Netflix's new sex thriller 365 DNI is being slammed for romanticising Stockholm syndrome

11 June 2020, 14:38

Netflix viewers can't cope with 365 DNI's wild sex scenes

By Katie Louise Smith

Saying this is wilder than 50 Shades of Grey is an UNDERSTATEMENT.

Netflix's latest erotic thriller 365 DNI has caused a lot of conversation on Twitter recently, thanks to its absolutely wild sex scenes and problematic relationship between the two lead characters.

Readers, before we get into this, I must stress: If you do decide to watch it, please... don't watch it with your parents in the same room. Don't do that to yourself. Ok, now that's out the way, let's begin.

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365 DNI, the film adaptation of Blanka Lipinska's novel of the same name, dropped on Netflix on 7th June. Over the past two weeks, it's been steadily climbing up the streamer's charts. Some have dubbed the Polish film "even raunchier than Fifty Shades of Grey". That, quite frankly, is an understatement.

But the film is also copping quite a bit of backlash over the relationship between Laura and Massimo, making those sex scenes very uncomfortable to watch.

WARNING: Spoilers ahead for the plot of the film.

The film (originally released in Poland back in February) follows Laura (Anna Maria Sieklucka), a woman who goes on a trip to Sicily to save her relationship, but instead ends up getting kidnapped by Mafia boss, Massimo (Michele Morrone). Massimo then gives her 365 days to fall in love with him.

It's incredibly problematic but some viewers cannot cope with the erotically charged scenes and raunchy nude moments. At one point, there's a fully nude, and very graphic, sex montage that takes place in multiple locations on a yacht that feels like it lasts longer than all of the sex scenes in 50 Shades of Grey put together.

However, many viewers have voiced their concerns over the nature of these scenes and how they romanticise Stockholm syndrome and an abusive forced relationship, with several instances of sexual assault. (Early in the film, Massimo says to Laura that he won't touch her without her consent, yet does it anyway.)

One critic wrote: "Just to be clear, I'm not attacking 365 DNI due to the hardcore graphic sex scenes. I'm a Billion Trillion Percent attacking it due to the kidnapping sexual assaulting stockholm syndromey abusive toxic problematic relationship at the center of the movie [sic]."

Another said: "Just finished #365Dni & while the sex scenes were great, the story itself just romanticizes kidnapping & a forced relationship. You basically just watch shawty get Stockholm syndrome."

For those hoping for a sequel, particularly after the cliffhanger ending about Laura's fate, a follow up was in the works but it's now been delayed due to COVID-19.