Kink has had a challenging history in cinema—that’s what happens when the most popular example of a kinky representation at the movies this millennium is the Fifty Shades of Grey series. There are plenty of problems with those movies, but the most egregious is that they fundamentally misunderstand sex and kink, conflating an abusive relationship with consensual BDSM (bondage-discipline, dominance-submission, sadism-masochism). But that’s not what kink is: it’s merely a sexual practice or desire that isn’t considered conventional. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way from movies that use non-conventional sexual acts as the butt of a joke or employ them purely for shock value. And although the idea of kinks is often attributed to darkness, there’s a subsection of film history that celebrates kink in the romance genre. As it strays from convention, so, too, do kinky romance films. They often incorporate different genres into the mix—thriller, horror, period drama, coming-of-age, and even the musical. The latest addition to the wonderful, unexpected world of kink and romance onscreen is Pillion, British filmmaker Harry Lighton’s stunning debut feature, which toes the line of a conventional romantic comedy, except it’s about two leather-clad lads navigating a dominant-submissive relationship. As Pillion reignites the discussion of kink in cinema, our starter pack, below, celebrates films that refuse to treat unconventional sexual practices as something to be ashamed of—though characters may express that shame in their actions, these movies refuse to judge them. Instead, these titles lean into taboo willingly, expressing the joys, terrors, thrills, and satisfaction that come with falling in love while exploring the kinkier side of life. Read the full list breakdown from Barry Levitt on Journal. Pillion The Adjuster Babygirl Belle de Jour The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant Crash Crimes of Passion Dogs Don't Wear Pants The Duke of Burgundy The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed ...plus 10 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.
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