The Blind Date (2023)

 

It's been a while since my last review of a Lust Cinema production, so why not remedy this situation with their latest one... a short romantic comedy directed by Mandi Slate (her first directorial work I think).

Lumi Ray

Sam (Lumi Ray) is in a between relations situation and on those occasions she can't count on her best friend Todd (Michael Vegas) to comfort her since he ain't only a friend but also a fuckbuddy. One morning he comes to tell her something, but before he get the chance to talk about it they jump in the bed. When the fun ends it's time for Todd to tell why he came to see Sam... he is seeing someone and she wants to be exclusive so their friendly sex encounter days are over.

Casey Calvert and Michael Vegas

He offers to set a blind date for her but she isn't interested... that won't prevent Todd to bring someone with Linda (Casey Calvert) and him to spend the evening at Sam's house. Surprise Jessie, the blind date, is a girl.

Lumi Ray and Alexis Tae

They don't hit romantically because Sam had never been with a girl alone, not that she doesn't have previous experience but a man was involved in the mix. At the end of the evening they exchange their numbers to meet again. Obviously they do and via a montage we witness their feelings for each other growing up.

The relation reaches the point where it's time for a more physical situation... surprisingly when the moment happens Sam froze and everything goes to hell and the relation is over. But is it really? It's a romantic comedy so if you have watched one before you already know answer.

For a first directorial effort Mandi Slate did a very good job, not only in the directing chair but also as the writer since this is a beautiful romantic story. Lumi Ray I haven't seen in a feature film before is very good and believable in the leading role (I really hope that she will continue to star in more narratives films) and Alexis Tae also does a good job playing the romantic interest. As usual with the Lust Cinema movies there is a lot of production values that made the film felt high budget... other studios should take a page from their book, when you shoot outside and not only in a house the result doesn't look cheap. The sex scenes are on the short side which is normal since the film is only 62 minutes long, but the romanticism and realism of the last scene between Lumi Ray and Alexis Tae worth the entry price by itself. 

At this time the film is exclusive on the Lust Cinema streaming service since it was released only a couple of days ago... usually they aren't the fastest to release their films so my suggestion would be to become a member of their service, believe me it worth the price since most of the time their films are very good and enjoyable if like me you enjoy adult cinema.

Hook, Line and Sinker (2022)

 

After an evening at a club Maggie (Codi Vore) is waiting for a taxi to stop to pick her up with no luck. Meanwhile Kyle (Jay Romero) another customer exit the club too and Maggie and him start talking together while they wait for a taxi to stop.

Codi Vore and Jay Romero

During their conversation Kyle reveals that it's his last civilian evening for a while since he will be deployed for six months the following day. Maggie is impress by his military involvement and wants to thank him for his service so she invite him at her place since they don't live far from each other.

At Maggie's place they waste no time to jump in the action since she wants to give him a night he won't forget for the next six months. The fun doesn't last long before it's over and Kyle left her. A few weeks later Maggie is at a cafe and, surprise, Kyle shows up... turn up that his soldier story was a complete lie, in fact this is his way to pick girls. Strangely she isn't angry that he is a liar and tells him that they should go at his place for a sequel since the first time was great (she over sale the previous night they shared since it was super quick if you ask me).

Kyle can't resist the invitation and it's time for round two and that sequel is far superior to the original since Maggie undress this time... when it's over she has a revelation for him and it could be the end of his fake soldier days.

To be honest I picked that one for one reason alone... Codi Vore. I always enjoy her works with Summer Hart and it was a rare occasion to see her in a feature. It was an average Pure Taboo short feature story wise but the final act sure made it worthwhile, Codi is just stunning and her acting was surprisingly good. The end could had been better not the conclusion per se but more how quickly it's done and how nothing is shown (that card provider excuse is a lame excuse in that case and Gamma played it safe to a ridiculous level).

At the best of my knowledge, at this time, the feature is a streaming exclusive... if you are a member give it go since it's certainly worthy of a watch.

Sally Mae: Revenge of the Twin Dragons (2022)

 

More blaxsploitation today with the sequel of Sweet Sweet Sally Mae and it's a direct continuation of the original so it could be a good idea to watch it first since it will help you to understand the events of this one... not that you can't enjoy the film going blind, this is just a friendly advice and Sweet Sweet Sally Mae is excellent so you won't waste your time watching or rewatching it anyway.

Cali Caliente

We start at a crime scene and this isn't some random scene... one of the murder victim is Miss Jane so this is the aftermath of Sweet Sweet Sally Mae. Miss Jane was an important member of the Blackground Family so that double murder could result to an all-out gang war. Luckily Detective Stone (Cali Caliente) finds a piece of evidence the scene, a towel with the name S Mae written on it.

