HBO’s ‘DTF St. Louis’ Is a Perversely Hilarious Spin on an Erotic Thriller: TV Review
#HBO#DTF St. Louis#Steven Conrad#Jason Bateman#Erotic thriller#TV review#HBO series
📌 Key Takeaways
HBO released 'DTF St. Louis,' a seven-episode limited series on March 1, 2026
Steven Conrad created, wrote, and directed all episodes
The show presents a humorous take on erotic thrillers with Jason Bateman, David Harbour, and Linda Cardellini starring
Critics describe it as 'the unsexiest erotic thriller ever made'
The series combines sex, murder, and betrayal against a deliberately banal backdrop
📖 Full Retelling
HBO released 'DTF St. Louis,' a seven-episode limited series created by Steven Conrad on March 1, 2026, which presents a perversely hilarious take on the erotic thriller genre through the intertwined stories of Clark (Jason Bateman), Floyd (David Harbour), and Floyd's wife Carol (Linda Cardellini) in the titular city. The series, which Conrad both wrote and directed, combines elements of sex, murder, and betrayal to create what critics are calling 'the unsexiest erotic thriller ever made.' Despite its provocative title and genre expectations, the show distinguishes itself by setting its dramatic plot against an 'exquisitely banal backdrop,' creating what reviewers describe as an 'uncanny, off-kilter and ultimately hilarious effect.' This deliberate subversion of erotic thriller tropes appears to be the show's primary creative choice, with the banal setting serving as a counterpoint to the typically glamorous or intense settings of the genre.
The erotic thriller is a film subgenre defined as a thriller with a thematic basis in illicit romance or sexual fantasy. Though exact definitions of the erotic thriller can vary, it is generally agreed "bodily danger and pleasure must remain in close proximity and equally important to the plot." Mos...
Jason Kent Bateman (born January 14, 1969) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Michael Bluth in the Fox / Netflix sitcom Arrested Development (2003–2019) and Marty Byrde in the Netflix crime drama series Ozark (2017–2022), as well as for his work in numerous comedy films. His accolade...
Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network and service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based at Warner Bros.
Mar 1, 2026 8:30am PT HBO’s ‘DTF St. Louis’ Is a Perversely Hilarious Spin on an Erotic Thriller: TV Review By Alison Herman Plus Icon Alison Herman TV Critic aherman2006 Latest NBC Sitcom ‘The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins’ Is Tracy Morgan’s Best Star Vehicle Since ’30 Rock’: TV Review 6 days ago Max Minghella on Playing the Big Bad of ‘Industry’ Season 4: ‘I Would Almost Black Out Shooting the Show’ 7 days ago Netflix Animated Comedy ‘Strip Law’ Is a Joke-Dense Love Letter to Las Vegas Lunacy: TV Review 1 week ago See All It is both an ineffective sales pitch and generally accurate to call “ DTF St. Louis ” the unsexiest erotic thriller ever made. The HBO limited series, all seven episodes of which were written and directed by “Patriot” creator Steven Conrad, combines sex, murder and betrayal in the entanglements between Clark (Jason Bateman), his new friend Floyd (David Harbour) and Floyd’s wife Carol (Linda Cardellini). But “DTF St. Louis” sets this story against an exquisitely banal backdrop to uncanny, off-kilter and ultimately hilarious effect. Related Stories NAACP Image Awards: Michael B. Jordan Named Entertainer of the Year and Dedicates Lead Actor Trophy to Chadwick Boseman, 'Sinners' Dominates with 13 Wins
