Through the Looking Glass (Video X Pix) Review
Video-X-Pix
Studio: Video-X-Pix
Category: Classic , Feature film
Directed by: Jonas Middleton
Starring: Jamie Gillis, Bobby Astyr, Terri Hall, Kim Pope, Al Levitsky, Nikki Hilton, Linda Vale, Jeffrey Hurst, Nancy Dare, Roger Caine, Catherine Burgess, Douglas Wood, Grover Griffith, Laura Nicholson, Maria Taylor, Ultra Max
Released on: 3/25/2005
fu_q's ratings for this movie:
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Reviewed by fu_q on 5/22/2018
**Note – This review is based upon the web version of the film available for streaming and download at gamelink.com. As such, any bonuses haven’t been given a rating, and there could be some discrepancies between this version and other releases.**
Review:
A young heiress, played by the blonde beauty, Catharine Burgess, finds herself becoming more and more despondent, as her sexual obsession with a possessed mirror in the attic of her childhood manor grows. Of course, the mirror itself serves as a conduit to Hell, and its demonic inhabitant, played deftly by the master thespian himself, Jamie Gillis, is intent on beckoning her to the other side, where it can both own her soul and her sexuality for eternity. In so doing, it takes on the form of Catharine's deceased father, for whom her feelings are "complicated", at best, and whether she will ultimately succumb to its erotic seductions or escape from its clutches and return to a normal (albeit boring) life becomes the question of the day. Such is the case in "Through the Looking Glass", an exceptional, 1976 release from Video-X-Pix and director Jonas Middleton.
With its mainstream-esque production values and acting and its well-developed storyline, this film achieved a certain level of notoriety back in its day. Indeed, its lead, Ms. Burgess, who was looking to use it as a stepping stone into mainstream acting roles, noted that its release had caused her both marital problems (ending in divorce) and also familial issues (in the form of a mother who wouldn't speak with her, any longer), according to the Chicago Tribune. Further fanning the flames was the fact that Laura Nicholson, who played the non-sex role of Catharine's onscreen daughter, was quite young at the time...and was second-billed just below Ms. Burgess herself in newspaper advertisements for the flick. A paperback book was also published (Dell), fleshing out and augmenting the storyline. This book was apparently signed by Catharine for the patrons of at least one New York showing of the production, as well. (It should also be noted that Burgess has stated that the explicit sex in her scenes was done by a body-double.)
History aside, this film is exceptional in just about every way. Its plot is inherently watchable, engrossing, and faithful to its ghostly genre. It is gripping, suspenseful, and erotic. Indeed, this production is as much a "real" movie as it is a "sex" one, and if ever there were a porn flick that straddled the line between mainstream and adult fare, this is it. As noted, Burgess plays her part to perfection, as does Gillis his, and the costuming, sets, production values, and ambience all complement their work (and the storyline) exquisitely. The sex itself, which is distinctly secondary to the plot, is generally steamy, as well. Included is an oily-lesbian pairing just on the other side of the mirror involving Catharine...and an Alice-In-Wonderland-themed orgy on the grounds of a regal estate (which itself includes an actress, as a centerpiece "pig", taking both a carrot and a banana vaginally, before taking a more "normal" schtupping, as well). Also presented is an incest-infused, mutual masturbation sequence (that ultimately turns into a BJ and a facial), in which the spectral Jamie--as Catharine's "father"--seduces a younger version of her (played by Kristin Steen) in her bedroom. This one's as erotically right as it is morally wrong. Finally, the diabolical dicking that Burgess's character endures in the attic toward the end of the film, followed by the cavalcade of crazy carnality that she encounters in the pits of Hell (Oyster Bay, of course), thereafter, shouldn't be left without mention, either. All super-sexy and fitting lockstep with the storyline. Awesome.
