Despite the rise in intimacy coordinators in Hollywood, and a reduction in movie sex scenes as a result, the 
Netflix library of foreign language movies has frequently bucked the trend with plenty of erotic thrillers that come with little plot but plenty of screen-steaming bedroom action. Recently, Netflix viewers have uncovered one such movie that has been on the platform for two years and hardly anyone noticed.
Hailing from Brazil, this 98-minute thriller is one that only two critics reviewed, but one of those reviewed contained a comment that immediately became a headline-grabbing soundbite to drive those who like to close the curtains and indulge in the darker side of Netflix. The review from Decider’s John Serba read, “This movie is junk with sex in it.” Combined with an audience review claiming that the film is “80% sex and nothing else,” and it had the makings of a low-rent success that would follow the likes of 365 Days and Fifty Shades of Grey into notoriety.
The film in question, in case you are frantically attempting to search through Netflix with a well-thumbed remote, is Burning Betrayal, which was originally added to Netflix’s library in October 2023. Two years later, it seems that there are still people stumbling upon this one and being sucked into its trashy, explicit black hole and clutching their pearls all the way.
What is ‘Burning Betrayal’ About?
Directed by Diego Freitas, the film stars Giovanna Lancellotti (as Babi), Leandro Lima (Marco), Camilla de Lucas, and Bruno Montaleone, and comes with plenty of warnings of sex, nudity, and mature themes – which we would never have guessed.
The basic premise of Burning Betrayal reads, “An accountant sees her fiancé’s betrayal as an opportunity for a sexual awakening, with dangerous consequences.” Yes, it sounds like the kind of trashy, plotless story of lust and murder that often frequented late-night TV slots in the 1990s. Unsurprisingly, it plays out in exactly the same way, with plenty of bare flesh, heavy breathing, and a few scenes in between just to make it look like someone cared about the story part of it. As one review put it:
“If you like looking at naked or near naked bodies, of both genders, there are plenty of scenes to choose from. Inevitably all the actors have impeccable physiques and the sex scenes do show some imagination. It couldn’t really have got more explicit without having to be differently categorised.”
Of course, the downside for those hoping to sneak a look at this one is, once you click, then your “Because you watched…” section is going to be interesting viewing for anyone else in the household using the same account. However, considering Burning Betrayal is a title that seems to spark outrage and offense several times a year, there are clearly still plenty of people doing just that.
What is most surprising about Burning Betrayal is that while it has 2 “rotten” critical reviews to its name on Rotten Tomatoes, the film somehow has an 87% audience rating. Just to be clear, this is higher than many multi-million dollar blockbusters and even several Oscar winners. It’s a funny old world, isn’t it?
- Release Date
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October 25, 2023
- Runtime
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98 Minutes
- Director
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Diego Freitas
- Writers
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Camila Raffanti, Davi Kolb
