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| Images Courtesy of Epic Pictures |
One of the many subgenres of the erotic thriller involves
vampirism. Vampires have always been considered a sex symbol: beautiful,
immortal, and dangerous. Joining Haunting Desires and Night
Shade is Dallas King's Swap, a neon-soaked softcore independent
effort that, while not offering much substance, manages to entertain with a
stunningly attractive cast, steamy, if ludicrous sex scenes, and a hint of
horror erotica.
Rad is a police officer who is dating Kayla, a sexually adventurous partner who
yearns to go beyond the traditional boundaries of a relationship. The
couple spends a weekend with Glory, Kayla's debaucherous college friend and
Angelo, her mysterious boyfriend, leading to a weekend of sex, violence, and
revelations. King wrote, directed, and stars as the enigmatic and
hedonistic Angelo. While clearly a vanity project, it is also obvious
that King has a lot to say about monogamy and is interested in the concepts of
immortality and sexual freedom. The entirety of the film asks the
question: If you had forever to live, would you be constrained by sexual
mores?
King is supported by James Eastwood, Jessica Leila Greene, and Erin Anne Gray. The quartet's chemistry is awkward, as the dialogue borders on so bad, it is bad territory, but this is overcome by the gorgeous principals, surprisingly good lighting, and the promise of what is to come. Unfortunately, by the time the climax arrives, it is a letdown, making the entire film seem truly like the scion of the Skinemax era and it wears this as a badge of honor.
Jaime Torres' cinematography is the strongest element, capturing the elegant confines of Angelo's haven with rich, colorful shots that are balanced by frequent sequences of intercourse, in which Torres manages to evoke quasi-pornographic vibes. Paula Iglesias and Ines Kayali costume and wardrobe design is another strong supporting element, ensuring both Angelo and the women are alluring and lust inducing in virtually every frame. The final piece of the devious puzzle is Denys Podmazko’s art direction. Careful attention to small details can be found in almost every scene, so much so that it almost threatens to upend the raunchy ambiance of King’s design. The result is a mixed bag that manages to adequately pay tribute to its naughty ancestors.
Now available for digital rental, Swap is not a
particularly solid experience, but it overcompensates for its weaknesses with gratuitous sex
scenes laced with terrible (but hilarious) dialogue. If you are looking for a
truly softcore experience that hearkens back to the early 90's, you cannot go
wrong with this one.
--Kyle Jonathan