The Little Death

I'm just putting it out there, but I think Josh Lawson has a foot fetish. Not that that's a bad thing. In fact, if we learn anything from his directorial debut, it's probably that you should tell your significant other what you are into. Because if you don't, well, things can get ugly.

This movie is divided into segments that focus on a different couple each time. As we are introduced to these people, we are presented with a particular fetish that relates to their particular story. And if you're thinking they're as simple as the aforementioned foot fetish, you'd be wrong. We see things like dacryphilia, somnophilia and even the good old fashioned role play (except highly creative role play). If you want to know about those first two, you can find a Wikipedia article for each one, here and here (I promise you that they aren't as bad as you think).

So, I know you're probably thinking that this is you're regular gross out sex comedy, with lots of nudity and coarse language. Well, you would be entirely wrong. Lawson, who also wrote the film, manages to make a funny, tender and, at times, bittersweet movie about relationships more than anything. Oh yeah, and despite being a movie about sex, there is no nudity whatsoever, although I would probably advise against going to this movie on a first date, or second, because it will probably up the ante for the rest of your relationship.

The cast of this movie is large and apart from Josh Lawson (Anchorman 2, The Candidate), you might not recognise the actors. Unless you watch a lot of Australian TV, especially the ABC. Patrick Brammall does a fantastic job at a man who has to cry a lot, Lachy Hulme is a creepy boss and Damon Herriman gets carried away with role play. A hilarious character, played by Kim Gyngall, uses people's sense of nostalgia to distract them while telling them he is a registered sex offender.

Verdict: The Little Death (a euphemism for orgasm, look it up) is a tender and hilarious comedy about sex. It really will make you think about what you're into. I know it made me think about it the whole way home, but that's a story for another time...