Search the Cinema Head Cheese Archives!

July 24, 2013

Movie Review: Watch Over Me (2013, Digital Playground)

Alright, ladies and gentlemen, step right up... look closely now...Watch what this hand is doing...Watch it, now...Don't look away, or you'll miss something amazing...and, presto!! See?? The other hand does something even more amazing. The finest prestidigitators will allure, seduce and manipulate the hapless observer with his adept skill...with the most devious of twists and turns...distracting enough to covertly veil what the magician actually has in mind. There's a certain satisfying revelation, in being fooled by the magician...even when the so-called 'magician' is an equally adept film writer. Most film aficionados can rattle off a plethora of general audience movies, which upheld that delightfully manipulative ability to draw to the right...keeping the viewer from seeing what's happening on the left...until that foremost moment, when the 'magic' takes place. However, one might be quite amusingly taken aback, when that same seductive and deceptive ploy is unexpectedly thrown into the steamy proceedings, within the unconventional realm of adult film entertainment. Unexpected, yes...but in the adroit and able-bodied direction of film-maker Robby D...quite well executed, and resulting in his latest moody and tension-edged sexual excursion, 2013's "Watch Over Me."


With a friend vacationing in Europe, Stoya has flown in and taken up the task of house-sitting for that friend; unbeknownst to her, an ex-boyfriend, Erik (Everhard)...whom she had been trying to avoid...has followed her, in hopes of patching things up. Having failed such venture, and in a fit of jealousy, the boyfriend steps things up to a more aggravated and violent level...that is, until interrupted by a handsome patrolling security guard, James (Deen), who proceeds to kick the shit out of the intruder, and resoundly boot him off the property. Valiantly expressing his concerns for the girl, before leaving the house, James convinces Stoya that her safety is assured, while he is around...all the while, not helping himself, in feeling very much attracted to her...and now, feeling also frustrated and torn, as he had covertly planned (...with the help of a couple of friends) to raid the house of it's valuables. Continuing to check in on her, James offers to take Stoya about town, for the afternoon; once back at the house, Stoya expresses her gratitude to James, by making passionate love with him. Now even further frustrated and torn, James later asks to take Stoya out for the night, thus enabling his buddies to raid the house of it's valuables. Suspicious of his motives, Stoya refuses to come with him...and at this time, James reveals his true unscrupulous self, and attempts to force Stoya to his will...that is, until an unexpected 'savior' bursts in...
Overall, a great, tension-filled melding of sexual eroticism and thrilling high-drama, exuding very impressive, higher-the-average production values. Very adept camera work and lighting, which greatly enhances both the dramatics, as well as the oh-so steamy encounters. A very moody, almost film-noir-flavored soundtrack, though amusingly enough (...being the third Robby D. film, which this viewer has partaken in, perhaps it's the first time I've actually noticed), the expected mood-enhancing background music is surprisingly muted during the sex scenes. Performance-wise, all involved (...including Adrianna Luna, Tasha Reign, Tommy Gunn and Karina White) seemed genuine and believable, in the course of the ensuing drama, as well as the passionate performances in bed (...or the couch, or wherever might have been convenient). Despite such minimized material, all in front of the camera, as well as behind, clearly made the most of what little they had to work with. As usual, and as hopeful, Stoya once again upholds the stand-out performance here; sexy, beautiful, passionate, and yet, in the case of this film, running a gamut between sexually playful innocence, and at the same time, animalistic...even a bit savage...sexual expression. If this viewer hadn't seen this savagely erotic performance as from an actress, it would have seem more like that of a free and unbridled lioness in the wild...cooing, purring and moaning with pleasure, one moment...and screaming, almost growling and snarling in rattled orgasmic ecstasy, the next. Bravo, Stoya, Bravo...
And yet, in the end, one cannot help but feel somewhat unsatisfied, at the conclusion of these proceedings. Story-wise, a great 'keep-one-guessing' plotline idea is quite minimized here, especially given the less-than-90-minute running time. As the result of this minimization, some if not most of the ensuing characters in the film...as good as the unexpectedly turnabout performances are...almost come off as schizophrenic, for lack of a better suggestion...though, this flaw definitely does not take away from the overall hotness of the moody and solidly depicted events; given further development of the plot, and as such, a somewhat extended running time, such furthered effort might have even raise this little ditty of a film, from better-than-average to downright outstanding. Nonetheless, very entertaining, and very recommended...

No comments:

Post a Comment