Body Heat

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: August 28, 1981

8.5	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 66 Ratings

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MovieGuysMar 12, 2014

Body Heat is a great film debut for Kasdan. He sets the scene for this film noir drama by carefully playing out his characters and conveniently avoiding some of the fatal clichés involved with these kinds of movies.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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juliankennedy23Jul 9, 2014

Body Heat: 9 out of 10: Many successful movies lose their ability to shock over the years. After hundreds of copy cats Alien isn't as effective as when it first came out. Kramer vs. Kramer certainly isn't the shocking eye opener it once was.Body Heat: 9 out of 10: Many successful movies lose their ability to shock over the years. After hundreds of copy cats Alien isn't as effective as when it first came out. Kramer vs. Kramer certainly isn't the shocking eye opener it once was.

Body Heat should suffer the same fate. It doesn't. Despite a hundred direct to video takes on the same story (six of them with the exact same title) the movie still works. In fact it works very well indeed.

Writer Lawrence Kasdan had just penned Raiders of the Lost Ark and Empire Strikes Back so it is a surprise he chooses noir for his first directing outing. (His next film was The Big Chill so this is one guy hard to pigeonhole) He both updates and in many ways upgrades the noir of the past.

By setting the movie in a Podunk Florida town he invokes John D Macdonald the way no Macdonald movie treatment has successfully done. His then unknown actors William Hurt and Kathleen Turner are pitch perfect.

This is a movie that really brings some new things to the table as it does some old things very well indeed. Like the best noir you are too involved to even begin to try to guess the next twist and turn.

Like Scorsese in Goodfellas or Huston in the Maltese Falcon Kasdan's directing is obviously very good yet his tricks remain hidden from view. Not a wasted shot and your television will sweat from all the heat generated.

Highly recommended to all fans of noir or simply fans of movies.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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timoneNov 9, 2018

You know guys, I gotta tell you, this movie is great. Everything about this movie is done perfect! It takes thrills, chills and William Hurt and Kathleen Turner is in it. But there is one problem for me. Ted Danson is not comedic but the hellYou know guys, I gotta tell you, this movie is great. Everything about this movie is done perfect! It takes thrills, chills and William Hurt and Kathleen Turner is in it. But there is one problem for me. Ted Danson is not comedic but the hell with it. That's okay. Take what's worth watching. You gonna like it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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The3AcademySinsFeb 24, 2020

Body Heat is a wonderfully directed, beautifully shot film noir. It is incredibly engaging, and a little bit campy, but man was this fun and engaging to watch. The acting is superb, and Lawrence Kasdan creates a very dreamy, very sexyBody Heat is a wonderfully directed, beautifully shot film noir. It is incredibly engaging, and a little bit campy, but man was this fun and engaging to watch. The acting is superb, and Lawrence Kasdan creates a very dreamy, very sexy atmosphere that permeates every inch of the screen. This is a great movie that holds up pretty well!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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MichaelR.Oct 10, 2007

This homage to Double Indemnity is one of the most captivating film noirs since Double Indemnity.

1 of 2 users found this helpful

AlanM.Nov 25, 2008

Great Film Noir. My favorite of many great Lawrence Kasdan films, with Kathleen Turner at her sexiest best. Great intrigue and setup.

1 of 2 users found this helpful

Artie412Apr 3, 2013

I don't give "10s," and this review is 32 years late, but Body Heat is one of those films that you can see over and over. It's a shame that there was never a sequel to Body Heat, or that the same elements didn't produce another neo-noir. II don't give "10s," and this review is 32 years late, but Body Heat is one of those films that you can see over and over. It's a shame that there was never a sequel to Body Heat, or that the same elements didn't produce another neo-noir. I recommend this film highly.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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oliver1hApr 2, 2013

The plot of this movie is totally unrealistic. I could not believe in these characters for a minute, even though the actors did a good job, but the problem is with the writing of the movie.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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SpangleFeb 24, 2016

Body Heat may be more than a little bit sexist, but I still loved it. Dripping with sexual tension and energy, the film really reels you in and hits all the high notes a neo-noir film needs to hit. It is intriguing, sexual, and really takesBody Heat may be more than a little bit sexist, but I still loved it. Dripping with sexual tension and energy, the film really reels you in and hits all the high notes a neo-noir film needs to hit. It is intriguing, sexual, and really takes you for a loop throughout as you watch the plot unfold and finally figure out what is going on. In regards to that, this one is very, very well-written. The plot is complex and dense, but not too complex and really keeps you guessing throughout. The characters are fleshed out and really are a case of some serious foreshadowing cluing you into what is happening. The direction from Lawrence Kasdan is great and the attention to detail paid to the lighting, shots, and entire mise en scene is insane. Honestly, Body Heat is a phenomenal film that may be a touch sexist (okay, really sexist), but that does not detract from the overall product, which is truly a brilliantly crafted neo-noir erotic thriller.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Compi24May 5, 2020

