Fallen Angels

Although the release date of this engrossing documentary is listed as 1985, the performers all seem to be from a couple years earlier. Kristara Barrington is the most recognizable performer here, and it's somewhat amusing to hear her prevarications when her then boyfriend is around, given her rather prolific output in the ensuing years. Some other ladies from that era who are featured here include delectable Shanna Evans who was only in the business for a year or so, and Raysheena Mercado, an Hispanic lady who had exceptionally long hair (top & bottom). We also get some insight into what became of one of my favorite starlets of that period Gina Martell, who was delightful as a brunette with a pixieish hairdo. She's seen her with her frequent "co-worker", Frank James (they must have been an item off screen), as she attempts to get some work with a new blonde dye job, which was most definitely not an improvement. Jim South is heard telling a prospective employer that "she looks like a different girl" and it's true, and it was not a good thing. It probably explains why she left the business shortly after this was filmed. Recently deceased (2020) South comes across well here; some of the other men featured certainly do not. The women in the X rated industry were product; their bodies were assets to be exhibited, their shelf life limited. Some were aware of that going in, like Shanna Evans, and some unfortunately were not.

This is it. This is the reality of this cutthroat industry, and I'm talking porn, where budding actresses hoping to run with the big guns, suffer humiliation, but mostly degradation, as well as the highs and lows, stepping up higher on the ladder. When I hired this movie back in 1998, I was taken aback, as I didn't realize it was a documentary, where the cover featuring a nubile hottie posing in a sexy, kneeling up position, under cheap pink light, caught my eye. But hey, it was too late now to turn back now. We see this insightful side of L.A through three wannabe porn actresses, and their straight down the line agent, Jim South, where we really go into the casting side, which I must say I liked. We see the boyfriend's disfavoring views, who stick by their women. We see a couple of women break down. Reality that hit me quite hard, in bits. One of the photographers, a real sleazy middle aged guy that booked them for a job was taken to court, when not being clear about what was required, for his own kinky pleasure, thinking he could cuddle up to them. Wrong. One girl tells us, "She'd never work for that guy again", the sleazebag defending himself with The Adam and Eve scenario, this guy's face, a small moustache and cocky grin, and a head of thinning hair, I'll never forget. What's great about Fallen Angels, and don't mistake it with that Asian action spectacular of 96, is it's brutal honesty and point of view from all sides. The movie tells it like it is, void of being biased, etc, which makes for quite an engrossing documentary, but don't mistake it for a sex movie. Don't worry, there's your fair share of skin shed here.