Heroin Review

Distributor: Wicked Pictures Edition Details: Standard DVD Movie Specs: Genres: Feature Film, Suspense Run Time: 104 minutes Rated: XXX Release Year: 2002 Director: Michael Raven Written by: Michael Raven (written by), Cash Markman (original idea) Cast: Sydnee Steele, Keri Windsor, Lezley Zen, Noname Jane (as Violet Blue), Sunrise Adams, Avy Scott, Brad Armstrong, Randy Spears, Dillon Day (as Dillon), Cheyne Collins, Jonathan Morgan, Anthony Skordi (as Anthony Skardi), Summer Storm, Chennin Blanc (as Chenin Blanc), Anthony Crane, T.J. Hart, Michael Raven Release Specs: Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: none Video: Widescreen, 1.78:1 Video Format: NTSC Format: DVD Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 0 (All) Number of discs: 1 Disc: DVD 5 (SS, SL) Special Features: Photo Gallery, All Access: Behind the Scenes of Heroin, Heroin — Box Cover Shoot, Interviews, Girls of Heroin, Audio Bios, Star Galleries, Behind the Scenes Photos, AVN & Wicked — Nominations and Winners, Promotional Reels, Company Profile, Free Speech Coalition DVD-ROM Special Features: Wicked Web, Wicked Casino

Synopsis:
Up and coming ad executive Bill Reese (Brad Armstrong) meets Heroin (Sydnee Steele) at a party and she lures him into her dark and mysterious sexual world. Bill starts becoming obsessed with her and starts losing control of his life.

Video/Audio:
Heroin is presented in a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1, which appears to be the original aspect ratio to the film. Generally from Wicked we are used to a pristine transfer, which unfortunately isn't the case here. Not that the transfer is horrible, but it is sub par for Wicked. There is a problem with fine pixels in portions of the film. This is probably caused by too low of a bit rate to fit the film on a DVD 5. The colors are good, but a bit light in some of the scenes. Black sometimes comes through as a dark grey. There is nothing here that will ruin your viewing experience though.

The available audio track is a 2.0 English Stereo track which works well for the material presented here. The music sounds good and fills the front speakers and the dialog, for the most part, appears to be monaural with equal sound coming from the front two speakers. The dialog can be heard throughout the film without a problem. No other language tracks and no subtitle options are available.

Chapters/Time Code:
There are ten chapters available from the main menu for Heroin and fifteen chapters available from inside the film itself. The chapters available from the main menu are identified by a video clip from the scene they go to. There is a time code for the feature film, so time searching is available.

Special Features:
As per the norm for Wicked, this disc is jam packed with features of which many relate to the feature film. There is a main photo gallery that contains 32 stills on a track. There are also star photo galleries, each containing 20 photos on a track, for Sydnee Steele, Avy Scott, Kari Windsor, Lezley Zen, and Violet Blue. There is also a behind the scenes photo gallery containing 18 still shots that often capture the crew or production equipment in the frame. There is a documentary entitled All Access: Behind the Scenes of Heroin that is a rather in depth making of the film feature. There is Heroin — Box Cover Shoot, which is short and goes through the photography session. There is Girls of Heroin, which is a short softcore extra featuring the female talent from Heroin. There are short interviews with Sydnee Steele, Michael Raven, Lezley Zen, Chenin Blanc, and Avy Scott. And last but not least there are audio biographies containing text and audio information plus a Wicked filmography for Sydnee Steele, Keri Windsor, Lezley Zen, Violet Blue, Brad Armstrong, Cheyne Collins, Dillon Day, and Randy Spears.

As for the extras that don't relate to the feature film, there are the promotional reels from the adult conventions for the years 1998 through 2001. There are the Wicked Pictures AVN Award winners and nominations for the years 1994 through 2001, which is a text feature on a track. There is the company profile, which is a text feature on a track that contains the history of Wicked Pictures. There is an advert for the Free Speech Coalition. And last, but not least, are trailers for Hell on Heels, Knockout, Dream Quest, Sex Safari, Working Girl, Pornogothic, The Bride of Double Feature!, The Kissing Game, Vengeance, Satyr, Crazed, Heartache, Spellbound, Double Feature!, and Flashpoint.

DVD-ROM Special Features:
The Wicked Web Hyperlink allows you to go straight to Wicked's website. The Wicked Casino is a free casino program that you have to install on your computer that allows you to play casino style games online against opponents for Wicked Cash or just by yourself for fun. The available casino games are Black Jack, Roulette, Baccarat, Slots and Poker.

Review:
Heroin is Michael Raven's first film for Wicked Pictures and the first film that I have seen by him. If this film is any indication of his normal work, I'm going to have to start watching his older films. This film is beautifully done and has a lot to offer viewers who enjoy a porno for more than just sex. The film is a nicely done package which presents adult film at it's greatest. The filming itself is excellent with well-planned out shots and a script and direction that brings out the best of the film's cast. And the acting is rather decent too.

This film is so well done, at times you forget that you are watching a porno. One of the things that I really liked about this film was that the film doesn't take advantage of every possibility it has to throw in a sex scene. In this instance and a few others, this film is rather reminiscent of the classics. The film concentrates on letting the story unfold as well as offering sex scenes. Although I feel that this style works in favor of the film, viewers who hate a plot will find very little of this film enjoyable.

Overall, the female cast is very attractive and very easy on the eyes. The only notable exception is one of the female cast members that has very visible breast enlargement scars. This is a massive turn off for me as big or small I prefer them to be natural. The cast interacts well with each other and always seems to be having fun. As far as the sex goes, some viewers will be disappointed, as there is no nasty sex in the film. However, this makes this film perfect couples fare as the only thing that might bother a couples audience is a lesbian scene. However, the sex scenes are incredibly well done and seem less mechanical than many that I have seen as of late. The sexual themes in the film are oral and vaginal sex with fingering, lesbianism and toys. For viewers who care, I believe that all the scenes had condom use.

As can be expected, not everything about this film is perfect. This film's weakest point is it's continuity or lack there of in places. For example, in the beginning of the film when Brad Armstrong and Keri Windsor are in bed she pulls the sheet up over her breasts. As the camera angles change the sheet will change from being loose on the bed to being over her breasts. It's a minor thing, but it draws you out of the film and back to reality quickly.

The Money Shot:
Heroin is a highly recommended film from Michael Raven that is sure to please viewers who like plot based adult erotica and tame sex. Despite the problems with the transfer, this disc is definitely one to pick up for your collection. Viewers who hate a plot and viewers who require nasty or degrading sex acts will probably not enjoy this film to its fullest potential.

Past Reviews Interviews