Is 2023 the return of the erotic thriller? That seems to be the case this year as two brand-spanking new erotic thrillers will be creating excitement for cinephiles in the sub-genre. The first, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, was Fair Play, which dissected sexual politics in the workplace, wealth, corporate greed, and betrayal. Netflix will distribute the film at a later date. But first, Zachary Wigon delivers a psychological chess match of 2023 in Sanctuary.
Sanctuary! Sanctuary! Sanctuary! A safe word for a vivaciously ferocious cinematic snack. Rich with dominating performances by Christopher Abbott and Margaret Qualley, the film examines power within gender, class, humanity, and relationship dynamics in a delicious fashion. It’s a one-night stand all cinephiles should desire.
Sanctuary follows Hal (Christopher Abbott) and Rebecca (Margaret Qualley), a duo who have established a unique partnership and relationship as dominant and submissive. As the submissive, Hal enlists Rebecca and her sessions in order to escape his everyday life. When Hal becomes CEO of his father’s hotel empire, he attempts to end their relationship, which ultimately leads to an uncomfortable evening.
Micah Bloomberg’s screenplay challenges his audience to look past the premise of a single location setting and invest in a thrilling and intimate experience between two flawed souls. Bloomberg strips Hal and Rebecca of their most vulnerable state, leading to a raw deconstruction of two individuals whose failure to adhere to their set norms and responsibilities led to them forming this relationship.
One aspect of Bloomberg’s script that needs to be commended is painting Rebecca’s job positively. Throughout the decades of film, the male gaze on sex work has been given negative energy. Still, Bloomberg’s screenplay and Zachary Wigon’s direction never vilifies Rebecca’s work and shines a light on the therapeutic nature of said work.
As previously noted, Sanctuary is mostly a single-location setting. While, at times, that may be against the norm of films I enjoy, Christopher Abbott and Margaret Qualley make it impossible not to invest in these characters. Not only do the duo understand the assignment, but they are also nothing short of magnetic.
In a career-best performance by Qualley, she brings a sex appeal and confidence to her performance that kept me glued to every line of dialogue uttered throughout the 90-minute runtime.
Abbott goes toe to toe with Qualley in a more nuanced and fragile performance. Hal is forced to deal with Rebecca’s potential looming threats, which leads to deep self-exploration and revelations.
Kudos to Ludovica Isidori’s inventive cinematography, which captures the tension building throughout the film with upside-down shots and tense close-ups of Hal and Rebecca, which perfectly blends with the nature of the film.
Sanctuary is my jam. It is one of the most engaging and tense single-location films. From its kinetic performances to its raging sex appeal, Sanctuary will break you into submission.
