Non-Gratuitous Sex Scenes in Movies. (VERY NSFW!)

Foreword: Someone on Threads started this topic, and I was going to make a simple contribution... except that the female actor in the scene is one of my followers. I'm sure every Hollywood celebrity is painfully aware that their fans harbor illicit fantasies about them; I'd prefer not to confirm it in this case.

Anyway, the topic was regarding one's favorite sex scenes; I'd expand that into something slightly more cerebral- scenes that aren't gratuitous. That is, if you take the scene out, does it affect the story in any way?

The first Terminator film is a good example, but I'm starting the thread off with another different sci-fi film: Hardware.

The film belongs to the post-apocalyptic genre, where the world is mostly desert with little to no rain, constant wars and hordes of homeless. A soldier named Mo is coming home for Christmas to his girlfriend Jill, and decides to bring her a present as a peace offering, as he's been away for an extremely long time with no contact.

Since she's a welder and sculptor, he purchases the remains of a robot from a junk collector and hauls it to her high-rise apartment, where she stays in safety since there's a stalker constantly knocking at her door.
As expected, she gives him a chilly reception (it HAS been quite some time) but he wins her over when he presents the disassembled droid to her.

After a shower together, they end up in her bed, engaging in loud, sweaty sex.


You have to admit, that's a really awesome Christmas present.

In the middle of this, the audience sees the robot's head come to life, as it activates and watches Jill & Mo copulate.


Later, the robot will fully reanimate and literally pull itself together to fulfill its purpose: to reduce the population. So, we see this scene actually moves the story forward by introducing the villain. (If they don't have sex, the robot doesn't wake up. Totally different movie.)

However, the scene also introduces a secondary villain: the stalker who's been shadowing Jill is one of her neighbors who also lives in the building. As the couple continues to make love, the audience sees that they are being spied on with an infrared camera. Her neighbor, a man named Lincoln Weinberg is taking photos, recording their moans and offering a disgusting commentary on the action.

Personally, I find the disturbing quality of this scene softened by the fact that the actor is the late William Hootkins, who Star Wars fans readily recognize as Porkins in Episode 4. (Hootkins has appeared in other popular films, such as Raiders of the Lost Ark and the 1989 Batman movie.)

Rumor has it he based the character off of Harvey Weinstein (Hardware WAS released by Miramax.)

Side note: This film served as a bit of inspiration for my own feature years ago, using the technique of a love scene to awaken an evil presence.


Here's a nice shot of the two leads:


Okay, you know you want to see these two naked. Here you go:
Stacey Travis nude – Hardware (1990) Video » Best Sexy Scene » HeroEro Tube

 

If you read any random negative review of the film, the author usually mentions the sex scene and completely misses the point. It's a rare occurrence for a film to be able to do this (again, the first Terminator film manages it perfectly)

I have a soft spot for the film, having run across it as I was entering film school- it's a weird blend of art-house and gory slasher and the first half is interesting for its characters and world-building. The second half is a bit more disappointing, but Ms. Travis holds her own against the robot, and she is as good as Linda Hamilton or Sigourney Weaver in this regard.

 

"Tell me you love me for more than just my hand!"

OR

"I didn't realize how much I missed you hand!"
"My hand? I knew it, but wouldn't let myself believe it."
"No, I mean I missed you!"

^ For those who thought "Is his robotic hand also a sex toy?".


Seriously, great plot assessment.

 

I've read a few reviews that "went there."

I think I remember reading the original script and it had the Jill character sucking on Mo's metal hand in the shower scene.

Another bit of trivia- in the 80's, the director made a 45-minute short film that was basically the first half of Hardware, except with teenagers. The boy playing Mo's equivalent was sporting a giant robotic claw which the director tried to incorporate into the feature, but actor Dylan McDermott took one look at it and declared that he "wasn't wearing that thing!" (which accounts for the simpler glove he wears.)