Boxing Helena

1993
R
1h 47m

IMDb RATING

4.7/10

13K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:41

Erotic Thriller Drama Mystery Romance Thriller

A surgeon becomes obsessed with the seductive woman he once was in an affair with. Refusing to accept that she has moved on, he amputates her limbs and holds her captive in his mansion.A surgeon becomes obsessed with the seductive woman he once was in an affair with. Refusing to accept that she has moved on, he amputates her limbs and holds her captive in his mansion.A surgeon becomes obsessed with the seductive woman he once was in an affair with. Refusing to accept that she has moved on, he amputates her limbs and holds her captive in his mansion.

Director
- Jennifer Lynch
Writers
- Philippe Caland
- Jennifer Lynch
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

4.7/10

13K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,880

2,119

Director
- Jennifer Lynch
Writers
- Philippe Caland
- Jennifer Lynch
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations

Trivia
Kim Basinger pulled out of the title role and was successfully sued for $9 million for violation of a verbal contract. Because of this, she was forced to declare bankruptcy. The award was overturned on appeal, and the case was settled out of court.

Goofs
The main character has an English accent, even though neither of his parents (both of whom are heard speaking) do; the story takes place in America, and it is implied that he grew up there as well.

Quotes
Helena: A woman is something soft; something warm when you feel her. When she's naked. When she's touched. Discovered. You see that things happen inside of her. She opens up. Sometimes a woman is sad. Sometimes she's angry. Helpless. Beautiful. Sometimes she's strong. She's still only that one woman. Talk to her - in deep whispers. Tell her what you're doing, what you see. Move slowly. Tell her you're inside of her. Tell her how it feels. Touch her. Use your tongue. Your breath. When she's about to come, she'll grab for you. But don't let her come. Make her wait. Tease her. Play with her. Make her feel. She may touch herself. She's so sensitive now. You can't be afraid. Take her. Take her.

Alternate versions
This film originally was rated "NC-17" by the MPAA. The DVD contains 1 minute of sexually explicit footage that had to be cut for the "R" rating. The cut footage in the UNRATED DVD version is as follows:
When Nick fantasizes about Helena and Ray having sex, there is a view of most of Helena's butt in her thong underwear; Helena removing Ray's pants where and part of his bare butt is seen; Ray kissing up Helena's body where and one of her breasts is seen; and finally one last shot that shows Helena's breasts very briefly.
During Nick's sex scene with the fantasy woman while Helena watches, extra footage includes a scene with Nick behind the woman, then a shot of him thrusting into her, followed by several views of the woman's bare breasts.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Blue Chips/Midnight Cowboy/Reality Bites/The Critic/The Scent of Green Papaya (1994)

Soundtracks
You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You
Performed by Cab Calloway
Written by Russ Morgan (as R. Morgan), Larry Stock (as L. Stock), James Cavanaugh (as J. Cavanaugh)
Courtesy of LaserLight Digital
By Arrangement with Sounds of Film

User reviews136

Review

Featured review

Positive review

This is an hypnotic, powerful tale of obsession and eroticism. Sherilyn Fenn is wonderful as Helena and gives a performance way beyond the cherry-sucking antics of Twin Peaks. Despite the torture inflicted on Helena, Fenn's portrayal never allows you to feel abject horror, as her Helena remains caustic, tough and impossible to break throughout the film. Julian Sands is good, although he maybe over-eggs the pudding a bit in some of the more gruelling scenes. The first sight of Helena propped up in bed without legs is never forgotten and the special effects make her amputations incredibly realistic. It's just a shame that the ending is such an appalling cop-out, sanitised for viewers who couldn't accept that love and need can blossom in the sickest of circumstances. In fact, I felt tears of frustration well up at the ending because I felt so cheated! If only it had been braver, this would have been a film of groundbreaking proportions. Fenn is great though and acts the hell out of Kim Basinger, the original choice. Watch it but don't build yourself up for the ending.