Alexis Tae, Scotty P and Alina Ali

Meanwhile at New York Scotty informs the family boss about the murder of his wife, Miss Jane, at Los Angeles and asks his help to get his revenge. His guards throw Scotty out and he decides to take the matter in his own hands by putting a million dollar bounty on Sally Mae (Ana Foxxx) head... dead or alive.

Isiah Maxwell

When coming back to her apartment Sally see a familiar figure walking to her from the dark alley... Trevor who taught her how to fight, but it could be since he was killed. In fact it's Isiah his bother who is here to warn Sally Mae that everybody is after her. She follows him to his place so he will be able to protect her.

Ana Foxxx

Sound fine but all this sound kind of fishy when someone calls Isiah and his answering machine took the call... Sally Mae learns about the bounty and becomes suspicious of him and leave in a rush. But she is dead wrong, Isiah really wants to protect her, he lied to the cops and even to Bella (Alina Ali) who came to question him... until the phone fucks everything again. 

Misty Stone

Things sound very bad for Isiah but the cops show up to save the day... now it's time to go after Gabriel (the boss of the Blackground family), but to get to him they (Stone, Sally and Isiah) must pass through his guards first and going though they sure will. After dealing with the two guards the identity of the boss is revealed and Sally Mae finally gets her revenge for her sister... or did she?

Thrillmonger

What an amazing sequel it was! The story is really good and full of surprises, the boss reveal sure was for me and no I won't spoil it. Also going by the ending it's obvious that we will get another chapter with Sally Mae in the future (maybe later this year?). Solid performances by everyone but specially from Isiah Maxwell, seriously he really shines in this film. The sex is solid from the start with a great lesbian scene between Caliente and Stone through through the end with a foursome between Foxxx, Caliente, Scotty P and Thrillmonger (that guy could have starred easilly in an eighties action film, he sure have the muscular look).  

Cali Caliente, Ana Foxxx and Isiah Maxwell

The film is a huge Ricky Greenwood's love letter to the genre and I highly recommend it (as I do for the original). You can stream the movie on the Adult Time platform if you are a member (fun fact: I became a member to watch Sweet Sweet Sally Mae when it was originally release and I'm always is) or you can buy it online at your usual store on VOD or DVD.

Sugar Town (2008)

 

Today I go back in time since I haven't watch something older in a while, but too be honest the real reasons why I picked this one are the cover art and Whitney Stevens... if someone would ask me who is my all-time my answer would be Whitney, one of the most beautiful and hottest woman who was in the adult industry but in the wrong era since 99% of what she did was fuck scenes (this time it felt like it could be a feature).

Britney Stevens and Mr. Marcus

Sadly as I should have guessed since this isn't nineties Vivid but mid 2000 at the end of their successful run Vivid this is more a vignettes film with a very small blaxsploitation theme to link the scenes (more or less, since it's like saying interracial sex scenes equals blaxsploitation). So, to be honest, talking about the synopsis isn't really important here so let's talk about the sex... 

First one is between a pimp and one of his girl. This one isn't for me, Mr. Marcus is too big for Britney Stevens, she doesn't feel comfortable and I can't enjoy watching sex when a performer doesn't seem to have a good time.

Ashley Blue and Tyler Knight

Next we have Tyler Knight who looks cool as hell driving a vintage car visiting Ashley Blue. This scene is all anal something I ain't a big fan of usually but it was quite enjoyable to watch... Ashley sure produce the hugest amount of saliva I haven't seen when she gives a blowjob.

Tony T. and Whitney Stevens

Next the moment I was waiting for... after a short introduction in which Dirty Harry come to pick Whitney's mother (Veronica Hart) for a date she have the house for herself after they left. Her boyfriend shows up and it's time for act three, nothing to complain here... one of the greatest Whitney's scene and believe me I have more than one hundred of her film (it's not because I review only feature films that I don't buy sex only VOD). Great sex, awesome visual position and, for a change, the person in charge of her make-up didn't go over the top with the eyes shadow so it's a natural looking Whitney that we get.

Julius Ceazher and Tori Black

Next we are back with the theme, as good as the previous scene was it didn't really fit with the rest, with Julius outside watching three girls to pick one... Britney and Ashley already got their scene so obviously the picked one is a young Tori Black. The scene is conventional and nothing out of the ordinary, but it's Tori so the scene is enjoyable.

Jada Fire

It's time to close the program with a scene between Jada Fire and Julius Ceazher that feel a little bit like a filler. Not that it isn't a good scene since Jada is curvy at all the right places so it's a win for me... filler or not.

