A Masterpiece!

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Watched this movie for the first time when it first came out on video. 35 years later, every time I hear a wind chime, especially on a hot, humid night, I get so turned on! If you've seen it, you'll understand.(A young Mickey Rourke, if you can picture it, was super sexy in his small role.)

Writer/director Kasden got just about everything right in this his first feature. The dialogue crackles as befits a neo noir and John Barry's score is always there to to support or promote some wondrous visuals. Kathleen Turner is quite astonishing in this her first film. Her boldness and bravery in the sex scenes ensure that this sizzles from the off and I guess helps to draw attention away from what is really going on. William Hurt hasn't made many films before this and he too seems very relaxed and easy with regard to the nude and non nude sequences. His banter with his colleagues is as believable as his smouldering tete-a-tetes with his co-star. Mickey Rourke is effective in a key small role and the whole thing moves very well. Having seen this upon its original theatrical release, I have always held it in high regard, feeling upon this Blu-ray viewing that it didn't quite race throughout as I had 'remembered' and there seemed to be a slight imbalance on the sound. But hey - excellent film with fine performances.

I actually saw this movie when it first came out and a few times during the years and then recently on Sundance. What a great movie, I had forgotten. When it first came out, I thought, boy how daring, but it really has withstood the test of time.You have a steamy love affair between Kathleen Turner and William Hurt. You have the unsuspecting husband (or is he) Richard Crenna and then the policemen. People will recognize "pre Cheers", Ted Danson in a major role. Do the police suspect WIlliam Hurt is involved all along? Is he that stupid to be involved in such a scheme or is Kathleen Turner that alluring that William Hurt trusts her so implicitly. When does he realize he has been scammed, and what a great ending! The movie was a great thriller and kept you guessing all along. This was a remake of Double Imdemnity, but with a modern twist. Don't miss this movie - it will keep you interested the whole time.

First look at Body Heat by Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire Strikes Back, Accidental Tourist) one may think "Hey, so what, it looks like a remake of Double Indemnity." But a couple of factors give this film a life of its own. The casting is top notch, with a spot on Ted Danson threatening to steal the show as the messenger of foreshadowing, and a small role with Mickey Rourke as an accomplice to arson. And of course, there's Kathleen Turner and William Hurt in what could be considered their finest performances they ever committed to celluloid.In fact, foreshadowing is the name of the game here, as seedy Florida lawyer Ned Racine gradually realizes his fated connection to femme fatale Matty Walker. Shot and structured like an art film, scenes were either carefully rendered with attention to detail, or just the subtle tinkling of piano keys ring ominously throughout that creates a fatalistic atmosphere.The sex and violence is present, but the latter is kept to the bare minimum, and the former is portrayed almost tastefully in its eroticism. The carnal lust that the characters share for one another fits with the film's salacious and 'heated' tone, where morality is blurred and greed overtakes common sense.I figured I could predict how the story would even play out, but I was taken by surprise with a well written twist that plays on the expectations of the viewer, and makes a passionate commentary on the human condition.So after the film was finished, I wasn't left thinking "So What?" anymore, so much as "Man, I wish I could have directed that film." A fine piece of American Neo-Noir and one of the better mystery/thrillers of the 80s. A great all around package.