Tongue (Vinegar Syndrome) Review

Distributor: Vinegar Syndrome Edition Details: Standard Streaming Movie Specs: Genres: Golden Age Classic (1970s Shot on Film), Feature Film, Drama Also known as: Mob Job, Tongue in Cheek Run Time: 76 minutes Rated: X Release Year: 1975 Director: Kurt Baker (as K.B.) Written by: Niva Ruschell, Peter Anthony Andrews Director of Photography: Tommy Peters (as Black Camera Associates) Cast: Brigitte Maier, Al Poe, Margo, David Downing (as Dudley Dare), Tasty Freeze, Niva Ruschell, Black Sid, Diane Dixon Voices: Toni Telo Release Specs: Audio: English Mono 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

Tongue is billed as the first X-rated blacksploitation film and, quite frankly, Tongue is a well done low budget adult film. Tongue is directed by the pseudonymous K.B. and there isn't any writing credit. As to why the director hid behind this seemingly one-time pseudonym and the writer wasn't credited is a mystery since Tongue is better than most of the adult films being produced at the time. A film like Tongue is worthy of far better attention than this one seems to have received over the years.

Tongue tells the story of a black man named Quasi (Al Poe) who lost his ability to speak two years prior. Quasi is haunted by the fear of being alone and mute with just his pet frog as a friend. He goes to see Dr. Woodcock (Dudley Dare), who's nurse Shirley (Tasty Freeze) sees his nine-inch tongue and calls her friend Cherry (Brigitte Maier). Cherry, Quasi's neighbor, and her friend Margo start inviting Quasi over for some fun but that doesn't do anything to free Quasi from his inner fears.

The story for Tongue isn't perfect but that doesn't stop it from keeping the viewer entertained and offering a better story than many of the film's counterparts at the time. The orgy at the finale, which goes on a little long especially considering what else is going on at the time, is probably the worst mistake the story has and it certainly isn't anything that ruins the film.

The cast does a good job with their roles as well. Poe does such a good job of portraying Quasi that the viewer finds themselves feeling for him. Oddly, with the exception of Brigitte Maier, no one from the cast seems to have really gone one to do much else other than Tongue. The sex scenes are mostly well done as well. There aren't a ton of sex scenes in the film but they all fit in well with the plot and with the exception of the aforementioned orgy none of them detract from the film.

The locations picked for the film are great. This reviewer doesn't think that he has ever seen the side of Los Angeles that the film manages to show in Tongue, however, the desolate Los Angeles that the film projects works hand-in-hand with the plot. The film is beautifully shot and tightly edited making for a great looking final film. The film also features a nice soundtrack of what sounds like original to the film music — certainly a rarity for the time.

Tongue is one of the best adult films that you have never seen and if you are reading this review, you should rectify that. Tongue isn't just a bunch of connected sex scenes but an actual film that is well worth watching. It is a shame K.B. and Al Poe didn't go on to do more in the adult film industry.

The edition of Tongue screened is the streaming only version available from Vinegar Syndrome on their Exploitation.TV service. Tongue was shot on film and it looks like Vinegar Syndrome has utilized a film print for their streaming service. Tongue is presented in the academy aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The print contains the expected grain, print damage, and artifacts throughout the film. There are also some minor jumps present in the presentation. There is some damage about half way through the film but it certainly doesn't ruin the film presentation at all. The colors represented in the film look great and natural.

Tongue is presented with an English monaural audio track. There are pops and crackles present in the audio throughout the film. The dialog in the film is clear and easy to understand throughout the film presentation.

The only extra that Vinegar Syndrome has included for Tongue is an essay on the film.

Tongue is a great adult film that was also the first adult blacksploitation film to be released. The film tells an enjoyable story with some good sex scenes and features a great cast. Tongue is an adult film that shouldn't be missed. Vinegar Syndrome has done a good job with their streaming release of Tongue on the Exploitation.TV service. Their print has some damage but this is easily the best version of Tongue released for the home market so far. Hopefully, Vinegar Syndrome will release this film on DVD or Blu-ray in the near future so that more viewers can be exposed to it. Until then, this film is worth a one-month membership to Exploitation.TV alone.

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