Nerdly » ‘Full Body Massage’ Blu-ray Review (88 Films)

24th Mar2025

‘Full Body Massage’ Blu-ray Review (88 Films)

by Phil Wheat

Stars: Mimi Rogers, Bryan Brown, Christopher Burgard, Elizabeth Barondes, Gareth Williams, Patrick Neil Quinn, Heather Gunn | Written by Dan Gurskis | Directed by Nicolas Roeg

I went into Full Body Massage expecting something akin to the erotic thrillers that dominated the early-to-mid 90s—those sultry, dangerous films that combined noirish intrigue with sweaty, dimly lit encounters. Nicolas Roeg, a director known for his surreal and visually arresting storytelling, seemed an interesting choice to helm what, at first glance, appeared to be a steamy genre piece. But this film isn’t a Basic Instinct or a Body of Evidence. Instead, it’s a slow, meditative exploration of intimacy, philosophy, and human connection that feels like it belongs adjacent to the erotic thriller boom rather than within it.

The film centres on a single day in the life of Nina, played by Mimi Rogers, as she receives an unexpected massage from Fitch (Bryan Brown), a rugged, free-spirited replacement for her usual therapist. The setup is deceptively simple: over the course of the massage, their conversation shifts between flirtation, intellectual sparring, and deep emotional excavation. As Fitch kneads away at Nina’s tension, he also unravels her life, her thoughts, and her past, turning what could have been a voyeuristic exercise into something introspective.

What sets Full Body Massage apart from its contemporaries is its refusal to lean into the lurid conventions of the erotic thriller. There’s nudity, certainly—Rogers spends much of the film in various stages of undress—but Roeg approaches the body with a painterly gaze rather than a lascivious one. The eroticism here is not one of danger, deceit, or manipulation, as was common in the genre at the time, but of vulnerability and intellectual stimulation. While films like Sliver and Jade relied on convoluted plots filled with murder and betrayal, this film strips away all the genre trappings and leaves us with two people simply talking, touching, and revealing themselves in ways far more intimate than sex alone.

Of course, this approach makes Full Body Massage a divisive watch. Those looking for suspense or melodramatic stakes will likely find it sluggish. It meanders, indulging in philosophical musings and new-age ideas, at times feeling more like a therapy session than a traditional narrative. But for those willing to surrender to its rhythm, there’s a unique pleasure in the way Roeg captures these moments of connection. His signature fragmented storytelling is subdued here, but his fascination with time, memory, and perception lingers in the way conversations flow and emotions surface organically.

In the grand scheme of 90s erotic cinema, Full Body Massage feels like an odd, introspective cousin to the decade’s more sensational offerings. It’s less about seduction and danger, and more about discovery and surrender. While it doesn’t provide the pulse-quickening thrills of its more infamous contemporaries, it lingers in the mind in a way many of them do not.