Shades of Scarlet

Quasarman aka Mike Quasar is among the busiest gonzo hacks in the Adult biz, but I am happy to report that his BDSM lite opus "Shades of Scarlet" is a winner. It's the first film by him I've liked since "Memoirs of a Madam" all the way back in 1999, but not to worry - he returned to form with a clunker of a followup: "Shades of Scarlet 2: Higher Power".

This first episode presents Karlie Montana in perhaps her finest role thus far: she's gotten much industry notice for gonzo performances, but this is real acting and in a better world would be her ticket to a SAG card and decent-sized mainstream castings.

She narrates and personalizes the story in the opening reels, portraying a plain- Jane office worker, bored and lonely but living vicariously along with millions of other femmes reading the "Scarlet" series of romantic BDSM novels by enigmatic author Roz Collins. She finds an email address and writes of her fandom to Roz and surprisingly gets a response.

In a nonsex role, Anthony Rosano is excellent in his phoned-in performance as Roz, enticing the young girl to do his bidding and promising her self-realization through a series of trysts he's arranged. This "education of a young maiden" format is as old as the hills in literature, but Quasar does a fine job of freshening it up and drawing the viewer into close identification with Karlie and her dangerous but exciting plunge into the (erotic) unknown.

Rosano explains to Karlie: "My characters live in a world without fear, and that's why you're engrossed when it comes to reading about their lives". Her first assignment is to visit Mr. Pete, who's whipping his blonde sub AJ Applegate. Karlie is forced to watch as a voyeuse but is clearly turned on by what she witnesses.

Next she's sent to Tommy Aragon, another inspiration used by Roz for his books, Unfortunately, Tommy Pistol is cast in this important role (which is reprised in the sequel) and he overacts in a mannered, unconvincing fashion, ruining this segment as he abuses slave Romi Rain, adding some big-bust action to the video.

Karlie finally gets involved in the shenanigans in her next adventure with Skin Diamond, who has become nearly typecast in BDSM roles after a fabulous turn in B. Skow's "Control" and current antics on Showtime cable in Jacky St. James's series "Submission". The lesbian sex and introduction to the thrills of the dog collar, being beaten and suffering humiliation gives Montana a chance to up her game, while James Deen is up to his usual tricks and gimmicks as "Sir".

I won't spoil the finale wherein Roz finally comes out of the shadows, but applaud Quasar's downbeat, film noir ending, a solid achievement coming from any Adult source and appropriate to the material and its themes. Kendra Lust was added to the mix opposite Karlie for the sequel, but sad to say it plays more like a remake and tarnishes rather than extending the story so nicely presented here.