Crimes of Passion

Part of the special series NACHTBLENDE

Nachtblende: THROWBACK 1984

‘one of the most insane movies ever made’ sarah squirm on Letterboxd

With CHINA BLUE BY DAY AND NIGHT, Ken Russell delivers a frontal attack on traditional institutions - from marriage to the church - and at the same time illuminates the abysses that they tend to ignore. A neon-drenched, offensive and funny urban thriller that is one of Russell's best films.

China Blue (Kathleen Turner) works a normal bread-and-butter job during the day, only to slip into the wig and role of a serene and detached sex worker at night. Her employer thinks he knows something is wrong with her. She is too ambitious, single and suspicious of anyone with a penis between their legs. That's why he sets amateur private detective Bobby Grady (John Laughlin) on her. But that's not China Blue's only problem. She receives regular visits from self-made reverand Peter Shayne (Anthony Perkins), who, in addition to his perverse murder fantasies, always carries a metal, pointed dildo with him...