Veronica Hart

I won't lie... the deceptive cover art promising a blaxsploitation feature but delivering a vignette film isn't cool. But almost all the sex scenes are enjoyable, some efforts were made using seventies car and clothes (for the most part) and I we got an amazing scene with Whitney so I can't complain. On the other hand that would have been nice to have a score fitting with the seventies sound and a much better cameo from Veronica Hart (seriously she got more screen time in the behind the scenes featurette than what she got in the film).

More a rent than a purchase recommendation since this doesn't have that much rewatchability unless you are a big fan of one of the actresses. Since they bought the Vivid library the film is available to stream for free on Adult Time if you are a member of course.

Privilege (2022)

 

Since the second half of the series will be gradually release at the end of the month (the 24) on the Wicked Pictures streaming service I think it's time to review the first half of the last Seth Gamble latest directorial effort.

Evan Stone

Alexander Nash (Evan Stone) is a very successful multi-millionaires businessman working on a very big financial transaction, the deal is looking kind of shady at first glance but it could be is way out since he plans for his son Liam (Nathan Bronson) to replace him. He doesn't have the best family around him... his second wife Isabella (Julia Ann) is without a doubt a gold digger, his second son Lucas (Lucky Fate) is a gambler and a scam artist leaching his money, his step-daughter Nicole (Lilly Bell) is also like her mother after his money but, at least for now, his two daughters Emma (April Olsen) and Freya Parker (I didn't catch her character name) seem fine.

Lucky Fate and Lilly Bell

Alexander hides a large sum of cash with all his offshore bank account in a safe at his office and we discover another member of his entourage who is after his money... Meghan (Vanna Bardot) who is an employee at his business office. 

Vanna Bardot

Freya Parker and Oliver Davis

It won't take long for what we expected to happen... no Alexander isn't killed but someone break into his office and take the money from the safe making it looks like a random theft, obviously nobody believe that.

Damon Dice and April Olsen

The first half ends with Alexander in jail receiving the visit of his son Liam after his wife set him up... which should gave her time to find some money and run. 

Julia Ann

Obviously this is the biggest project, at this time, that Seth Gamble did for Wicked... Axel Braun sure knew that he had a superstar director in the making when he gave him his chance to direct. The story is very interesting and the number of suspects is sure high and I'm not sure the thieve is really the obvious ones... we will know in a month or so. The cast is quite big contrary to what we usually see in the Wicked productions since Gamma bought them (there are more characters who haven't made their apparition yet), the locations aren't cheap like the set dressing so the budget must have been pretty good and the acting is solid from everybody. The sex even if it's conventional (I don't say that in a negative way, I only mean that there is no anal or rough play just regular sex) is good, arousing and realist.

Nathan Bronson

At this time this is only available via the Wicked streaming service, I suppose a wide release will be made not too long after the series will be completed exclusively for the members, and I can certainly tell you to watch it before the last half start streaming next week to refresh your memory... Great work on this one Seth!

Holy Holy (2022)

 

When I like an actor, which is certainly the case with Aiden, and I don't see news about a major project coming often I will go at the store where I usually buy my movie and do some research. The smaller labels don't have the same marketing power and sometimes you can find interesting project that went under your radar. Not long ago I did one of those research and this title pop up so I got it... now it's time to check if it was a good surprise...

Seth Gamble

Pastor Smith (Seth Gamble) is home alone since his wife is gone when he hear a knock at his door. It's Jessica (Aiden Ashley) a member of his congregation to whom he gives private bible lessons since she wants to be the Pastor of her own Church someday. They study the Bible and talk religion for a bit until things become a little bit more personal and from there you all know where it will go.

Aiden Ashley

As expected it was enjoyable, how it couldn't be... it's a short taboo subject feature with two excellent actors. Aiden plays her role with the right amount of naivete and innocence necessary to believe in her character and Seth is able to make an unlikable character (I wouldn't call a Man of God cheating on his wife with a woman who trust him a good man) sympathetic. The use of natural light sure make everything look classy and I love the non-invasive camera work. Sexually speaking this is very arousing, when you have a scene with Aiden you know it's the real deal, the sex never look fake and you can believe that she have a good time (nothing is more annoying that someone overacting during the sex). Both Aiden and Seth stay in character and the sex talk doesn't sound silly.

Seth Gamble and Aiden Ashley

It's certainly worthy of a purchase (being a 40 minutes short it isn't that costly to begin with) and you can buy it on VOD where you usually purchase your films online or you can watch the feature on the Delphine streaming service if you are a member. 

Love, Sex and Music (2022)

 

Fourth films in the Love Sex and XYZ series, at least I think there are four of them, and those films are usually enjoyable (for an example you can check my review of Love Sex and Fashion the previous entry). This time it's about the music industry or to be more precise the country music industry.

