When She Was Bad

Not as well known as other great porn features by Kemal Horulu, this very NYC Adult drama features a superlative performance by Georgina Spelvin, supported by an equally on target supporting cast. Even Ron Jeremy, in a dislikable role as deflowerer of Georgina's daughter's virginity, does a creditable job for a change.

It's the story of multiple infidelity, as Georgina is cheating on her husband John Leslie with the weakling Richard Bolla, while Leslie as a cheesecake photographer (XXX cheesecake that is) is dallying with many a lady, including busty model Anna Ventura. Film was resurrected on DVD by Alpha Blue Archives on a 3-fer under Ventura's name.

The sublot involving daughter Chelsea Manchester's fate is very well developed, as throughout the movie she is privy to observing her elders' bad behavior, which leads to a rather amazing plot twist and surprise ending, upbeat for a change. Sympathy throughout is with Spelvin, as Leslie neglects her, often just drinking himself to sleep watching TV, waiting for his wife to come home (she's always off with Bolla or girlfriends).

Watching Spelvin in even the simplest scenes, like carrying on a phone conversation where we only hear her half, or dramatically having outbursts with Leslie or Bolla, is like a master acting class - she is that good. The other characters are well-limned, seeming real and 3-dimensional, which is an art almost completely lost in 21st Century porn, where the acting has been reduced to a minimum prior to embarking on half-hour XXX scenes.

Sharon Kane as Georgina BFF is moving, as she's abused and abandoned by her ne'er-do-well boyfriend played in his usual egocentric manner by Joey Silvera. A large cast adds to the humping in several scenes set at Plato's Retreat.

Lord Have Mercy, does this movie suck! This is a hybrid film. It tries to have a "serious" examination of relationships between various men and women and also to amuse us with some "titillating" adult action. It does neither. Result is laughable. All these serious-faced people dealing with spousal problems in a f**k-film. Jeepers Creepers, what's the world coming to? I think if you're going to make a movie about relationships then make one. If you're gonna make a dirty movie then make one of those. Trying to have it both ways: To have your cake and f*ck it too is a bit much for a genre not known for extending the artistic boundaries of filmed entertainment. In other words, this dopey f*ck flick is good for nothing or no one. Ugh! Rent UNDERWATER BASKET WEAVING FOR MIDGETS instead.