Heatwave

Heatwave is not a good movie. But I think everyone involved with the movie knew that. This is a middling thriller with no visible ambition of being anything other than a momentary diversion soon to be forgotten by both audience and the makers of the film.

The film opens with a flashback of lead character, Claire doing an arson. There’s also voice over that lets us know that arson isn’t the real danger, it’s love. “Burns twice as hot and is ten times more destructive.” Sure, whatever you say. In the present, adult Claire is trying to rise through the ranks of the real estate business she works for. She successfully makes inroads with her boss, Scott. But whoops! The sexy woman Claire’s been sleeping with is actually Scott’s wife. So that’s awkward. Also awkward is the dead body that turns up, one that offers a lot of evidence that Claire played a role in the crime.

Sexy thrillers seem to be one of those genres where lots of filmmakers feel it’s acceptable to not try their hardest on. Similar to lots of kids’ movies and very low-budget horror you find low down on a streaming service. Make a quick movie that stays under budget that hits all the bullet points of the genre. Then, release it for a pretty safe guarantee of making your money back. At no point does anyone stretch themselves creatively. Nothing in Heatwave stands out. None of it plays with your expectations of the genre or even executes a common cliche particularly well. This film just exists. And its reason for existing feels pretty certain to be financially-based more than artistically.

To damn Heatwave with faint praise, it is better than the last erotic thriller I saw, Listen. That movie tried even less hard. Also, society has slightly progressed in the years between Listen and Heatwave. Both of these movies absolutely exceed necessary male gaze depictions of women. But in Heatwave at least the gay stuff is better? It’s definitely some male gaze lesbianism. But unlike Listen, that’s the extent of the homophobia. The same-sex relationship is without too many double standards. Claire’s sexuality is ultimately a non-issue. There’s little mention in the film about how this relationship is queer because that comes secondary to the plot-relevant other factors of these women’s identity. Claire’s choice of partners matters, but not their gender. Basically, between Heatwave and Listen I see progress in depiction of gay relationships in lower brow media. Women though? Maybe not as much.

My sum up about Heatwave is that it’s not good, but better than some things. Which is a very broad statement. The fact that it’s better (and less homophobic) than some other sexy thrillers certainly doesn’t mean I recommend it. I’m really annoyed about the fact that the movie really didn’t seem to be trying its hardest. Heatwave is inoffensive as a filler movie to watch on a weekend afternoon and quickly forget about. But that’s what they want me to think! And I really don’t want to play into the hands of filmmakers who are intentionally not challenging themselves to make good art as opposed to safe and profitable art.

Overall rating: 4.4/10

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