September Reign

Dixie (September Reign) is a singer / songwriter and she is at Nashville to sign a recording contract and get her big break. She got it when she invited at Nash Song Records for an audition and everybody like her performance.

Nina Elle

Later that evening it's party time with the record executive and if you know the music industry you know what I mean by party. The following day Dixie record a demo of her song in duo with Buck Bennett (Frank Bukkwyd) and with the passing of time it will got quite a lot of airplay.

Vanna Bardot and Whitney Wright

Dixie's life won't stay all sunshine and rainbow for long since she was manipulated by Missy Free (Vanna Bardot) and Whitney (Whitney Wright) to give her song to Missy... yep the same song who is currently a radio success. Even worst, Dixie is sued over this and the trial could result as the end of her career before it even began. Will it be the end or will it be the first step on the stardom stair for Dixie? Her faith is in the hand of the judge...

Will Ryder

Once again Will Ryder shows that he is a good director when he isn't restricted by the parody formula (to be honest I was never a big fan of that "parody" fad, some were good but most were by the book borefest... just a personal opinion don't kill me). The story is predictable but enjoyable and September Reign is, surprisingly, very good in the lead role... I could be wrong but she haven't been in many acting performances. Vanna Bardot and Whitney Wright performances are flawless as always (I sure hope to see Vanna getting more and more acting parts). I also like Misty Stone in her non-sex role. By the way it was nice to see Will Ryder going against the convention and cast a black actress in the role of a young country music singer. Sadly the song aren't sang by the actress but I can understand that very few adult actresses are professional singer, in fact the only one I can think of is Lacy Lennon and she said previously that she doesn't want to mix her acting and music career. Nothing to complain about on the sex side... but I would have appreciated a lesbian scene, by the way that was funny when Dorian del Isla forgot that he was in an American film and made almost all his sex dialogue in french.

Whitney Wright and Samantha Lexi

Another one I can recommend since the film is what an adult film should be for me... a feature where the story and the sex are as important and you don't feel like using the fast forward button during the sex. The film, who was nominated at the last AVN for the Grand Reel award by the way, is available on DVD and VOD...

Rusty Nails and September Reign

A Very Special Investigation (2022)

 

French cinema today... yes I know the title and the cover art is in english but this was the Canal+ adult film of the month last November (the original title is Une enquuête très spéciale). Enough with the intro and let's jump in the movie storyline.

Rico Simmons and Nikita Bellucci

The police is baffle by a series of theft happening in private residences in which they can't use a regular surveillance procedure. Why is that? Because the theft occur during swinging couple evening (and no we don't talk about swing music). So a couple must be in charge of the investigation and the police chief wants a real couple and not an unrelated man and woman detective duo since there is possibility that they had to jump in the action to not burn their cover. Virginie (Nikita Bellucci) et Clément (Rico Simmons) are the obvious choice even if they aren't a couple anymore.

Clea Gaultier

Obviously since it's a crime story I can't write too many details in my recap since a review spoiling a film is always annoying (at least for me it is). But the theft won't stop that easily even with the surveillance in place until the very end when the case is resolve (more or less).

Anna Polina

I'm French Canadian so I am always partial to french cinema since this is where I have started watching adult movies (obviously as a teenager I needed something that I could understand to stay attentive). As usual with the French films contrary to what we see in the American productions there is a lot of exterior locations that bring a lot of production value on the screen (we even got aerial photography, something that was certainly not cheap to do), I must also say that all the locations for the interior scenes look great. The scenario without being too complex is fine, feels natural (what I mean is that no sex scenes happen just because) and will keep your attention for the 80 minutes run time. The chemistry between Nikita Bellucci and Rico Simmons is perfect and you can believe that they are a couple on their last leg. The focus is the investors so the other characters aren't developed that much which is fine since they are mostly window dressing.

Vince Karter, Nikita Bellucci and Axel Reed

Even if the film is only 80 minutes long five sex scenes are included and none of them are, obviously, endless which is fine since watching a film for more than three hours with 40 minutes sex scenes can be chore after a while. Surprisingly for a french film there are no anal sex at all which is not a problem for me to be honest. One small critic I will do and it's the same for most french productions... why no english subtitles included? It's a little bit counter productive when you have a story to follow when you don't understand the dialogue. Not a problem per se for me but that would increase the foreign sales no?

Ania Kinski and Elisa Calvi

This Ludovik Dekan's production sure worth a watch in my book even if you don't understand the language the screen visual and the sex will worth your time. I suppose the film is always watchable on Canal+ but you can buy it on VOD at pretty much all the online stores.

Trailer (source: Nikita Bellucci Instagram)