What Erotic Thriller Chloe Teaches Us About Love, Sex, and Infidelity

Just when you thought that movies about cheating spouses couldn't get any weirder, here comes along Chloe, an erotic thriller released in March of 2010. But Chloe isn't your ordinary erotic thriller. Atom Egoyan directs this remake of French film Nathalie (2004); the movie delves into events following a woman's suspicion that her husband is cheating on her. Liam Neeson (David) and Julianne Moore (Catherine) portray the fractured married couple in question. Amanda Seyfried is Chloe, a nubile young call girl who is hired by Catherine to test her husband's fidelity.

This movie contains some disturbingly tense moments-the erotic ones in particular. But you get the impression that this kind of tension is designed to teach us a lesson; the dizzying series of events in this film does more than just arouse and confuse us. Indeed, if you dig deeply within the many layers of the movie, you'll find a few fundamental truths. (Attention: Possible Spoilers Alert!)

People Will Move Mountains for Acceptance.

Chloe is a prostitute who clearly doesn't really enjoy what she does. She only wants to be loved. As the events in the movie unfold, we see that Chloe is much more devious than we imagined. Her ruse (as far-fetched as it seems) is quite effective in deepening the rift between David and Catherine. It is only after she and Catherine have become intimately involved that we see just how desperately Chloe yearns for genuine affection. Take a closer look around you; you will probably find that the people who do things that annoy you the most-are only doing them to seek acceptance in some way.

Lack of Communication Really Can Destroy a Marriage.

Catherine, insecure because she thinks her looks are fading, is convinced that her husband is cheating on her, but is too afraid to confront him about it. Her husband David is having his own mid-life crisis and is too ashamed to share this sentiment with his wife. Had either one of these two talked about their feelings, then Catherine would never have felt compelled to hire a prostitute in the first place. (But then again, this movie probably wouldn't have been made.)

Your Children are Watching Your Every Move.

The couple's son Michael is having his own romantic crises, and only has his parents strained relationship as a current example. He has acknowledged seeing his parents happy in the past. But it is painfully obvious that the distance between him and Catherine has been brewing for quite some time. His complete disrespect for household rules (evidenced by his female overnight guests) is a direct reflection of the apathetic attitude towards his parents' marital romance.

Yes, Jealousy Can Sometimes Be a Good Thing.

Instead of being incensed when Chloe provides the sordid details of her encounter with David, Catherine becomes aroused. Her arousal leads to a torrid affair with Chloe. Though some are hesitant to admit it, seeing a spouse or mate being admired by others can be quite stimulating. Without crossing any boundaries, watching a loved one engage in friendly (and brief) flirtation can subconsciously re-ignite the passionate feelings experienced in the beginning of the courtship. Many relationship experts will tell you that one of the keys to keeping romance alive is remembering why you were attracted to your mate in the first place.

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