtle sexual innuendos in horror stories often contribute to their popular success, the strength of the plot, and the dilution of content that might otherwise be too raw for many to handle and, therefore, hard to enjoy. That’s how Lestat and Louis in “Interview with the Vampire” drink innocent blood but are seductively mesmerizing, how the attraction between Tomas and Edith in “Crimson Peak” is dark and terrifying but also intensely charged with sexual tension, and in “Suspiria”, the danse macabre becomes a mix of submission and sacrifice laced with an uncontrollable desire for physical possession. More examples?
“Blink Twice”
Directed by Zoë Kravitz, this steamy horror follows the (mis)adventure of Frida, a young waitress invited by billionaire Slater King to a private island. What seems like a dream vacation soon turns into a nightmare when Frida discovers that Slater and his friends are hiding a dark secret from the women in the group.
Men versus women, once again? Yes, but it’s never quite enough, and when the sexy sugar daddy of the movie reveals himself to be the monster from our nightmares, the plot becomes even more intriguing than expected.
“MaXXine”
The concluding chapter of the trilogy that began with “Pearl” and “X”, this film follows porn star Maxine Minx, who survived the events of “X” and is now trying to make it as an actress in 1980s Hollywood. In her attempt to secure a role in a horror film after a troubled career in adult cinema, she becomes embroiled in mysteries, murders, and unresolved issues, as her dreams of fame clash with the dark sides of the film industry.
“Fresh”
WARNING: hot topic cannibalism.
In this horror-thriller, a young woman, Noa, tired of disastrous dates with disappointing guys, meets a charming man named Steve. Mature, mysterious, extremely attractive. How could she resist him? At first, everything seems perfect, but when they go on a romantic weekend getaway, Noa discovers Steve’s dark and horrific side: he’s involved in a secret human meat trade. Trapped and isolated, Noa must find a way to survive and escape his plans, which are more dreadful than romantic.
“Alien: Romulus”
In this chapter of the cult saga, a group of young colonizers in the future, the year 2142, attempts to retrieve stasis pods from an abandoned space station, the Renaissance, before it crashes onto a planet. However, once inside, they discover that the station is overrun by deadly Xenomorphs, who begin hunting them down one by one. Sexy where and sexy when you might ask? During their struggle for survival, the protagonists find themselves navigating chrysalis/vagina-like pods dripping with deadly acid, grotesque births, and the classic phallic-headed alien. The sexual innuendos are plentiful in this film, with Easter eggs aplenty to be found!
“Eyes Wide Shut”
This iconic film starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman tells the story of Dr. Bill Harford, a New York physician who, after a shocking confession from his wife Alice about one of her sexual fantasies, spirals into obsession and jealousy. Driven by curiosity and dissatisfaction, Bill immerses himself in a dark world of erotica and secrets, eventually attending an elite, ritualistic sexual ceremony with overtly satanic themes. This risky, terrifying journey makes him question his relationship and his beliefs, revealing the hidden sides not only of society but, more importantly, of himself.
“Dogtooth”
Among the debut films of Yorgos Lanthimos, here a pair of parents keep their three adult children isolated from the outside world, confining them within their property and teaching them a distorted version of reality. No one goes beyond the fence, no one talks to anyone outside the family, and only the son is allowed a weekly sexual encounter with an “external” girl. Completely subjugated, the young victims believe that everything that exists is within the house and that the outside world is dangerous. The parents’ strict discipline is brutally challenged, however, as the children’s curiosity and desire for freedom begin to undermine the oppressive isolation imposed on them.
“Bones and All”
WARNING: hot topic cannibalism.
Luca Guadagnino’s film tells the story of Maren, a young girl who discovers that she is a cannibal and has an insatiable hunger for human flesh. Fleeing her disappointing life and her demons, Maren embarks on a journey across America with Lee, another young cannibal. Together, they explore their identity and nature, facing the challenges of love – both conceptual and carnal – and solitude, while grappling with their predatory instincts. Horror + drama + love addiction: hotter than this, only a burn.
“Fire Walk with Me”
The prequel to David Lynch’s cult series “Twin Peaks” takes us back to the days before the show’s first two seasons, exploring the final days of Laura Palmer, a high school girl hiding a dark secret. While the police investigate her mysterious murder, Laura confronts her tormented existence, filled with abuse and a disturbing presence linked to a malevolent entity in her life. The film, like the series, combines elements of horror and surrealism, delving into themes of duality, loss, damnation, abuse and the search for identity.
