Paranormal Sexperiments (4 Stars)

My readers should yell at me more often. I deserve it. In my review of "Escape from Pleasure Planet" last year I said that Terrance Ryker had made three films and I would review them all in December, as long as I didn't get distracted. Obviously it was a big distraction, because his other two films have been sitting unwatched in my bookcase for the last nine months.

It's not unusual for me to own a film on disc and wait a few months before watching it. When I buy a film I intend to watch it soon, of course, but other things can come in the way. I might decide to give priority to rewatching an older film. I might have a cinema visit planned which leaves me no time to watch films at home. But however long it takes, sometimes more than 12 months, I'll watch everything. My unwatched films are in a prominent place on the top shelf of my bookshelf, reminding me every day that they're there. The only thing I'm not reminded of is the promises I've made to my readers. They're easy to forget. As I said, you need to yell at me.

Now to the film itself. Let me start by saying that the title is misleading, which is often the case for the erotic films released by Retromedia. The titles are intended to be sensational and encourage casual customers to pick up a DVD in the video store, rather than be an accurate summary of what the film's about. "Paranormal Sexperiments" suggests some sort of scientific study, and in combination with the "Sex after Death" tagline I can imagine the Winchester brothers walking with their ghost detection apparatus in their hands, only to be pounced on by two busty ghosts. That would be a good plot for a film, but it's not this film at all. This is a ghost story.

Lady Dracovich (Erika Jordan) has died suddenly. She left her mansion and her wealth to whoever would be the next person to click Like on her MySpace page. Does MySpace even have like buttons? It's a relic from the pre-Facebook days, does anyone still use it? Lady Dracovich can't have been the richest of noblewomen, because she didn't have a castle. Her mansion is the same house that's been used as a setting for softcore films ever since "Erotic Dreams of Jeannie" in 2004. I always assumed that this is Fred Olen Ray's private residence, but today I saw the initials on the gate for the first time. "D.M." Dean McKendrick? Your guess is as good as mine.

Lady Dracovich's family lawyer, Mr. Cosgrove, delivers the legal papers to the lucky liker, a college student called Cindy, who decides to share the fortune with her roommate Sara. Mr. Cosgrove is played by Robert Donavan, a new face in the Retromedia films, but I couldn't shake the impression that he looked familiar. A short search in IMDB revealed that I've already seen him in "Final Examination" and "The Escort 3". Robert has a distinctive face, so it's no surprise he's stuck in my mind. Now I have a tough choice: should I watch those two films again or wait until I've watched all the DVD's smiling down at me from my top shelf? So many films, so little time.

Cindy and Sara innocently move into the house, not realising that it's haunted by Lady Dracovich. She's able to temporarily possess Cindy's body so that she can have sex with Sara or random visitors. That's something a ghost can't do, a body is needed. After possessing Cindy twice she's able to appear in her own physical form, just long enough to have sex with Cindy. However, to permanently become human again she needs a male sacrifice. Cindy's professor, Professor Gordon (Andy Espinoza Long), is foolish enough to visit the house and allow himself to be tied to the bed, where four women climb on top of him. Maybe they're being controlled by Lady Dracovich, maybe they're just horny. It doesn't really matter. Lady Dracovich is standing watching, ready to finish off her victim. At least the professor will die with a smile on his face.

I found this film very enjoyable. The acting by Erika Jordan and Andy Espinoza Long is excellent, as always. I was less impressed by the other actresses, but their performances were acceptable. Since there is only one man in the film, there are more lesbian sex scenes than usual, which I consider a plus.

"Only one man?" I can hear you ask. "What about Robert Donavan?"

I don't count him. One of the standard tropes of the Retromedia erotic films is that they feature an older male actor as an extra who doesn't take part in the sex scenes. At most he's a voyeur who's allowed to stand watching. Jay Richardson played this part in the first nine Medina films. Ted Newsom continued in almost 20 films afterwards. Occasionally other actors like Mike Gaglio have stepped in. This time it's Robert Donavan's turn. I'm curious to see if he'll be a regular.

One other thing is noticeable about the film. It might also be the case in "Escape from Pleasure Planet", but I don't remember it. Terrance Ryker has a different style to Dean McKendrick, who has been the cinematographer for most of the previous Retromedia erotic films, whether they were directed by Fred Olen Ray or by Dean himself. There are a lot of long shots across the room. There are even occasional views of sex scenes from across the room, something that Dean McKendrick would never do.

These are two examples of Terrance Ryker's camera angles. For me there's a type of dilemma when I watch the Retromedia erotic films. On the one hand I enjoy originality, but after 14 years of films I've grown so used to the leitmotifs and the repetitive music that I feel irritated when something different happens.

I'll try to watch Terrance Ryker's third film soon, if possible before the Stuttgart Film Festival starts this week. But no promises.