User Reviews

This review is based on viewing the unrated 92 minute Japanese DVD (English with Japanese subtitles). IMDb currently indicates that this film is rated R (USA) for a 90 minute version, which I have trouble believing. I think there was a much shorter R rated version released initially, but judging from the other user comments, they probably also saw a longer unrated (or USA:TV-MA rated) version. The longer versions are definitely full-on softcore, not the R rated teaser stuff.

There's lots to like and dislike in this softcore flick. After viewing lots of MRG Entertainment's recent flicks which are often nothing but a handful of people sitting around a house spewing dialogue written merely to introduce inserted sex scenes, it was refreshing to go back and see one of their older flicks which actually made an attempt at being more like a real movie. This flick starts with a real song instead of the canned, reused instrumental music, and there are outdoor shots, location shots, shots inside moving cars, scenes with extras, and other things we don't see from MRG much anymore.

Plot: The basic plot (bored, unfulfilled housewife turns to working in a brothel) and the happy ending (lover becomes stalker, wife saved by husband/friend and realizes true love) have been done plenty of times before. However, the journey between the setup and climax is an unusual ride. The main character Zanthe (played by Nikki Fritz) displays symptoms of schizophrenia and other mental disorders. There are numerous instances where a whole scene or parts of a scene turn out to be a dream, a fantasy, or a full blown hallucination of Zanthe... complete with the "Gotcha!" transition. At one point in the film she appropriately says, "I gotta get a hold of myself!".

Writing: Again... kudos for attempt a real plot. Yet, there is some really bad and inconsistent writing here which had me rolling my eyes on several occasions. First, both the customers and employees of the brothel did things which would immediately get them kicked out of the place in real life (e.g. customer insisting on knowing the real full name of one of the girls). Second, there were numerous occasions where a character spoke dialogue which was completely inconsistent with things which had happened in previous scenes. Example: one guy states that "money is no object", which is evidenced by the fact that he visits a high class brothel every day, yet in a later scene he's spewing dialogue about getting dropped because he's poor. And one character seriously says, "Trust me, I'm a lawyer".

Acting: Overall, very good for a softcore flick. Nikki Fritz is very good as the unbalanced lead, and Burke Morgan is flat out excellent. Only Julia Kruis (who's always a weak actress) turns in a inconsistent performance. Everett Rodd is effectively very creepy in his role, and since I've never seen him before I don't know if he's great at playing creepy, or if his awkward delivery of lines just worked out to make it seem that way.

Sex scenes: There's around a dozen simulated sex scenes of varying lengths and quality, but most of them are good or at least average. Per usual, there's a little girl/girl, solo, threesome and voyeurism thrown in for variety. It's definitely a showcase for Nikki Fritz, who's in most of the scenes. I've always liked Nikki, both as an actress and a softcore performer, except for the overstretched, low quality fake tits. The other three girls get to participate in a couple of scenes each. Julia Kruis and Raquel Devine are both lovely and have better quality fakes. And rarely used softcore actress Dana Robbins is unbelievably cute, and natural. On the Japanese DVD, there is some light blurring of crotch shots, but it's otherwise full blown softcore.

Overall... this one has it's good and bad, but worth a watch... and a must see for Nikki Fritz fans.