Films like Pleasure or Pain.

Pleasure or Pain (2013) reads as Sombre, steady, measured drama / thriller, grounded in texture. Nihilistic, intimate, cold. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

The Benefactor (2015) poster
1. The Benefactor2015

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Desire (2017) poster
2. Desire2017

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

My Brother's Wife (2005) poster
3. My Brother's Wife2005

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Model (2016) poster
4. The Model2016

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the heightened unreality; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Obsession (2015) poster
5. Obsession2015

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Diary of a Nymphomaniac (2008) poster
6. Diary of a Nymphomaniac2008

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Siberia (2018) poster
7. Siberia2018

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The War Boys (2009) poster
8. The War Boys2009

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Rocco (2016) poster
9. Rocco2016

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Perfect Sisters (2014) poster
10. Perfect Sisters2014

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the heightened unreality; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Sex Doll (2016) poster
11. Sex Doll2016

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the heightened unreality; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Confessions of a Brazilian Call Girl (2011) poster
12. Confessions of a Brazilian Call Girl2011

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

These are Pleasure or Pain’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

Find my film for tonight — 60 sec →