How to sell this film… It has Colin Mochrie in a leather chest harness.
The End of Sex is about Josh and Emma, a middle-aged middle-class couple, who after 10 years of marriage, are experiencing bed death. A week away from their kids for the first time makes them realise that it’s been a long time since they had genuinely satisfying sex together, and increasingly adventurous attempts to spice things up only lead them to dread whether the sexual element of their relationship is even recoverable.
That sounds grim, it’s actually hilarious. Like they decide to have chem sex on MDMA, and then just sit there, staring, wondering where the hell they are gonna find MDMA. They decide to go to an orgy, then just sit there, staring, wondering where the hell they are gonna find an orgy. What I love about it is this juxtaposition of attempting to have care-free sex, while being chronically self-conscious of how awkward it is. Like trying to mingle at a sex club, or approach equally middle-aged, middle-class people in their social circle for a threesome.
Always this is balanced against the safety and understanding of a long relationship where they know each other really well. The familiarity that is really neutering is also incredibly comforting.
I loved the character of Marlon. They’re like, “Wow, you have no filter!” and it’s yeah, he’s clearly autistic as fuck. His flirting reminded me of myself so vividly it was almost too hard to watch.
The End of Sex is a good fun rom-com about long-term relationships, about the ups and downs that beset you after you’ve thought you’ve won and got your happy-ever-after.