The problem with Body Evidence isn’t that Madonna is playing herself (she’s not), it’s that the film resolutely refuses to deviate away from the conventions of a traditional film noir without acknowledging how norms of sex and sexuality have become more progressive, or complicated, over the course of 40 to 50 years. While Body of Evidence’s blonde vamp isn’t as interesting or complicated as, say, Basic Instinct’s Catherine Trammell, Rebecca is clearly the most compelling aspect of the film. It’s hardly surprising that critics at the time had difficulty separating Madonna from her character Rebecca, although is it unfair to blame the film’s failures on its lead actress. In both, the superstar makes the argument for normalizing sex, even as she pushes the boundaries of what is considered normal and/or deviant. Just two months earlier in October 1992, the queen of pop had concurrently released two sexually explicit texts: her latest album Erotica and Sex, her provocative limited-run book. Madonna is clearly playing both female archetypes: the falsely accused victim (the virgin) and the sinful temptress who leads men to their doom (the whore), the latter of which was very much in keeping with her public persona at the time.Īs Karina Longworth discusses in episode ten of You Must Remember This’ Erotic 90s series, Body of Evidence was considered a perfect star vehicle for Madonna. It’s no less ridiculous than the plot of many film noirs, however, which – as we’ve discussed before in this series – is essential to the Erotic Thriller trend of the 80s and 90s. Admittedly it is one of the most far-fetched premises of the subgenre I’ve seen to date. In some ways, this is screenwriter Brad Mirman making the same concession to audiences: the premise is far-fetched, even ludicrous, but just go along with it. The state’s case is bogus and Rebecca’s lawyer, Frank Dulaney ( Willem Dafoe), rightfully argues as such. She induced Marsh’s fatal heart attack from a lethal combination of cocaine (hidden in his medical spray) and rigorous sex, all so that she could inherit $8M in his will. Turns out the pair had quite the risqué sex life (or at least as risqué as mainstream Hollywood fare was willing to address in 1993): they were having non-missionary sex that involved some light bondage (ie: restraints such as belts and handcuffs).ĭistrict Attorney Robert Garrett ( Joe Mantegna) makes it clear to the jury in his opening remarks that Rebecca’s body is the murder weapon. In the film, femme fatale Rebecca Carlson ( Madonna) is arrested and charged with murder when her older, wealthy boyfriend John Marsh ( Michael Forest) is found dead.

It falls into the even more niche sub-category of courtroom thrillers, which spend as much time on the naughty bits as they do with witnesses on the stand or in depositions (see also: Disclosure).Įnter Body of Evidence. In the pantheon of Erotic Thrillers, Body of Evidence is an odd one.

Willem dafoes massive penis