Suburban Dykes Review

Distributor: Fatale Media Edition Details: Standard Streaming Movie Specs: Genres: Short Film, Queer, Classic (1990s Shot on Video) Run Time: 30 minutes Rated: XXX Release Year: 1990 Director: Debi Sundahl Written by: uncredited Director of Photography: Ricki Craford, Michal Goralsky Cast: Sharon Mitchell, Nina Hartley, Peppar, Rochelle, Chris Release Specs: Audio: English Stereo Subtitles: none Video: Full Frame, 1.33:1 Video Format: NTSC Format: Streaming Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): N/A Number of discs: N/A

Suburban Dykes is an all-girl short film from lesbian studio Fatale Media and director Debi Sundahl. Suburban Dykes is a hard short film to classify, the short film isn't an all sex production, nor does it feel like a feature or a vignette. Suburban Dykes is a moment in the marriage of Nina (Nina Hartley) and Pepper (Peppar).

Through a flashback, we get a glimpse into the past, but we don't know anything about the future of the two. We are introduced to Nina and Pepper in a hot tub outside their house, and the short film goes forward from there, showing us the sexual interests of both of the women. There isn't any story per se; the short film is more of just a journey from one moment in time to another. Think of the short film like an episode of Seinfeld. The viewer really isn't brought anywhere, but the journey to nowhere was a whole lot of fun.

Debi Sundahl has managed to fill Suburban Dykes with all sorts of sexual themes. There is voyeurism, which is shown by Nina spying on Michelle (Rochelle) and Chris (Chris) having sex in a garage. There is phone sex where the couple calls Mistress Marlena (an uncredited actress). There is also a threesome with a domineering escort (Sharon Mitchell). All of this is presented in only a half-hour, and even better, all of this fits together coherently without anything feeling forced.

A lot of the natural flow feel that Suburban Dykes exhibits has to be attributed to the lead actresses Nina Hartley and Peppar since they are the driving force on the screen throughout the short film. Nina Hartley is a true industry legend that began wowing adult audiences in the mid-80s and is still performing and gaining new fans today. Peppar (sometimes credited as Pepper) has had a far smaller career, only appearing to have been in a handful of movies. This reviewer isn't sure why she didn't go further since she has incredible onscreen charisma. Sharon Mitchell, who started in the rough and tumble world of NYC's Avon productions in the mid-70s and whose career would span three decades, is fantastic as the dominant escort.

The sex scenes themselves are wonderful. Each one has a different feel to it, and a distinct kink represented — the sex scenes all blend to create a very versatile short film. Most viewers should find multiple sex scenes to their liking and may even find a new kink that turns them on.

Suburban Dykes is genuinely a wonderful guilty pleasure. The short film never really goes anywhere, but experiencing the journey that Debi Sundahl brings the viewer on is a lot of fun, and at the end of the short film, you find yourself wanting to see more. Debi Sundahl has also briefly managed to work in safe sexual practices for lesbians, a theme she will revisit in detail in her later feature movie Safe is Desire. Suburban Dykes is definitely an experience that you should watch; you won't regret it.

The edition of Suburban Dykes screened is the streaming-only edition available on PinkLabel.TV.

Fatale Media has done a good job with their streaming-only edition of Suburban Dykes. Suburban Dykes was shot on video, and Fatale Media has made a high definition file from the 1/4” DVCAM master for this release. Suburban Dykes is presented in the Academy aspect ratio of 1.33:1 pillarboxed to 1.78:1 in approximately 480i. The picture quality for Suburban Dykes is likely the best the movie can ever look given the age and limitations of the source material. The colors in the movie look great. There are some feathering and some minor glitches in the movie.

Suburban Dykes is presented with an English Stereo audio track. There appears to have been an issue when remastering the audio. All of the music is presented on the right channel, and all of the dialog is presented on the left channel. The dialog is clear and can be understood at all times; however, this sound design gives the movie an unbalanced feel.

Fatale Media hasn't included any extras with their streaming-only edition of Suburban Dykes.

Suburban Dykes is a really fun queer short film from Debi Sundahl. The movie never really goes anywhere. Still, the journey to nowhere is a whole lot of fun with great performances from adult film industry legends Sharon Mitchell and Nina Hartley, along with Peppar, who this reviewer is surprised never became a more prominent name given her talent. Debi Sundahl has managed to cram so many different sex scenes and fetishes into the movie that it is hard to believe it is only a half-hour long. Suburban Dykes is genuinely a fun, guilty pleasure. Fatale Media has done a good job with the picture quality of their streaming-only edition of Suburban Dykes on PinkLabel.TV, but the sound leaves something to be desired.

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