This kinky and trashy Ken Russell exercise is actually a forerunner to "Blue Velvet". They are similar in more ways than you might expect. They are both about nice middle class guys who enter worlds filled with sex, drugs, hookers, crazy people, and neon lights. "Blue Velvet" is a much better film, but this movie is a lot funnier. Anthony Perkins plays a drugged out street preacher whose personal mission is to save prostitutes, especially China Blue, played with gusto by Kathleen Turner. It's extremely rare that two respected actors like these would want to do a rather sleazy film like this (although Turner tried to get out of it after "Romancing the Stone" was released). The story has to do with a surveillance expert (John Laughlin) who is hired to spy on Turner but instead becomes involved with her. He is also having problems with his marriage. This movie is anything but boring.
Review of Crimes of Passion
