Tattoo

Clearly inspired by Ray Bradbury's story "The Illustrated Man" (made into an underwhelming feature film 50 years ago starring Rod Steiger and then-wife Claire Bloom), "Tattoo" is one of those great romantic Adult videos from the turn of this century that have been unjustly forgotten. I was thrilled to finally see it, and highly recommend it.

Called a fantasy in the opening credits, it was made as a labor of love by editor Rick Blaine, who gets five credits on screen. Story concerns tattoo artist John Decker, who finds a handbill for a carnival performer "The Illustrated Woman" that has magically floated to his store's doorstep, causing him to catch her show, reminded that he became enamored of tattoos as a child while attending a circus sideshow.

Ariana is perfectly cast as Minerva, The Illustrated Woman, as she was unique as a porn star with tattoos way back when, following in the footsteps of Viper -now of course, it seems like more than half of active porn players are inked.

In addition to her own tattoos, the production features many temporary tattoos applied to her body by experts and makeup artists, and during her belly dancer styled sideshow act the tats come to life and fantastically involve audience members in sex vignettes, a perfect Adult Cinema format.

Herschel Savage is the carnival barker, and himself involved in a fantasy sex scene humping Emily Jewel on King Kong's island, with a very cute use of Kong's face coming to life comically afterward on Ariana's tattoo.

Each of six sex vignettes are imaginatively conceived and staged, opening with Chloe as a first-time tattoo customer at the shop (shot on location at the real-life The Purple Panther Tattoo Parlor in L.A.) is empathetic, immediately delivering her anal sex specialty to the movie. Unlike later A & E productions, this one is shot bareback, minus condoms.

Angelica Sin is truly an Amazon, having a swordfight with audience member Frank Towers in her protecting a castle before having sex with him; another busty performer Charlie plays a Goddess on the isle of Lesbos, naturally having Sapphic sex with a blonde actress named Kiss and playing a character named Kiss; Porsche Lynn guest stars as a dominatrix, scooping Dick Nasty and his wife Alyssa Allure from the audience for a kinky threesome that has a surprise ending for Nasty; and the finale of course unites Ariana with Decker back in her dressing room/boudoir. The horror-genre ending is tastefully done and quite powerful.

This is a quality production with great attention to detail, and perhaps Adult cinema's finest tribute to the cult of tattooing. For Blaine it was a rare opportunity to show his talent, while sadly it appears to be Ariana's final screen appearance, exiting at the top of her game.