Heroin Review

Studio
Wicked

Genre
Couples Feature

Directors
Michael Raven

Starring
Sydnee Steele, Keri Windsor, Lezley Zen, Sunrise Adams, Violet Blue, Avy Scott, Brad Armstrong, Randy Spears, Dillon, Cheyne Collins, Jonathan Morgan (non-sex), Anthony Crane (non-sex), and Chenin Blanc (non-sex)

Running Time
1:42

DVD Format
Single Sided, Dual Layer (DVD-9)

Aspect Ratio
1.66:1 (letterboxed)

Special Features
Animated main menu with full motion video; FMV chapter selection menu; animated menu transitions; audio commentary with Michael Raven and Sydnee Steele; isolated soundtrack; 19-minute behind the scenes "All Access: The Making of Heroin"; video interviews with Sydnee Steele, Michael Raven, Leslie Zen, Chenin Blanc, and Avy Scott; 6-minute "Girls of Heroin" video; 5 star photo galleries with softcore images; 18-picture behind the scenes photo gallery; 32-picture photo gallery (mix of hardcore and softcore); Dolby 5.1 soundtrack; 2-minute box cover shoot video; 8 audio star biographies; and trailers for Flashpoint, Heartache, Dreamquest, Crazed, Double Feature, Hell on Heels, Knockout, Pornogothic, Satyr, Sex Safari, Spellbound, The Bride of Double Feature, The Kissing Game, Vengeance, and Working Girl

Typical Watchers
Brad Armstrong and Sydnee Steele fans

Typical Haters
Anyone who's bothered by infidelity

Replay Value
Medium

Themes
Infidelity, public sex, girl-girl, toys, no anal

Condoms
Yes--mandatory studio policy

If You Liked This DVD, You Should Enjoy
Flashpoint

Directed by one of feature porn's gurus, Michael Raven, and based on a Cash Markman screenplay, Heroin explores the addictiveness of the titular character (played by Sydnee Steele) on an unsatisfied husband (Brad Armstrong).  Brad's character, Billy Reese, is an advertising executive, who meets a mysteriously bold bombshell at a business party, and becomes Heroin's plaything.  From giving money and some pussy to a homeless guy under a bridge, to watching a couple fuck in a bathroom stall, to having sex on a rooftop, Billy is addicted to this taste of living on the sexual edge, and while it adds some spice to his marriage to his timid wife (Keri Windsor), he finds out that the euphoria he felt early on doesn't last.

Sydnee does a great job with this role, both from an acting and from a sexual perspective.  She exudes the confidence of an uninhibited woman with the underlying manipulative intent that Bill Reese can't see.  Her husky voice is perfect for the character and gives Heroin the believability that makes the movie work.  For his part, Brad Armstrong does a decent acting job, and once again, he proves that he can still be both talent and a director.  Plus, as a bonus, he doesn't have to jack himself off for minutes on end to pop--he's about as close to the "pull out and shoot" style of the 70's as anyone is today.

From a porn standpoint, this has all of the trappings of a couples movie:  vanilla sex, condoms, no anal, not a lot of gynological shots, and so forth.  Yet there are enough hot moments that the more jaded among us won't be completely bored.  For example, the first real sex scene is set at a party thrown for two of the ad agency's clients (Randy Spears and Dillon).  They're "entertained" by Avy Scott, Violet Blue, and Sunrise Adams (talk about a lineup!).  The way that Violet and Sunrise give Randy a double headed sandwich is awesome, and the oral pop that Sunrise takes is more gonzo-quality than what you'd expect in a Wicked feature.

After Brad's character comes home to his wife after playing voyeur with Heroin, the resulting lovemaking is one of the best couple's scenes I've watched in years.  The chemistry is dead-on, and I love how Keri and Brad turn and stare at each other while they're fucking--without saying a word.  The intensity and passion is fun to watch.  It's also nice to see Keri have some genuine, earth-shaking orgasms (trembling feet, clenched fingers, and all).

Finally, I was impressed by the fantasy girl-girl scene in which Brad imagines his wife and Heroin having sex.  This is anything from lipstick lesbian in nature:  there's plenty of hot tongue fucking, serious licking, and glistening fingering.  The hottest part of this scene is when Keri uses a creative-looking vibrator on Sydnee.  It's enough to see Keri working it into to Sydnee's wet, spread pussy, but it's just mindblowing to watch Keri take the vibe in her mouth and continue to work it.  Wow!

About the only serious problem I have with Heroin is the infidelity theme.  It's painful to watch Brad cheat on his wife with a stranger, and then go home to Keri and pretend that nothing is happening (even making love to his wife while imagining it's Heroin instead).  It's sadder to see how Keri's character is honestly trying to please her husband: dressing up in lingerie, saying that she's willing to try new things, etc.  And ultimately, the lack of any serious consequences for his mental and physical cheating disappoints me.  I think that it would be a hard movie to watch with a spouse unless you are really, really secure in each other.

Still, I know it's porn and a fantasy, so I guess maybe it's just my hang-up.  Bottom line is that this is definitely one of the better Wicked features of recent years.  I like it better than Falling From Grace, but not as much as, say, Euphoria.  If you're looking for a couple's feature that is a bit edgier but still has solid production value, good acting, and solid sex, Heroin is a good buy.

- Saki (saki@sakivision.com)