BY: Amanda Jane Stern

Since Netflix released the Polish BDSM flick 365 Days earlier this summer, depictions of kink on screen have come back to the forefront of online discourse. The movie depicts the sexual relationship between Sicilian mobster Massimo (Michele Morrone) and his abductee, Laura (Anna Maria Sieklucka). In fact, according to Forbes, 365 Days is currently the top-ranked movie on Netflix. It has not been without controversy. Much like its recent predecessor in the erotic romance genre, Fifty Shades of Grey, it has come under fire for its romanticization of abuse. But what about movies with positive portrayals of BDSM? Do those exist? They absolutely do. We have rounded up a list of nine erotic movies to scratch that sadomasochistic urge that are not 50 Shades of Grey or 365 Days.

 

Belle de Jour (1967)

Séverine Serizy (Catherine Deneuve) is a young housewife who is unable to be physically intimate with her husband, Dr. Pierre Serizy (Jean Sorel). Instead, she engages in elaborate fantasies of bondage and domination entirely in her mind. The movie opens with one of these fantasies. After learning about a friend who now works at a high-class brothel, Séverine decides to work there. Under the tutelage of brothel owner Madame Anaïs (Geneviève Page), Séverine learns to take control of her sexual desire.

 

Maitresse (1975)

Olivier (Gérard Depardieu), a thief, breaks into a home he believes is empty only to be caught by Ariane (Bulle Ogier), the homeowner. Ariane is also a professional dominatrix with a torture chamber in her basement. Olivier is intrigued with Ariane and continues to visit her, sometimes he even helps her with her work, although he remains confused by her job. As he falls for her, he develops a desire to “save her” from her chosen career, but Ariane is not one to be fooled, nor does she need saving. 

9 1/2 weeks (1986)

John (Mickey Rourke), a Wall Street trader, and Elizabeth (Kim Basinger), an art gallery assistant, enter into a sexual, but not romantic, relationship. As they continue their seduction, their erotic encounters grow increasingly kinky, Elizabeth starts to experience a crisis. She realizes that she wants a relationship that is not solely focused on sexual games. What makes this movie different from many others is how it explores a relationship, when both partners are not on the same page about what they do and don’t want, as sexy as it is at first, it can turn bad quickly.

 

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1990)

Ricky (Antonio Banderas), a young man, abducts and holds captive Marina Osorio (Victoria Abril), an actress with whom he is obsessed in the hopes of making her fall in love with him. Yes, that plot does sound eerily similar to 365 Days, which we promised would not be on this list, but while 365 Days does not acknowledge the inherent wrongness in its lead character’s actions, Pedro Almodóvar knows precisely what he is doing with Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! This film explores the twisted, sadomasochistic relationship between Ricky and Marina by combining the tropes of classic romantic comedies and horror movies.

 

Basic Instinct (1992)

What is the first scene that comes to mind when you think about Basic Instinct? It’s probably the interrogation scene where the icy blonde crime novelist, and murder suspect, Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone) briefly uncrosses her legs to reveal her lack of underwear to police detective Nick Curran (Michael Stone). That scene is not the reason Basic Instinct is on this list. It is there for the cat-and-mouse relationship that forms between Nick and Catherine, which comes to a head when she ties him to a bed and they have sex.

 

Secretary (2002)

When you ask people what the best movie about a dom/sub relationship is, many will say Secretary. And for good reason. Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) takes a job as a secretary for the stern and demanding lawyer, E. Edward Grey (James Spader). As their working relationship continues, Lee finds herself aroused by his severe demeanor and the two begin a sadomasochistic relationship. What makes this movie such a good representation of kink, is how it frames the narrative around her desire instead of his, which evens the playing field in a relationship based on power imbalance.

 

A Dangerous Method (2011)

Swiss psychologist and student of Freud (Viggo Mortensen), Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), embarks on an affair with his former patient, now assistant Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley). Their relationship, which includes bondage and spanking, becomes more entangled when Jung becomes Spielrein’s dissertation advisor. Their relationship also causes a rift between Jung and Freud, who does not believe Jung should have crossed such a line with a patient, even a former one.

 

The Duke of Burgundy (2014)

Evelyn (Chiara D’Anna) is a lepidopterology student under the tutelage of Cynthia (Sidse Babett Knudsen). In addition to their studies, Evelyn also lives and works as a maid in Cynthia’s home. Or so it would first appear. This film delves into the inner workings of their BDSM relationship, and their sexual games. It explores how the submissive partner, can be the one who holds the majority of power in such a relationship, and how Evelyn is the actual orchestrator of their erotic roleplay.

 

Professor Marsten and the Wonder Woman (2017)

How much do you know about the creation of the Wonder Woman comics? Wonder Woman was created by psychologist and college professor William Moulton Marston. If you’ve always been intrigued why Wonder Woman often finds herself tied up, and also carries a lasso that when wielded makes people tell the truth, it’s because Marston and his wife, Elizabeth, also a psychologist, were into BDSM. Additionally, they were in a polyamorous relationship with Olive Byrne, the physical basis for Wonder Woman. This movie explores the erotic relationship between William (Luke Evans), Elizabeth (Rebecca Hall), and Olive (Bella Heathcote). Oh, and the reason for the truth-telling lasso? Marston created the lie detector machine.