Theme: BDSM

BDSM is an acronym for Bondage, Discipline, Sadism and Masochism and refers to the sexual enjoyment of these. BDSM is an alternative sexual practice and has sizeable community followings in most parts of the world.

On screen, BDSM tends to be treated as a monobloc – little more than people dressed in fetish gear and wielding whips – whereas in practice it is dozens of differing preferences. These can range between a simple pair of handcuffs and blindfolds enjoyed by a vanilla partnership to hooks, needles and blood-drawing or a full-blown master/mistress and slave relationship. The BDSM community is strict about enforcing a code of mutual consent and safety – anything that does not involve a consenting party is covered under Films About Sadism and Torture.

Most screen portrayals of BDSM are negative. It is either regarded as the preferences of psychos and serial killers, or the secret perversions of various villains. There is the frequent theme that those who indulge are entering into a dangerous territory that can go too far and is likely to cause psychological unbalance. That has changed somewhat in recent years with the mainstreaming of BDSM with Fifty Shades of Grey (2015).

It is worth also noting that the Hellraiser (1987) featuring demons that offer exquisite torture was inspired by Clive Barker’s experiences in gay BDSM clubs.