BLACKMAIL (aka IL RICATO) is a low-impact, low-effort Italian porn video, cranked out by the usually reliable Nicky Ranieri. He missed the boat this time out.

Ranieri impressed me with several ambitious films, notably his intricate incest opus LA FAMIGLIA, a well-made wall-to-wall sexer INSIDE GABRIELA DARI, and the highly arousing nuns picture DIE VERSUCHUNG. So he's entitled to pay the bills with junkers like this one.

Claustrophobic premise has most of the action taking place on a yacht, where a couple of thugs invade and hold the cast hostage, more for sex than money. Uncredited Omar Williams is the chief rapist, making for mixed combo action.

Non-ending is really dull and unsatisfying -what passes for a minimalist storyline is not resolved properly: bad guys get their money. Yup, it was all about sex.

Problem here is that while "roughies" were all the rage for a devoted segment of porno fans in the '60s and '70s, the concept has been watered down over the years. By the time Ranieri made this baby, there's no sting in the rape scenes, since no indication is made by the actresses that they're performing anything other than mechanical sex.

Now if Nicky had concocted a scenario where the head of the IMF violently rapes a hotel maid and they're seen running around stark naked, why nobody would ever believe it!