John Leslie's Chameleons (full title: Chameleons: Not the Sequel) is an adult film that only a true auteur like Leslie could succeed at (I could see someone like Paul Thomas attempt to do a film like this, but not deliver on the sex). In one of these rare adult films, we have a film with a substantial plot, good production values, quality performances (especially by Ashlyn Gere; although it is a bit hard to understand Rocco Siffredi at times, a wonderful soundtrack and scorching sex. In other words, Chameleons is the kind of film that every adult film should aspire to be. For those familiar with John Leslie's 1989 video Chameleon this film is indirectly related with people who can transform shape, form, and even sex to fulfill their sexual appetites. The plot is also similar to the 1983 Tony Scott film The Hunger. I don't want to reveal too many plot details but the film is basically a love triangle between wealthy couple Claudine (the exquisite Deidre Holland) and Reynaldo (Rocco Siffredi) and the abrasive Casey (Ashlyn Gere), who becomes obsessed with them after meeting them in a sex club. The film eventually becomes a battle of wits of who's fooling who to the point where even the viewer isn't sure. The late John Leslie had a reputation of being the first person to successfully transition over from actor to director and this film is a perfect example of why. Every shot of the film demonstrates that Leslie was a true auteur and in my humble opinion, is only second to Henry Paris (Radley Metzger) in making adult films that can stand on their own without the sex (although that is certainly watchable as well). If pressed for my favorite John Leslie movie this would easily be my choice and if pressed for my favorite adult film ever made it, I think I would have to settle on a tie between this and The Opening of Misty Beethoven.
Review of Chameleons
