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Beyond ’50 Shades Darker’: These seven films deliver a more erotic brand of sexuality

As you’ve probably heard, the second 50 Shades of Grey movie, 50 Shades Darker, hit theaters February 10, and it’s sure to ause lots of awful problems for the ushers who have to clean up the theater after each screening. As you probably can guess, it’s also most likely going to be terrible, given that it hasn’t screened for critics (and most likely won’t).

We haven’t seen a descendent of Tippi Hedren get mauled so badly since 1981’s Roar, so we thought, in honor of Valentine's Day, we’d suggest some alternative viewing options for those interested in BDSM or other, kinkier, sexy stuff instead of wasting money on that nonsense. Here are seven other movies about sexuality that are either much more titillating, much more heartwarming, or just generally better made than the 50 Shades trainwrecks.

Warning: this list is most definitely not safe for work.

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The Duke of Burgundy / The Handmaiden

A bizarrely effective blue chamber drama featuring a deep well of emotion hidden under a veneer of English class, The Duke of Burgundy is about the roles we play, sexually and emotionally, and the psychological effect they have on relationships. We really don’t want to spoil much of this movie for you, as going in fresh the first time is essential in watching this film blossom, but it’s roughly about two women (Sidse Babett Knudsen and Chiara D’Anna) in love, and how the roleplaying they engage in causes them friction. Director Peter Strickland (Berberian Sound Studio) intended this film to be a homage to the work of erotic horror master Jess Franco, and it falls into the awkward category of films slightly better than the works they’re paying tribute to. Featuring a brilliant score by Cat’s Eyes and absolutely gorgeous cinematography by Nic Knowland, this is one of the truly can’t miss movies on this list, and luckily for all with a Netflix account, it’s been a fixture of the streaming service for the last year. If you’d like a little more action, check out Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden, which hit screens last year and covers some similar themes with extra pulp. Seriously, watch either of these.

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