The film was submitted to the MPAA three times. The first cut received an NC-17 for “explicit sexual dialogue and simulated fellatio.” After removing a single 40-second scene involving a shower flashback, the film secured an R rating. However, the unrated director’s cut was released on VHS and laserdisc in 1996. The difference between the R-rated and unrated versions remains a topic of discussion among collectors.
The film received mostly negative to mixed reviews: Provocation 1995 Movie Wiki
Feeling isolated and unfulfilled, Amelia begins to fantasize about an affair with The film was submitted to the MPAA three times
Provocation is useful in film studies for examining: The difference between the R-rated and unrated versions
Provocation never achieved the notoriety of Basic Instinct or Wild Things , but it has earned a reputation as a “hidden gem” of mid-90s erotic cinema. Film podcast ”The Video Nasty” dedicated an episode to it in 2022, arguing that the film’s slow pacing actually enhances its hypnotic, dreamlike quality.