A satisfying and sultry confluence of all the best tropes and conventions we love about the film noir genre, without coming off as mere pastiche or parody, "Body Heat" is solid thriller fare, featuring proof positive that Lawrence Kasdan is aA satisfying and sultry confluence of all the best tropes and conventions we love about the film noir genre, without coming off as mere pastiche or parody, "Body Heat" is solid thriller fare, featuring proof positive that Lawrence Kasdan is a screenwriter to be reckoned with. Moreover, Kasdan also seems to have done his fair share of homework regarding what it takes to make a movie look and feel exactly like a film noir. The venetian blinds, the clothing, the cigarette smoke and deep shadows are all accounted for here. Most importantly, though, this is a narrative worthy of the genre, featuring twists, plot devices and dialogue that make other, similar films of the genre so unmistakable. And even though, for my money, I'll still always vie for the movie that inspired Kasdan to write this flick -- "Double Indemnity" -- "Body Heat" is still an entertaining watch and probably the best damn film of its kind from the era of filmmaking in question.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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WyahawJul 26, 2015

A haunting film, loosely based on the famous film noir "Double Indemnity". Kathleen Turner makes a fine femme fatale, William Hurt very plausible as the lawyer caught in her flirtatious web. The film manages to really capture a sense of aA haunting film, loosely based on the famous film noir "Double Indemnity". Kathleen Turner makes a fine femme fatale, William Hurt very plausible as the lawyer caught in her flirtatious web. The film manages to really capture a sense of a stiflingly hot Florida, so sultry that, as the detective puts it: "people think the old rules don't apply". The acting is uniformly excellent, the direction tight, the soundtrack memorable. I loved Double Indemnity, but Body Heat is, in its own way, no worse a movie. Enjoy.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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FilipeNetoAug 6, 2020

In this film everything revolves around sensuality and the influence of noir is truly clear. Set in a hot Florida summer, the film tells how an unscrupulous and womanizing lawyer gets involved in a torrid case with a blonde beauty on herIn this film everything revolves around sensuality and the influence of noir is truly clear. Set in a hot Florida summer, the film tells how an unscrupulous and womanizing lawyer gets involved in a torrid case with a blonde beauty on her husband's back. It turns out that the husband is very rich, thanks to speculative and dubious business, and the idea of killing him comes almost naturally. From there ... it's better to see the film.

The film is not perfect but it works well. Directed and written by Lawrence Kasdan, who is better known for his work as a screenwriter than for his directorial streak, the film has a very engaging story, built upon an environment of latent sensuality. Heat is an omnipresent element, being almost naturally transmitted from the summer environment to the characters' passionate relationship. As a consequence, the film has several sexually clear scenes and dialogues and some female nudes, which should be taken into account by those who have children at home.

Being a film very influenced by noir, the last thing we should expect is one-dimensional characters. In fact, the characters in this film are not what they seem, and this required additional work from the actors that was very well done. This was Kathleen Turner's film debut and she showed that, in addition to being beautiful and sexy, she is a talented actress. William Hurt was also a novice and he work perfectly as a cynical, womanizing and unscrupulous lawyer. The two actors created excellent chemistry. More discreet but decent, the supporting cast has talented names like Richard Crenna, Ted Danson and Mickey Rourke.

Technically, it is a regular film, but has an excellent cinematography, which articulates very well night and medium light scenes, loaded with sensuality and malice, with day scenes where heat is almost palpable in its intense light and strong colours. Sets and costumes are excellent, the choice of cars for the two main characters also suggests a lot of their personality (especially Ned Racine's car, perfect for an inveterate womanizer). Inescapable, the initial credits exude sensuality in the way they were conceived and serve very well to introduce us to the film environment, something that would be much more difficult otherwise or without the indispensable help of the impeccable soundtrack, signed by John Barry.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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DeezerMay 28, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. They get into a sexy relationship djjdkdjdndjdjdjdjdjdjdjjdjddjdjjdjdjdjdjjrjdjdjdjdjdjrjfjjrdjjddjjdjdjdjdjdjdjdjdjjdjdjdjdjdjrjrjrirjrjrjrjejjsudjdjdjdjdjdjdjdjdjjdudjdjdjdjdjdjdjudjdjdjdudidudududjdidjdjdjdjdjdjdjjdjfjjjjjjjjjdjddjjdjdjdjdjdjdjdjfdjjdjddjdjjdjdjdjdjdjdjjsjdjdkdksldkdkdkdkdkdkdjdkdjdjjdjddjfjjdjdjdjfjfufjdjfjfjfjfjfjdjdififjifjfjdjdjfjdjfjdjfjdjdjfidjdjdjfjdjdjdjdjfjfjfjdjjdfjjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjjfjfjfjfjfifjfjfjfjfjfjfifufjfnfifjfjfjfjfjfjfjjfjfjfjjfjfjfjfjjjjjjjjggfgfgfggggggggttfttttfffjdjdjdjrjrjrjururturjjttjtjtjtjrjfjfjdkdkdkdkdjdjddjjdfjjfjfjfjfjfjjffjfjjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjrjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfififi… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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