Hollywood's Hidden Lives

by Brian

Ok, let me get right to the point:

As any longtime viewer of softcore films knows, most flicks tend to follow certain formulas and patterns. We always seem to know what to expect, just like in porn films...when the pizza guy delivers to the all-girl slumber party, we know that within minutes his pants are gonna be around his ankles and that his splooge will soon be splashing onto sweaty, writhing bodies. So it's a refreshing change of pace to see that writer/director John Quinn has thrown formula to the wayside and delivered a softcore film that colors outside the lines a bit.

Just when you think a love scene is going to happen, something happens to move the story beyond that point, or perhaps a quick panning edit will take us away from the action and leave the visuals up to our imagination. But don't worry, there is no flesh denied here; all the lovelies are on ample display throughout the film. Just when you think you've been ripped off, you discover later that you were actually given more change back then you deserved!

The story revolves around two couples, Frank and Stephanie (Brad Bartmann and Angela Davies) and David and Madeline (Evan Kennsington and Kimberlee Castaic). Frank and Stephanie are rich Hollywood producers, so bored with their contemporary relationship that they take to spying on their houseguests via high-tech surveillance equipment. David and Madeline, on the other hand, are still struggling for their first big breaks. He's a screenwriter and she's an actress, which comes in handy when it comes to convincing Frank and Stephanie to let them use their guesthouse. You see, their relationship is entirely fictitious - designed to help them find decent accomodations while honing their crafts. The truth is they really can't stand each other.

Hmmm...or can they?

With a cast fleshed out by porn stars such as Teanna Kai and Dee Summer, the nudity in this film is nothing short of full-on explicit, with the most realistic oral sex and masturbation simulations I've seen in a long time. I even hesitate to say "simulations" because in a few cases you can see that something has definitely just happened, whether it be a brief mouth on the mound shot or a tongue that comes this close to hitting the sweet spot. This realism sends the steam levels soaring high, and if your pulse isn't pounding within the first ten minutes of this film then you might as well jump in a six foot deep hole and bury yourself.

I highly recommend this film to couples. There are psychological elements combined with visually explicit ones, and for once the music takes a back seat while the actor's moans and deep breathing invite the viewer in as a voyeur instead of shutting us out with howling guitars or a score that drowns out the sounds of the action.

It's also nice to see some fresh faces making an appearance. Kimberlee Castaic, as Madeline, definitely has the smalltown charm her character should have, and her scene in the actor's studio with a befuddled Brian (Dave Valeo aka Jason Schnuit, Jay Stewart) is hot, with her sexily teasing him during an improv. "What?" she says coyly, sitting back with her skirt raised just enough so that he can see the panties beneath, her finger lightly rubbing herself. "You've never seen lace panties before?"

Gulp!

For keeping us guessing and for giving us a film that is both entertaining while also having copious amounts of hot sex, Hollywood's Hidden Lives has to be rated five stars.