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Unfaithful (2002)
Unfaithful (2002)
2002 | Drama, Mystery
A deceitfully simple erotic thriller that goes from idle 0 to 100 so suddenly it could cause whiplash. A lot of things I love about this one: the trio of stellar performances from Gere, Lane, and Martinez; the way it reaches its cold tendrils into numerous different genres; and while it isn't as visually attractive as 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘭 (still looks great though, as is standard with Lyne) it's eight billion times more subtle. Though perhaps the highest nuance for a film that so easily could have been another anemic dump into the ever-sterilizing late-90s-esque trashy erotic thriller genre is how all of these events and the subsequent domino effect they set in motion don't really start out from your standard 'nondescript failing marriage' trope. This is a relatively happy, normal, even healthy family which still ends up... in an Adrian Lyne movie. It gives a false sense of hope and thus almost this feeling of normalcy, like even though you're a model citizen something of this severity could still somehow happen to you or someone you're close with, which quickly becomes rather traumatizing. Has a lot of solid banter and shit-your-pants "get me the fuck out of here" moments strung together nicely. Wasn't sure where it was going at first, but it all made sense in the end.
  
The Skin I Live In (La piel que habito) (2011)
The Skin I Live In (La piel que habito) (2011)
2011 | Drama, Horror, International, Mystery
Operatically twisted (and twisty) erotic psycho-horror-thriller-drama from Almodovar. Brilliant scientist and surgeon (Banderas) seems to be keeping a young woman (Anaya) prisoner in his house, and performing various experiments on her (even his mum thinks he is insane). But the truth turns out to be a little more complicated than it at first seems...

Initially seems like much more of a plot-driven genre movie than is typical for this director, but the familiar themes (sex, desire, obsession, family ties) soon resurface albeit in somewhat modulated form. The plot grips like a vice, the performances are superb, it looks fabulous, and the (warped) sensuality of the film makes most so-called erotic thrillers look very bland and tame. This would qualify as a masterpiece, as good as anything Almodovar has ever done, except for the ending, which feels like a significant misstep, stumbling for conventional closure in a way that just doesn't ring true or feel satisfying. Nevertheless, a brilliant piece of film-making. (Do NOT read or hear a plot synopsis before watching if you can possibly avoid it.)