I Want Your Sex Gives Olivia Wilde Her Best Role Yet

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At the Sundance Film Festival premiere of Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex, director Araki called Olivia Wilde “a true old-time movie star,” and it’s easy to see why. The film features Wilde as Erika Tracy, a boldly sexual and unconventional artist who isn’t afraid to push boundaries. This role might be her best yet, allowing her to fully embrace a larger-than-life character. Erika immediately tests the limits with her new assistant, Elliot (Cooper Hoffman), quickly turning their dynamic into something intensely physical. Within days, she’s engaging him in playful, boundary-pushing activities – from making him crawl and tying him up to dressing him in unconventional clothing – all of which he surprisingly enjoys. Despite the power imbalance and outrageousness of the situation, Elliot admits, “But in a way, that’s what made it so hot.”

Wilde delivers even shocking lines with a casual indifference. For example, she might say, “Okay, I’ll sleep with you, but you need to bring someone else for me too,” or casually hand off a partner with instructions like, “Have fun with her, but don’t let her go all the way – she’s not that close to me.” Erika is a larger-than-life character who embodies Araki’s tendency to push boundaries and challenge norms. She criticizes the lack of openness around sex in younger generations, disregards workplace etiquette, and makes statements like, “Sex is everything, and also nothing,” which initially sounds contradictory but actually captures the essence of Araki’s approach to depicting sex in his films. (For further insight into Araki’s work, I recommend reading my colleague E. Alex Jung’s insightful 2019 interview with him.)

The film could become repetitive, but the director avoids that with a vibrant and straightforward style – think bright close-ups, clear dialogue, and quick editing. His visually playful approach has felt reminiscent of different eras – from the French New Wave to music videos, and now even Instagram – and he’s consistently managed to stay relevant while remaining somewhat unconventional. I Want Your Sex (the title itself is a clue) has a playful tone, signaling that we shouldn’t overthink things, even though the director is being surprisingly honest. The pairing of Wilde’s bold, seductive character with Hoffman’s naive and gentle one is particularly well done. Hoffman’s character remains remarkably unchanged throughout their relationship; despite everything she does to him, and his claims of obsession, he still appears kind, innocent, and a bit awkward. Mason Gooding and Chase Sui Wonders provide solid supporting roles as Elliot’s openly sexual coworker and his exasperated, practical roommate and best friend, respectively. They act as a sort of outside commentary on the increasingly wild relationship between Erika and Elliot.

Okay, so the movie is amazing for a while, just pure style and attitude. But honestly, once a real plot tries to happen, things get a little shaky. Araki usually does melodrama pretty directly, but here he seems to be going for this noir vibe, starting with a sad setup and then flashing back like in Sunset Boulevard. It just doesn’t quite work. It feels like he got pulled away from what he really wanted to do – just letting the movie be wild and fun – and forced to wrap things up with a pretty weak story and some unnecessary moralizing. It’s a bit of a stumble, but you know what? It almost doesn’t even matter. Everyone involved clearly had a blast making this, and that energy is totally infectious. Honestly, who cares if the ending isn’t perfect when the whole ride is this much fun?

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2026-01-24 22:54