The Last Seduction: Linda Fiorentino's 1994 Erotic Neo‑Noir Reappraised

Movieweb says John Dahl's 1994 erotic neo‑noir The Last Seduction, starring Linda Fiorentino and Peter Berg, remains a standout recommendation for fans of the erotica thriller amid renewed interest in the genre following The Housemaid's international success.

Written by Steve Barancik, the film follows Bridget Gregory (Fiorentino), who steals cash from her husband Clay (Bill Pullman), flees to upstate New York, assumes the name Wendy Kroy and targets the unwitting Mike Swale (Berg). Bridget seduces and manipulates Mike, using sex and psychological games to advance a criminal plot; set pieces cited include a sex scene against a chain‑link fence and encounters in a car outside a bar.

The film earned strong critical acclaim—an 85 Metascore and a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score—and Fiorentino's performance drew particular praise; Roger Ebert placed the film fifth on his year-end list. According to Berg, Fiorentino devised the chain‑link fence scene, refused a body double and suggested the cigarette‑in‑apple‑pie image. Fiorentino won an Independent Spirit Award and a New York Film Critics Circle Award, though she was ineligible for an Oscar because the film aired on television before its theatrical release. With The Housemaid's Secret sequel taking shape, the piece recommends The Last Seduction as essential viewing for fans and thriller lovers alike.

Key Topics

Culture, Linda Fiorentino, John Dahl, Peter Berg, Steve Barancik, The Housemaid