Murder mysteries with a dash of eroticism are hard to come by in 2024, however, in the ‘80s and ‘90s, there were plenty of titles to choose from. In this different era, there is no question that the sub-genre of the Erotic Thriller is largely a thing of the past, but this does not denigrate these types of films. Some may say that many of the titles from the ‘80s into the ‘90s were misogynistic, and there is certainly a place for that argument, but honestly, is sexuality depicted that much better in modern media? Others might say it is the curse of PG-13 ratings; because many production companies want to capitalize on reaching a large demographic.
Honestly, there is a list of reasons why these types of films are not nearly as popular as they once were. With too many to discuss, most importantly, there is no denying the well-known Erotic Thriller types from the ’80s into the ’90s were undeniably directed by males – Brian De Palma’s 1984 Body Double, Adrian Lyne’s 1987 film Fatal Attraction, and Paul Verhoeven’s Basic Instinct from 1992, to name a few. However, let us not forget that select female filmmakers also have offered perspective into the genre; including 1987’s Stripped to Kill (directed by Katt Shea), 1990’s Body Chemistry (directed by Kristine Peterson), plus 1995’s Embrace of the Vampire (directed by Anne Goursaud). Presenting objective ideas for the sake of an intelligent discussion, whatever you stand on the topic, 1984 was a huge year for Erotic Thrillers.
A year that saw the release of Against All Odds (starring Jeff Bridges, Rachel Ward, and James Woods), Body Double (with Melanie Griffin and Craig Wasson), and Crime of Passion (featuring Kathleen Turner and Anthony Perkins), there were also many other titles like They’re Playing with Fire making their way. Released in theaters on April 27, 1984, through New World Pictures, They’re Playing with Fire may not be as easily recalled as some of the other titles mentioned, but it is still a compelling film to look at forty years later.
A film starring the lovely Sybil Danning (a regular object of desire in features throughout the ‘80s in main like 1985’s Malibu Express or 1986’s Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf), Eric Brown (known for his role in the long-running sitcom Mama’s Family, as well as 1981’s Private Lessons), Andrew Prine (an award-winner known for his work in Westerns such as the NBC series Wide Country), there was also Paul Clemens (who many recall from his leading performance in the 1982 werewolf film The Beast Within). A very solid cast, it was directed by Howard Avedis, who co-wrote it with Marlene Schmidt (Avedis’ wife). Avedis, the writer/director of the often-recalled 1974 film The Teacher, the approach to They’re Playing with Fire featured similar foundational elements.
Simplifying it, They’re Playing with Fire follows the story of Dr. Diane Stevens (Danning), a professor at a local college with her husband, Professor Michael Stevens (Prine). Here she takes a liking to her undergraduate student Jay Richard (Brown), who finds himself in a situation he never planned for. Essentially The Stevens are seeking a way to speed up the control of Michael’s inheritance, so they drag the naïve Jay into the mix to try and scare his elder family. A bad decision from all angles, matters go from risky to very dangerous as mysterious murders begin to unfold. Is the highly persuasive Diane behind it all, or is something else in play?
A pretty tangled web of deception, seduction, and not knowing where to turn, They’re Playing with Fire is quite compelling. Ironically, upon its theatrical release many had misconceptions it would be a typical ‘80s sex romp judging by the title and theatrical poster… not knowing they were heading into a much darker, more serious film. With that said, They’re Playing with Fire does come off quite serious, and Sybil Danning does a sensation job as Dr. Diane Stevens. Presenting her in a dignified and elegant manner, you cannot tell if her motives are genuine or more nefarious. Opposite, Eric Brown’s portrayal of Jay Richards is believable as a foolish young guy, who is at least smart enough to navigate through the mess he walked into.
Overall, They’re Playing with Fire is one of those films that fits under the Erotic Thriller label, but should also be considered a Horror film because of the often-ominous atmosphere. This stands to reason because Avedis and Schmidt had also teamed together two years earlier for the often overlooked, but highly recommended 1982 Horror film Mortuary. If you are curious to check out They’re Playing with Fire, currently, you can stream the film on various platforms such as Tubi, or if you enjoy physical formats, Kino Lorber released it to both Blu-ray and DVD in 2017… but they are out of print and pretty hard to find at a fair price. Any way you look at it, forty years later They’re Playing with Fire still holds a place to remind us it is smart to never get too close to the flame.
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