Gregg Araki’s latest film premiered at Sundance Film Festival on Friday night, sending shockwaves through Park City with its unapologetically explicit content.
“I Want Your Sex” stars Olivia Wilde as a sexually confident artist navigating a BDSM relationship with her gallery assistant, played by Cooper Hoffman.
Sundance’s programming director called it a “return to form” for the boundary-pushing filmmaker.
Both leads committed fully to roles demanding vulnerability and fearlessness in equal measure.
No Compromises Allowed
When Wilde expressed interest in playing Erika Tracy, Araki didn’t sugarcoat what the role demanded.
We had a meeting, and I just said, ‘you know, to do this part, you gotta just not give a fuck, and just want to just fucking take the plunge. Because I don’t want to compromise it. I don’t want to water it down.’ And she said, ‘Let’s go.’
Wilde plays an artist whose outward confidence masks crumbling self-assurance. Hoffman portrays Elliot, submissive to Wilde’s dominant character in a relationship exploring power dynamics through ball gags, stilettos, whips, chains, and an array of sex toys.
One scene features a threesome that derails spectacularly, played for dark comedy.
Filmmaking From The Heart
Wilde praised Araki’s approach during the post-screening Q&A, emphasizing his passion over corporate machinery.
I was just so excited by Gregg’s enthusiasm for the medium, for the process. I wish more people made movies like [Gregg]. You just said, ‘Let’s do it. Let’s get cool people together who want to tell a story, and let’s just do it. And it doesn’t have to be a whole thing, and it doesn’t have to feel like this corporate project. It has to just come from the heart.’ And I wanted to be a part of something like that.
That independent spirit permeated every aspect of production, creating space for authentic risk-taking.
From Doubt To Commitment
Hoffman, who gained recognition in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza,” initially questioned his fit for the role.
Araki saw something different—echoes of Dustin Hoffman’s nebbish energy in “The Graduate.”
I honestly didn’t think I’d get cast. I just threw my hat in the ring and kept getting closer and closer. And then they said I got the job. And I was like, ‘Ah, shit. I gotta go do this.’ And I’m very happy I did.
The director’s instinct proved correct. Hoffman brings vulnerability to portraying a “bumbling boy toy” whose sexual awakening drives the narrative.
Authenticity Over Titillation
On the red carpet, Wilde addressed shifting attitudes toward on-screen intimacy, particularly among younger audiences.
She suggested Gen Z’s resistance to sex scenes stems from recognizing inauthenticity, noting how film has historically portrayed intimacy unrealistically.
“I Want Your Sex” answers that critique head-on. The explicit content pushes boundaries while grounding itself in emotional truth.
Love Story First, Sex Second
Despite graphic sexual content that will test R-rating limits, cast members emphasized the film’s emotional core.
Chase Sui Wonders, playing Hoffman’s best friend and roommate, reframed the narrative entirely.
Ultimately, the sex feels secondary. It’s a story about being obsessed with someone…It’s just a tragic love story.
Mason Gooding, Daveed Diggs, and musician Charli xcx round out the ensemble cast.
Industry Buzz And Distribution Hunt
Black Bear produced the film, currently seeking distribution partners.
Friday’s packed premiere drew executives from indie distributors including:
- Magnolia Pictures
- Roadside Attractions
- Mubi
Demand for seats ran so high that Patrick Schwarzenegger was spotted searching aisles for empty chairs.
Araki’s Sundance Legacy
“I Want Your Sex” marks Araki’s eleventh Sundance feature. Previous mountain festival debuts include cult classics “Mysterious Skin” and “The Doom Generation.”
Before screening, Araki paid tribute to festival founder Robert Redford, who passed away in 2024 at 89.
There’s been nobody in the history of fucking Hollywood movies who says, ‘I want to use my fucking incredible star power and all my fucking clout to create this place in the world for those fucking weird filmmakers, those outsider filmmakers, those different voices.’
That legacy of championing unconventional voices lives on through provocative work like Araki’s latest—films unafraid to explore human sexuality with unflinching honesty.
The question now: Which distributor will take the plunge alongside Wilde and commit to bringing this explicit, heartfelt erotic thriller to wider audiences?