Hysteria (2022)

 

One of my most anticipated release this year since it's the directing comeback of Stormy Daniels to Wicked Pictures. Her films always had a special quality and I'm curious to see if something will be different now.

Aiden Ashley

Anna (Aiden Ashley) is an author living what seems like a perfect life with her wife Christine (Anna Claire Clouds), but quickly we realized that everything is far from being idyllic portrait that we saw in the film opening. Everything was in the past and the couple is no more due to Christine having an adventure at her art gallery.

Anna Claire Clouds

Not only the couple is ancient history but Anna also suffers from a major case of writer's block that her agent (Casey Calvert) doesn't help with the pressure she put on Anna to publish her new book.

Casey Calvert

Now there is a big elephant in the room I didn't mention: Christine was murdered and the killer was never found. Obviously this is the major cause of Anna trouble, she's on medication and consult a therapist... even more she's one of the suspect even if evidences cleared her. As if this wasn't enough Anna is constantly haunted by noises in her house.

Seth Gamble

From there I stop my recap since I don't want to spoil the story since this one is highly story oriented and no one like to have everything revealed from a review or a trailer... this is why I always watch the film I review with almost no previous knowledge.

Ryan Driller and Charly Summer

Now the big question... is it a good comeback for Stormy Daniels? Yes it was. I'm a sucker for adult cinema where the story is as important as the sex is so it's exactly the genre of adult movie I love. But of course a good story isn't enough to make a film good... you need a good cast who can act, thankfully this was the case here. Aiden Ashley, who is in my opinion the most underrated actress in the industry, is amazing and she gave a performance worthy of a best actress of the year award (something she should have got two years ago for Killer on the Loose) without her the film wouldn't be what it is. Casey Calvert was also very good in her role, sometimes we forget it but she is not only a good director but also a fine actress. In fact there is no weak link in the cast, even the small secondary parts like Ryan Driller, Chris Cock (even with the ridiculous stage name) or Charly Summer are credible. On the sex side I was sold right from the start with the passionate and erotic scene between Aiden and Anna Claire Clouds. Now if you like endless 40 minutes plus sex scenes you will be deceived since this isn't what we got here... this is why the film is 1h48 long and not 3 hours.

Chris Cock

The only small negative comment I have about the film is about the end that feels a little bit rushed and should have been developed a little bit more, but all in all that was a very good watch and I'm glad that Stormy Daniels didn't lost her magic directing touch during her pause.

Aiden Ashley

At the time of my writing the film is exclusive on the Wicked streaming service but usually their films get a general release quickly and I highly recommend that you to give it a chance when you'll see the movie at the place you usually buy your film (unless you are already a Wicked member and you can watch it already). Honestly of all the modern films I have reviewed this is the one that looks the most like something that could have been made during the seventies when the barrier between mainstream and adult cinema was non-existent.