Animal Instincts

"Animal Instincts" is one of those softcore b-movies that were in the "adult" section of the video shop back when video shops still existed. It's not a "Red Shoe Diary" type thing with the faux-arty cinematography, over-zealous acting and goofy soundtrack. The direction is actually quite pedestrian, which kind of shows up the actors, among whom are natural softcore queen Shannon Whirry, and performers who had fallen on hard times David Carradine, and perhaps the biggest Hollywood screw up who ever lived, Jan-Michael Vincent. There are times when the actors seem to be standing around, waiting for cues. You can see them ACTING. The guy who made this movie - surprisingly one of few adult filmmakers to transition to mainstream flicks - is no Zalman King or Tinto Brass or any of the other actually competent softcore directors.

The plot is about a neglected wife of a policeman who is investigating an underworld figure who owns strip clubs. The movie uses an ungainly device which shows the protagonist talking to a therapist to introduce different scenes. The movie is quite generous with nudity from multiple women aside from Whirry, so at least it delivers on that score.

The husband's lack of interest in his bodacious wife is kind of hard to believe, especially when she parades in front of him in the chicest of mid nineties lingerie.

For some reason the movie often focuses on the sight of tongues lapping at each other.

Inevitably, the Whirry character cheats, and is caught out - but the husband isn't angry, he's turned on. They agree that she will continue to find lovers, and will film her activities so that he can watch.

The first guy who responds to her personal ad just wants to talk, which seems unlikely given the nature of the ad. He also seems uncomfortable and nervous with Whirry coming onto him.

Shannon Whirry has amazing breasts. We're treated to a montage of her having sex with various people. She, and her partners, dress like it's Elizabethan England in one scene, with wigs and lace. In another scene, she dresses like a man, in a suit, kind of looking like a buxom Justin Bieber.

Whirry ends up getting around so much she even ends up having sex with her husband's partner.

Jan-Michael Vincent finally gets a scene almost an hour and ten minutes into the movie. He seems like some kind of politician. Even in the nineties, did high ranking politicians have pony tails?

Whirry's cop boyfriend sets up JMV to have sex with his wife so that they can film it for the sleazy nightclub owner, played by David Carradine, though how he does this is kind of left unexplained. It's like everybody who needs to have sex with Whirry for the needs of the plot, does, without much hassle. How small is the town in which the movie is set, that all these assignations can be made so easily?

Whirry's character inexplicably becomes a celebrity as a result of her having sex in front of the camera. Too bad that didn't happen to the real Shannon Whirry. John Saxon also makes an appearance at the zero hour.

Nude Shannon Whirry might be a sight to behold - though the movie doesn't feature enough full frontal nudity from her - and the movie's plot is enjoyably silly, but I didn't find it particularly erotic. I hope Whirry was in other movies that made better use of her physical form, if not her lack of real acting chops. This is the first one of her movies that I have seen.

There's really only one reason why you'd be watching a film like this. This film accomplishes everything one could hope for in this genre and not much else. If you don't know why you're watching it, stop, but if you do, you'll agree it's as close to perfect as possible.

This is a classic. Truly, one of the hottest, sexiest, steamiest movies of all time. The plot is as sensual and hot as any other from this kind.

Shannon Whirry shines through all the movie and looks at her hottest. She's truly a great actress and a sexy woman in all the sense of the word.

The sex scenes are very well done but look too 90's in my opinion. I mean, with the typical background music and "sophisticated" camera angles. But it's still a sexy movie with an unbelievable hot lead actress.

Gregory Dark does it once again and brings to us one of the best soft core sex movies in history.

This is a must see for anyone who enjoys this noble genre and it is HEAVEN for Shannon Whirry fans.

I usually have no interest in this kind of film, and if I compared it to mainstream cinema I'd give it about 2 stars. But this film is all about presenting what is truly one of the Wonders of the Modern World, Shannon Whirry.

We all have our preferences, of course, and I wouldn't expect mine to match anyone else's (although the film sold well enough to justify sequels), but for those of you with tastes like mine this is a Don't Miss It Under Any Circumstances opportunity.

I understand Ms. Whirry is doing "legit" theater now. I hope she's finding success and earning appreciation for her other talents as well. Thank you, Ms. Whirry, for being unforgettable.

Gernert/Garroni/Hippolye Productions/Axis Films made a name for themselves and an overnight star of actress and then newcomer Shannon Whirry with this steamy tale based loosely on a well known true story.

Whirry portrays the character Joanne Cole, a woman on the verge...of wild sex, of 'generous' lovers, and of wanton violence that could end it all. Her husband (Maxwell Caulfield) is an overworked cop close to the edge. When he continues to ignore his wife's intimate needs, Joanne turns to others to fulfill her desires. When she is caught by David in a compromising situation, she realizes the way to get his attention is to let him watch. What he sees awakens his 'Animal Instincts'.

This film features a collage of familiar actors: David Carradine, very effective in his role as the sinister under-world type William Lamberti; Jan-Michael Vincent, as the corrupt city councilman Fletcher Ross; and ex-gymnast Mitch Gaylord in a small but effective role as David's cop partner, just to name a few.

A sensual brew of violence and passion is mixed with some of the boldest couplings ever to be granted an R Rating (also available in an UNRATED version, the one that is the subject of my review).

This film also features a very effective original music score by studio artists LIXX Array, whose synthesizer renditions are some of the best compliments to the already excellent direction (Gregory Hippolyte) and provocative cinematography in recent memory.

If a 'racy' movie occasionally is your 'oyster', treat yourself to this gem that redefined the term 'Erotic Thriller' in 1992, and set the standard by which all others of that genre are now judged.

Excellent!