Compulsion (Elegant Angel) Review

Distributor: Elegant Angel Edition Details: Standard DVD Movie Specs: Genres: Feature Film Run Time: 122 minutes Rated: XXX Release Year: 2003 Director: Axel Braun Written by: Axel Braun, Patrick Collins Cast: Ashley Long, Kurt Lockwood, Ava Vincent, Avy Scott, Katrina Kraven, Rachel Rotten, Aria, Renee Pornero, Ramona Luv, Flick Shagwell, Gia Jordan, Mickey G., Jay Ashley, Rob Rotten, Jack Spade, Denis Marti, Eli Cross (as Robert April), Axel Braun, Bam (as Mr. Bigg), Patrick Collins Release Specs: Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: none Video: Widescreen, 1.85:1 (non-anamorphic) Video Format: NTSC Format: DVD Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 0 (All) Number of discs: 1

Compulsion is a hardcore feature film from writer and director Axel Braun. After Axel Braun, the son of legendary adult film director Lasse Braun, took over as general manager of Elegant Angel he found he missed creating adult films. He got permission from his boss Patrick Collins to make a lavish shot on film adult film, one of the few lavish feature adult movies that Elegant Angel, which is known for their all sex movies, would make (Later general manager Graham Travis would make the others.).

In Compulsion, Niki (Kurt Lockwood) has just opened a club in Milan, Italy. He is framed for a murder that he didn't commit and flees to his father, a mob boss, Charlie's (Patrick Collins) house in the United States. Niki finds out that Charlie has married the young Mya (Ashley Long) in his absence. Niki is upset about Mya at first until he starts having feelings for her.

Compulsion is an extremely well-made adult film, the kind that isn't made that often anymore. Axel Braun has written a well-developed story, with additional dialog written by Patrick Collins, that does an excellent job of entertaining the viewer during the non-sexual portions of the film. The cast in the film is excellent. Surprisingly, Patrick Collins — in a non-sexual role — steals the screen. This reviewer had no idea that Patrick Collins could act and now wonders why he hasn't had acting roles in more feature films. Kurt Lockwood is excellent in the movie as Patrick Collins' son as well. The casting choice was excellent since Kurt Lockwood looks like he could be the son of Patrick Collins.

The sex scenes are well integrated into the film. The performers in the sex scenes do an excellent job in them. An aspect to the film that this reviewer liked was not every situation that a sex scene could be jammed in had one. There were some that were more tease only. The sets and locations that are used in the film are fantastic. It is apparent that Axel Braun took the time he needed to make the movie and it certainly paid off in the end.

Sadly, Compulsion would be the last original adult feature movie that Axel Braun would make for 15 years (His next would be The Possession of Mrs. Hyde that he is currently shooting for Wicked Pictures.). Axel Braun got into making a good chunk of the surfeit of adult “parody” movies that gutted the adult feature movie market for years. Viewers who only know Axel Braun from his “parody” output have no idea of what he can create on his own when he is allowed to work with original material. Compulsion is highly recommended for fans of adult feature films.

Elegant Angel has done a poor job with their DVD release of Compulsion. Compulsion was shot on film, and this reviewer is assuming that Elegant Angel used the negative for this release. Compulsion is presented in the non-anamorphic — which means the film is presented letterboxed and pillarboxed on a widescreen television — widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 in 480i. Compulsion's image quality on the DVD looks poor for a film that Elegant Angel spent so much money creating. The image doesn't contain artifacts or damage; however, the colors and definition are lacking. The colors in the film often look oversaturated. The black range looks navy blue often, and dark areas look awful. Compulsion should look a lot better than it does.

The audio for Compulsion is an English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track. There aren't any noticeable issues with the audio presentation with clear and easy to understand dialog.

Elegant Angel has included a couple of extras on their release for Compulsion; however, only one relates to the feature film itself. There is a well-done 21-minute behind the scenes piece. There is also a bonus scene from an unidentified Elegant Angel movie.

Compulsion is an excellent adult feature film that writer and director Axel Braun shot on film. The film combines some hot sex scenes with a well-developed plot and some great acting. Fans of feature films will find a lot to like in Compulsion, and it should have good replay value. Elegant Angel has done a poor job with their DVD release of Compulsion. The audio is good, but the image quality is disappointing.

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