Alexandra Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Alexandra Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 31, 2025

1983’s “Alexandra” attempts to study the troubled ways of relationships as friends, spouses, lovers, and sex collide over the Christmas holiday. Writer Don Walters looks to generate a knotted appreciation of easily distracted people and the presence of some type of puppetmaster aiming to manipulate the group, creating a plethora of characters, each with their own private concerns as they try to make sense of their lives. Confusion is a key part of the material, but such bewilderment might come for viewers as well. “Alexandra” has a good cast of actors who understand what’s required from the production, and direction by Tim McDonald is competent, aiming to generate some level of tension as private lives are exposed to all. However, something clearly went wrong in the editing room, as the tale feels incomplete, creating a short-sheeted viewing experience for material that initially appears quite focused on following a specific story of humiliation.

A group of friends, known as “The Rat Pack,” are reuniting for a Christmas gathering. Foster (Robert Kerman) is a discount stereo store owner married to Jennifer (Lauren Wilde), a young woman eager to share in such financial success. Martin (Eric Edwards) is a magazine writer attempting to remain connected to his wife, Pat (Rachel Ashley), an advertising executive engaged in an affair with her boss, Jason (Michael Gaunt). Cliff (Steve Douglas) is happy with his new bride, Diane (Joanna Storm), who’s in possession of troubling jealousy issues. The men are connected to Alexandra (Stephanie Rogers), a mysterious woman of influence and sexual presence, and she’s involved with Nick (Don Walters). As the friends manage issues in their professional demands and marriages, Alexandra has something more in mind for the holiday season, threatening the women with full exposure of their secret lives at a Christmas party at Jason’s apartment, causing a disruption to extramarital affairs.

The movie features narration/commentary from Alexandra, who remains a faceless presence in the story. She’s overseeing all, even when she’s not involved in scenes, interacting with Nick as she offers thoughts on all that’s happening to those she’s been intimate with. “Alexandra” needs a little help in the exposition department, as Walters introduces perhaps too many characters and personal histories for an adult film to handle, trying to define separate lives for at least ten people, with most connected in one way or another. There’s a lot to take in during the opening of the picture, but the basics of these personalities are reasonably defined.

There’s a time jump in “Alexandra,” and some flashbacks as well. But the majority of the picture follows the married lives of the Rat Pack as they experience newfound coldness in their relationships. Jennifer grows in power, becoming a woman of elite tastes and little patience for Foster. Pat is devoted to her career, capturing the attention of her boss, who’s more interested in her body than her mind. And Diane remains unsteady as she tries to process Alexandra’s relationship with Cliff, as the pair were once lovers and now continue to be friends. There’s a passable sense of trouble brewing in these pairings, while an additional complication emerges as Jennifer makes it clear she would rather spend time with Martin. An interesting escalation emerges in the form of a threat from Alexandra, who warns the three wives to watch out for an upcoming party, where she’s prepared to expose their secrets to all.

Why Alexandra would do this isn’t entirely clear, but there’s potential in such marital sabotage. Diane has a past in porn she’d rather keep hidden, and Pat’s spending more time with Jason and his fetishes than her husband, denying the seemingly sensitive man intimacies at home. There’s trouble to explore, but “Alexandra” doesn’t show the strongest interest in following subplots and conflicts. And there’s erotic content to pay attention to as bedroom activity commences, which is often tied into the overall story as characters work out their issues through sex.

“Alexandra” is offered in two cuts: an “X-rated Theatrical Version” (94:15) and an “Extended General Release Version” (99:20).

Alexandra Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as "newly scanned and restored in 4K from its original 35mm camera negative." Damage is present, with a few jumpy frames and extended discoloration on the right side of the frame. Detail is strong, exploring ample skin particulars on the cast, and hair is textured. Costuming is fibrous. Decorative additions are open for inspection, maintaining dimension to living spaces. Exteriors are rare but deep. Colors offer appealing primaries throughout the viewing experience, especially on period fashion. Cozier hues are found with firelit rooms, and greenery is distinct. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like.

Alexandra Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers intelligible dialogue exchanges, though some sibilance issues are present. Performances choices and actor abilities are decently defined. Scoring supports with acceptable instrumentation. Some damage is detected along the way, and a few strange audio effects are present to identify flashbacks.

Alexandra Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (36:55, HD) is a discussion of "Alexandra" with screenwriter Don Walters, who claims most of the creative credits on the picture, even taking over the editing demands of the movie. A personal history in the world of adult cinema is offered, getting into time with Variety Films, working with a range of people who helped to bring these features to life, including Ava Leighton and Bondi Walters. The script for "Alexandra" was based on 1949's "A Letter to Three Wives," soon pushed into production, moving from New York to California to find "new bodies" to employ. The interviewee discusses casting, examining the process of working with Joanna Storm, Ashley Summers, and Lauren Wilde, who showed a bit of reluctance when participating in sex scenes (ultimately passing away in 1984). Technical details are also offered, highlighting the process of the production day on a tight budget. Walters tracks the changing of the industry, including its gradual move to the west coast, and the rise of distribution on cable, requiring the creation of "cool" versions of X-rated offerings, demanding some careful editing, contributing to an ongoing education on the ways of the business.

• Image Gallery (3:45) collects poster art, film stills, and publicity shots.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included on this release.

Alexandra Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Alexandra" is never steady on its feet, but the promise of a party disaster involving maliciousness tends to keep viewer attention. Weirdly, the feature elects to abandon such impending horror as it nears an ending, which isn't really an ending at all, but more of a random point of stoppage for the picture. It's strange to find an adult film so anticlimactic, but clearly something happened to the endeavor during its editing phase, ruining whatever dramatic momentum was initially in place. "Alexandra" remains puzzling, but it's not a shabby looking effort, and the cast makes individual scenes pop with some tension as hidden feelings are gradually revealed. There's plenty here that connects, but expectations for a volcanic ending are not met, hurting the viewing experience.