Cloud 9

With Derrick Lane directing himself and superstar parner Racquel Darrian, this romantic ghost story seems especially personal. With ethereal music and a dreamy mood, it is easy to watch if soporific Adult entertainment.

MOS opening shows Racquel sunbathing topless on the diving board of her backyard pool, then playing outdoors with her cute pet dog. A rather cryptic set-up scene follows in which she makes love to stunning French blonde Barbara Doll and everyone's go-to lesbian actress Felecia, on a set with smoke instead of dry ice to create a fantasy atmosphere.

Derrick wakes up and is confronted by his girlfriend Asia Carrera, looking very natural here (pre-cosmetic makeover). It becomes clear Lane is still carrying a torch for his dear departed lover Alisha (Racquel Darrian), but making love to Asia is clearly a quality substitute.

Voyeurism is the main theme of the movie, but cunnilingus is its number one content, as scripter Ariel Hart deals with serious subject matter regarding death and unfulfilled aspirations, softening it way too much to have the desired impact.

Darrian is a ghost figure, appearing (and disappearing at will) to Derrick to encourage him to move on -commit to Asia and stop pining for her. She takes the blame for their breakup, and significantly in a central scene, makes love to Asia herself while Derrick lies next to them in bed watching, only to join in for a threesome at film's literal climax. Significantly, condoms are used throughout except when he penetrates Racquel, as real-life couples were exempt at the time from this Vivid (and some other major labels) insistence on promoting safe sex.

The "stairway to heaven" coda is rather trite, but the film does score points on sustaining a consistent mood of longing and mild depression.