Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Skin-Flicks Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 20, 2019

Writer/director Gerard Damiano has long strived to bring some sense of artistry to his early adult entertainment, even testing the limits of darkness and sophisticated storytelling. With 1978’s “Skin-Flicks,” the helmer creates a commentary of sorts on the creation of erotica, writing a scattered but pointed assessment of life in the trenches of adult cinema, where psychological abysses are everywhere, money men remain in control, and a pure creative vision is impossible to achieve. “Skin-Flicks” isn’t a cheery overview of the business, as Damiano purges a few demons with the work, which grows increasingly hostile as it goes.

Harry (Tony Hudson) is an adult film director struggling with his latest endeavor, unable to find an appropriate ending, which is beginning to drive him crazy. He’s under pressure from Al (Gerard Damiano), his underworld financier, who’s upset with the late delivery of the picture, in need of product to keep the money flowing. Harry also struggles with talent, faced with a string of nervous actresses in need of special coaxing to perform. One such woman, Susan (Sharon Mitchell), takes a special liking to Harry, who’s not comfortable with closeness.

Damiano brings in a lot of cast members to populate “Skin-Flicks,” but this is Harry’s story, and we watch as the stressed man is tasked with maintaining on-set comfort for his actresses, with many of them unsure if they want to commit their sexuality to film. Harry doesn’t push, he seduces, giving the ladies a chance to lead the way, but he also triggers neediness, with Susan drawn to the cold man, growing obsessed with pleasing someone who would benefit more from therapy. The claustrophobic atmosphere of adult moviemaking is present in “Skin-Flicks,” which offers a behind-the-scenes view of production needs, but the bulk of the feature remains on the business, finding Harry trying to find art in filth, much to the dismay of those who stand to profit from his work.

Skin-Flicks Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Skin-Flicks" hasn't been exhaustively repaired, as wear and tear is a common sight throughout the viewing experience. Speckling is frequent, as are scratches, with a couple of larger emulsion gashes as well. A few skipped frames are found here and there, and judder is present. Roughness aside, clarity is strong, with marvelous detail on faces and full-body action, supplying a full sense of skin as it marches through stages of arousal. Costuming is textured, with period sheerness and style on display, and interiors are sharp, making decoration easy to study. Colors are proper, with strong primaries to bring out the 1970s of it all, reaching up to the flashiness of disco lighting. Skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable. Grain is slightly heavier but remains film-like.

Skin-Flicks Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix also shows signs of age, fighting slight muddiness with dialogue exchanges. Performances retain their intended emotionality, but clarity is a challenge at times. Scoring is acceptable, moving from softer piano playing to heavier disco selections, which handle with heaviness to maintain the beat. Sounds of eroticism are satisfactory, bringing out a range of sexual responses.

Skin-Flicks Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features actress Sharon Mitchell.

• Commentary #2 features film historians Samm Deighan and Heather Drain.

• A Trailer has not been included.

Skin-Flicks Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Damiano captures the stomach-churning feel of frustration, and it's interesting to watch an adult movie spend time between coupling scenes identifying performance anxiety. There's a refreshing honesty to the work, but eventually more traditional antagonism comes into view. Perennial creep Jamie Gillis returns to the shadows as Norman, a fringe player who grows possessive of Susan, using the threat of violence to make her fulfil his desires. Harry doesn't have an ending for his film, and either does Damiano, with "Skin-Flicks" eventually stopping without closure, but, to be fair, there's not much of an introduction either. The feature connects with almost random depictions of industry angst, adding a semi-biographical element to the endeavor, permitting it atypical grit as it seeks to provide a turn-on.