What makes a good bondage film? I don't ask for much, but believabilty is an important quality for me, as well as a convincing actress and villain. I bring this subject up because I've recently seen more examples of bondage/torture/rape videos, and here are my observations.
The biggest disappointment for me, by far, was Slave Labor Production's sequel of sorts to the excellent Rape of Samantha Sweet that I wrote about earlier. This one is called The Virgin Bride and features the same two participants as the original, plus a new female "victim". She's a newly-married bride who was abducted, still her wedding gown, by the man, who is now working with Samantha, his rape victim from the first tape. This new one is more vile, more disgusting, and far less successful than the original.
There are several reasons why it didn't work for me. The biggest problem was the "bride" was clearly into the S&M scene, to the point that she is actually wearing rings through her nipples and pussy when they take her dress off. Sorry, that's an immediate turnoff. What I saw was not a "beautiful, innocent young woman", as the synopsis advertises, but instead a freakgirl merely going along, pretending to be forced. The girl in the first tape, Samantha Sweet, was an excellent victim who really made the original work. This time, she's a dom, which is sort of unlikely, and while she's decent in this role, it was just too jarring to believe that she would suddenly make a complete turnaround and go the other way.
It's too bad, because what they did to the new girl is degrading stuff that I would normally like. They gag her with her own soiled panties (FAKE!) and besides torturing her whole body with clothespins, they also force her to give Samantha oral sex while the man is dripping candle wax all up and down her body, including coating her pussy with it. The man fucks her pussy and her ass, and makes her lick the shit off his dick after he's through with her ass (FAKE!). Then he cums on her face (FAKE!) and Samantha gives her a golden shower (FAKE!). Fade out, the end.
Now everyone knows I'm a ZFX fan, and most of what ZFX does is simulated, too, but at least most of it works because Rick is able to find attractive girls who seem to show genuine distress, plus editing and sound effects add to the illusion. What this tape lacked was a convincing victim and a believable presentation. It's got some nasty ideas, but it didn't work for me. I'd give it a C-.
Here's an idea. Remake it, use Samantha as the victim again and drop the whole second girl theme. It can't help but be better.