Dominatrix Without Mercy (Alpha Blue Archives) Review

Distributor: Alpha Blue Archives Edition Details: Standard DVD Movie Specs: Genres: Golden Age Classic (1970s Shot on Film), Feature Film Run Time: 62 minutes Rated: X Release Year: 1976 Director: Shaun Costello (as John Stover) Written by: Shaun Costello (as John Stover) Director of Photography: Jason Russell Cast: Marlene Willoughby, Terri Hall, C.J. Laing, Vanessa del Rio (as Venessa Del Rio), Ultramax, Mel White (as Marc Anthony), John Leslie (as John Leslie Dupre), Grover Griffith, Jamie Gillis, Fred J. Lincoln (as Fred Lincoln), Marc Stevens (as Mark 10 ½ Stevens), Roger Caine, Ashley Moore, Hope Stockton Release Specs: Audio: English MPEG 1.0 Mono Subtitles: none Video: Full Frame, 1.33:1 Video Format: NTSC Format: DVD Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 0 (All) Number of discs: 1

Dominatrix Without Mercy was a quickly shot film by Shaun Costello. Dominatrix Without Mercy was the first film commissioned for the Avon theater chain by Murray Offen; however, Costello was never one of the stable of Avon directors. Dominatrix Without Mercy was not an in-house Avon production, instead this film was contracted out through Star Distributors. Costello has made some great adult films during his career, unfortunately this one is not one of them.

There isn't any real plot. In the film, Mara (Marlene Willoughby) finds an advert in Screw Magazine asking for models guaranteeing $1,000 weekly salary. Mara knows that the advert was placed by a madame, so she calls to inquire. The madame (Ultramax) explains to Mara that the clientele at her brothel is looking for more than standard service.

In reality, one the sex gets going, this film is nothing but non-stop sex scenes. Costello manages to capture most of the depraved acts that one would expect from an Avon film on film for this outing, including golden showers and humiliation. However, due to the lack of reason for the sex — the lack of a storyline — and the dark and grittiness of the scenes, ultimately Dominatrix Without Mercy isn't a fun film to watch.

The film is mostly shot indoors, with just some early shots with Mara shot outside, giving the film a very cramped feeling. Overall, Dominatrix Without Mercy isn't one of the greatest films to have played on Avon's blue screens and is not a hard film to pass up.

Dominatrix Without Mercy is presented in the full screen aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The transfer was taken from a film print. The picture contains grain, and dirt. There are artifacts and heavy print damage at some points. The film also has some jumps. The transfer isn't horrible and is definitely watchable.

Dominatrix Without Mercy is presented with an English MPEG 1.0 monaural track. The track is acceptable with the audio able to be heard at all times. The audio is scratchy at some points, has some jumps, and has dirt on the track at points.

Alpha Blue Archives has included a few extras on this release. The original theatrical trailer, from a video source, is on the disc. There is a text piece with basic information on the film. The loop P3 from the Playbox Series of 8mm loops “Vanessa's Lusty Lad” with Vanessa Del Rio, Marlene Willoughby, and John Black is included. The loop runs for just over ten minutes, is in color, and is silent. There is also a photo gallery of Marlene Willoughby. None of the photos are from this production.

Dominatrix Without Mercy is a roughie that was made by Shaun Costello for the Avon cinema chain. This isn't one of the better roughies to have been made during the 70s, with no real plot just the gritty sex. Alpha Blue Archives has done a decent job with the release with the transfer coming from an actual film print.

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