Sex World Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Sex World Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 2, 2015

Instead of simply lampooning the 1973 hit “Westworld,” 1978’s “Sex World” attempts to use the unforgettable premise to inspire a surprisingly sophisticated adult movie. Director Anthony Spinelli imagines a getaway where anything goes sexually, with guests using this rare non-judgmental opportunity to work out kinks, repair marriages, and delay loneliness. Fantasies reign at the compound, finding the helmer working overtime to create a stylish feature that respects the delicacy of confession, embracing an inviting sense of individual release to go with the hardcore routine.

With a few extra bucks allotted to the production, “Sex World” provides a semi-complete visual experience, offering colorful sets and unusual locations to match vivid bedroom antics. Spinelli also experiments with editing and abstraction, looking to slip into the psychological playground provided by these hesitant characters, assisting competent performances (from the likes of Kay Parker, John Leslie, and Annette Haven) with a cinematic reach, providing more bang for the buck while still allowing for plenty of bang. Fantasy sequences are intimate, some played for laughs (Leslie plays a racist confronted with an aggressive black lover), while others head into darker terrain to unleash pure desire that’s been bottled up for far too long.

Sex World Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation on "Sex World" is stunning, bringing the lavish adult film to BD with alarming freshness that permits viewers a full inspection of production achievements and intimate particulars. Detail is crisp and inviting, delivering sharpness on actors and set dressing, with such human textures as goosebumps and body hair preserved to satisfaction. Colors are direct and expressive, with a superb refreshing of primaries. Delineation registers as intended. Some mild speckling and flicker remains, but nothing overt. Once again, Vinegar Syndrome shows real care with an HD upgrade, possibly surpassing initial theatrical engagements with this striking viewing experience.

Sex World Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix delivers a comfortable, accurate read of dramatic and sensual intent. Dialogue exchanges are fluid and clean, with very little hiss detected. Soundtrack selections also retain clarity, adding a musical mood without overwhelming the action.

Sex World Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A CD Soundtrack (16 tracks) is included.

On Blu-ray:

• Interview (16:09, SD) with actress Kay Parker focuses on her time with "Sex World," which represented her first step into the adult film business, welcomed into a cozy production with hyper co-stars.

• Interview (6:43, SD) with actor Joey Silvera is focused more on wacky anecdotes featuring industry players, sharing little about the "Sex World" production experience.

• Interview (4:39, SD) with still photographer Joel Sussman is a brief chat with an industry vet, who shares details about the lucrative nature of his job and his move to television work.

• A Trailer (4:13, HD) and Teaser Trailer (1:10, HD) are included.

On DVD:

• Alternate Soft Cut (88:42) is available for those who aren't in the mood for graphic sex.

Sex World Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While it's filled with lustful encounters that satisfy the demands of adult cinema, "Sex World" displays a genuine drive to be something more than the average raincoat experience. It's genuinely evocative and weirdly sincere, supplying a rare feeling of depth and directorial ambition in a genre that often favors the bare minimum of effort.