Hush

This Kink release, first shown as an 8-part TV serial, is now anthologized as a "feature" DVD.

The title displayed on screen with filigree calligraphy is alternately Shush and Hush, neither of which describes the contents. Besides the eight vignettes there are many interviews and recaps, upping total running time to over 5 hours.

Storyline reminded me of a syndicated show Fashion House I was addicted to a decade ago but which laid on egg when broadcast on one of our local indie stations. As a nighttime soap, its camp value with Bo Derek and Morgan Fairchild in two glamorous leading roles was immense, but writing and weak production values sunk it.

Production value at the Kink organization consists largely of fetish-gear and interchangeable cheap sets: one scene of the ladies getting together in a bar is staged in sub-home movie fashion: just closeups of a trio hoisting glasses against a black backdrop.

The cast does a good job improvising their own dialog, essentially given role-playing assignments more than characters to enact for femme director "Fivestar". It's simply about back-biting in an office of a lingerie company named Ambrosia Inc., and unintentionally reminded me of similar catty "dramas" from the Gay Porn industry of Michael Lucas about a decade ago (when story content was still viable) and his NYC empire.

But this is all-girl territory, with strap-on dildos, quality rope for tying and suspending subs in air, crops, and a nasty looking electric cattle prod styled device (called the Zapper) coming into play frequently. The sexy lingerie is a given of the story line, and the doms vs. subs action is stimulating if empty work for sex workers. It's edgier than the mainstream Girly porn labels like Gamma/Girlsway, Sweetheart, Girlfriends and Filly provide, particularly in the lurid, all greased up anal sex via dildo action that predominates. And they didn't forget to throw in a dollop of foot-fetish and shoe worship along the way.

Julia Ann as head of the company gets to literally dominate, as well as provide a bona fide marquee name. Lesser players (unfamiliar to me but undoubtedly Big on the fetish scene) include busty blonde Angel Allwood (a fine match to Julia), nasty Bella Rossi, campy Cherry Torn and butch Helena Locke, while some busy starlets like Kira Noir, Eliza Jane and Ana Foxxx also enliven their scenes. Exotic touch is featuring Mia Li, all tied up with nowhere to go.

Other than a very brief fisting by Julia Ann upon Cherry late in the show, the content is not as strong or kinky as promised/expected.