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When storytellers are trying to elicit strong emotions in their audiences, there are few obscure ideas as potent and devastating as rape. More specifically, in this look at unpleasant sexual activity and sadomasosochism on screen, we check out a handful of movies which have featured sodomy as a prominent part of their dramatic tension.
Indeed, some films such as Last Tango in Paris, in which Marlon Brando’s recently widowed American expat begins an anonymous sexual relationship Maria Schneider’s young Parisian, and Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, about four wealthy Italian libertines subjecting kidnapped teenagers to rape and torture, have become infamous as a result of their depictions of sexual violence.
Sodomy in cinema
While sodomy is rarely the subject of pleasant dinner party chit-chat, it has undeniably found a voice in mainstream cinema. Mark Fraser looks at 10 films that are literally a pain in the behind.
Honourable Mention
Orgazmo
Dir. Parker (1997)
This is really the only moment of light relief on this list. While some might find the scene when the hard bitten veteran porno actress shoots the DVDA (an acronym for two unmentionables I’ll let you work out for yourself) segment a wee bit juvenile, what should we really expect from a comedy that features a cameo by Max Hardcore?
Sodomy In Cinema: 10 Movies That Are Literally A Pain In The Behind
10. Wake In Fright
Dir. Kotcheff (1971)
Possibly one of the most awkward hangover moments in any film when teacher Gary Bond awakens after a massive drinking bender in the Australian outback to find he has just been buggered by the town’s alcoholic doctor (Donald Pleasence). When it seems things couldn’t get any worse, a grim prognosis of the Aussie male booze culture gets a little grimmer.
9. Leaving Las Vegas
Dir. Figgis (1995)
Hooker Elisabeth Shue picks up the wrong college johns and gets raped. She then has to hobble back to her bungalow beaten and bruised. Leaving Las Vegas won the actress her first (and so far only) Oscar™ nomination.
8. M Butterfly
Dir. Cronenberg (1993)
A French diplomat in China (Jeremy Irons) discovers his Chinese opera singer lover of many years (John Lone) is really a male spy. Could be used as the ultimate argument for taking off all your clothes and leaving the light on during slap and tickle.
7. The Accused
Dir. Kaplin (1988)
Party animal Jodie Foster is gang raped in a bar and then has to fight for proper justice. Won the actress her first Oscar™.
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5. A Serbian Film
Dir. Spasojevic (2010)
A porno actor, who has come out of retirement, is drugged and subsequently tricked into raping his six-year-old son. Not surprisingly, it all leads to a bloody showdown. Confronting perhaps (it was snipped by the censors before its release in Australia), but this one is more cynical exploitation than political statement.
4. Last Tango In Paris
Dir. Bertolucci (1972)
Grieving and angst-ridden widower (Marlon Brando in arguably his last great role) convinces his younger lover (Maria Schneider) that some rear entry intercourse – with the help of butter – might be fun. Perhaps Brando should have whispered: “The horror, the horror” in this one too.
3. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Dir. Fincher (2011)
Computer hacking misfit (Rooney Mara) is assaulted by her sleazy guardian. She does, however, get her revenge.
3. Pulp Fiction
Dir. Tarantino (1994)
When a brawling Butch (Bruce Willis) and Marsellus (Ving Rhames) are kidnapped by Maynard (Duane Whitaker) and his mate Zed (Peter Green), they are taken down to the basement of Maynard’s store for a healthy dose of rump release. Fortunately Butch escapes and saves the day, resulting in him being reprieved by the gangster.
2. Deliverance
Dir. John Boorman (1972)
A camping trip along a river in the Georgian wilderness goes awry for four city boys when two of them are briefly captured by a pair of mountain hillbillies and one is sodomised while being told to squeal like a pig. Arguably did less for the image of backwoods rednecks than Tobe Hooper’s 1974 opus The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
1. Salo, or 120 Days of Sodom
Dir. Pasolini (1975)
What else could possibly be at the top of a line up like this? Pasolini pushes political allegory to the limit as four fascist libertines in Northern Italy at the end of World War II round up a group of attractive teenagers and decimate them in a partly operatic perverted and murderous rampage that redefines the boundaries of Hell. Whatever demons the director had, he surely must have faced a few of them shortly before this film was released when he was murdered under what have become unclear circumstances.
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Interesting list ( laughing) I have to admit haven’t seen a few of these films…..have to check them out. The ones I have seen good choices especially Pulp Fiction, Deliverance, and Last Tango all good films!
Charming!!! Wake in Fright sounds interesting. Worrying how many of these I’ve seen. I guess I’ll have to try Salo one day as it tops this list and so many of these others are unforgettable films!
I think you’d have to strap me down and pin my eyes open – Clockwork Orange style – to get me to watch Salo. It sounds like a horrifying, degrading, stomach-turning experience with little value other than providing a cinematic remedy to a need to throw up.
Salo is a film I’ve still yet to see. However, I can’t say that’s regrettable as everything I know about it tells me it’ll be an experience I’ll struggle to forget no matter how much I want to.
Deliverance is another unforgettable experience but one I’ve returned to several times. That really is a great piece of work.
The Accused is another great film thanks in no small part to Jodie Foster’s powerhouse performance.
@Neal: Glad you laughed, because that’s how I felt about it (yes, I admit there was a part of me that was trying to get a few chuckles) … this despite the fact all of these films (with the possible exception of Orgazmo) are somewhat distressing. Thanx for the feedback.
As for Salo, regardless of what we’ve all seen or heard, it is a must for cinephiles. It embraces so many things – composition, narrative, political extremes, abuses of power, European history and literature … even the ending, when the two boy guards are dancing together, has an interesting subtext given they have just listened to a broadcast by Ezra Pound (the greatest American anti semite poet of the 20th century who pleaded insanity and escaped the hangman’s noose after peddling propaganda for Mussilini – forgive spelling – during WW II).
Having said that, I haven’t watched it since 1993 when the censors in Oz briefly lifted a ban on it – even then I had to travel 2500 kms to see it as this ban wasn’t lifted in Western Australia (regardless of Salo, I was going to Melbourne anyway).
The Criterion Collection website has published a few interesting essays on it. Must admit, I’m probably ready for it again …..
Quite possibly one, if not the most, messed up list you guys have come up with. As I was going through it, I was thinking this might be another one where I wouldn’t know any of the films (thankfully), and then of course, I hit Fincher’s Dragon Tattoo and Pulp Fiction (which I’ve seen many times). All-around these movies seem like rather unpleasant viewing material.Rape appears to be a common factor and that’s always tough to watch, so this is one time I’m glad I haven’t seen too many movies in here.
HAHA! What a concept for a list. Brilliant and yeah some really mainstream films. Cheers!
Tough subject but a terrific list. For some reason, I have seen every film on here. Another film I’d like to add is the I Spit on Your Grave remake. There’s even a harsh line before the heroine gets sodomized. Eeech.