In all, this release is a classic adult feature fan's wet dream cum true. It plays and feels like a true film of its time--suspenseful, well-developed, and excellent in every respect--all the while maintaining (and incorporating) perfectly-timed eroticism throughout. It's inherently watchable (and re-watchable), its star is lovely, and it is very, very easy to recommend.
Hit me up on Twitter, if you'd like... (@PornOfYore)
Review:
A young heiress, played by the blonde beauty, Catharine Burgess, finds herself becoming more and more despondent, as her sexual obsession with a possessed mirror in the attic of her childhood manor grows. Of course, the mirror itself serves as a conduit to Hell, and its demonic inhabitant, played deftly by the master thespian himself, Jamie Gillis, is intent on beckoning her to the other side, where it can both own her soul and her sexuality for eternity. In so doing, it takes on the form of Catharine's deceased father, for whom her feelings are "complicated", at best, and whether she will ultimately succumb to its erotic seductions or escape from its clutches and return to a normal (albeit boring) life becomes the question of the day. Such is the case in "Through the Looking Glass", an exceptional, 1976 release from Video-X-Pix and director Jonas Middleton.
With its mainstream-esque production values and acting and its well-developed storyline, this film achieved a certain level of notoriety back in its day. Indeed, its lead, Ms. Burgess, who was looking to use it as a stepping stone into mainstream acting roles, noted that its release had caused her both marital problems (ending in divorce) and also familial issues (in the form of a mother who wouldn't speak with her, any longer), according to the Chicago Tribune. Further fanning the flames was the fact that Laura Nicholson, who played the non-sex role of Catharine's onscreen daughter, was quite young at the time...and was second-billed just below Ms. Burgess herself in newspaper advertisements for the flick. A paperback book was also published (Dell), fleshing out and augmenting the storyline. This book was apparently signed by Catharine for the patrons of at least one New York showing of the production, as well. (It should also be noted that Burgess has stated that the explicit sex in her scenes was done by a body-double.)
History aside, this film is exceptional in just about every way. Its plot is inherently watchable, engrossing, and faithful to its ghostly genre. It is gripping, suspenseful, and erotic. Indeed, this production is as much a "real" movie as it is a "sex" one, and if ever there were a porn flick that straddled the line between mainstream and adult fare, this is it. As noted, Burgess plays her part to perfection, as does Gillis his, and the costuming, sets, production values, and ambience all complement their work (and the storyline) exquisitely. The sex itself, which is distinctly secondary to the plot, is generally steamy, as well. Included is an oily-lesbian pairing just on the other side of the mirror involving Catharine...and an Alice-In-Wonderland-themed orgy on the grounds of a regal estate (which itself includes an actress, as a centerpiece "pig", taking both a carrot and a banana vaginally, before taking a more "normal" schtupping, as well). Also presented is an incest-infused, mutual masturbation sequence (that ultimately turns into a BJ and a facial), in which the spectral Jamie--as Catharine's "father"--seduces a younger version of her (played by Kristin Steen) in her bedroom. This one's as erotically right as it is morally wrong. Finally, the diabolical dicking that Burgess's character endures in the attic toward the end of the film, followed by the cavalcade of crazy carnality that she encounters in the pits of Hell (Oyster Bay, of course), thereafter, shouldn't be left without mention, either. All super-sexy and fitting lockstep with the storyline. Awesome.
In all, this release is a classic adult feature fan's wet dream cum true. It plays and feels like a true film of its time--suspenseful, well-developed, and excellent in every respect--all the while maintaining (and incorporating) perfectly-timed eroticism throughout. It's inherently watchable (and re-watchable), its star is lovely, and it is very, very easy to recommend.
Hit me up on Twitter, if you'd like... (@PornOfYore)
Check Prices for Through the Looking Glass (Video X Pix)
The opinions expressed in this review of Through the Looking Glass (Video X Pix) from Video-X-Pix are not necessarily the opinions of Adult DVD Talk. Adult DVD Talk provides a public forum for consumers to post their DVD reviews. Adult DVD Talk does not edit these reviews.