The one thing about the adult film industry has always been that of understanding. Trying to understand the adult film actress is usually been about the psychology behind them. What causes someone to want to have sex for money in front of a camera? Usually we presume it’s because of some sort of mental damage, child abuse or drug problems because those have been the traditional markers for women who go into porn. But one imagines there’s more to it than just that and thus comes Aroused, a documentary focusing on 16 porn stars talking about their lives in the adult film industry.
Deborah Anderson, a famed photographer, sits down with Belladonna, Kayden Kross, Lisa Ann Katsuni, Teagan Presley, Ash Hollywood, Misty Stone, Tanya Tate, Asphyxia Noir, Jesse Jane, Francesca Lé, Lexi Belle, April O’Neil, Brooklyn Lee, Allie Haze and Alexis Texas to discuss their lives and their career choices. Thrown in is the casting director of an adult film company as well, of course, and Anderson spends her time in between a fairly sensual photo shoot to talk to the ladies their lives and their careers.
It’s an interesting concept but unfortunately the film suffers because Anderson isn’t exceptional at what she’s there to do: interview. She’s a great photographer and gets some interesting tidbits on occasion out of the ladies but this is a film that would’ve benefited from someone who has had documentary experience before to lead the interviews. Anderson is a calming presence and with some seasoning could be excellent at it but right now she is almost a hindrance to the film.
We don’t get anything real into the lives of these women besides some slight candor about their dating and sex lives. The sheer volume of women involved, and the film’s relatively short running time means we only get a cursory view of everyone involved. There’s no depth to it, unfortunately, and it’s a shame because it’s a beautiful looking film.
Anderson takes her visual style from photography and presents the film (and the women) in a really beautiful manner. It’s sensual and we see them as more than just sex objects. It’s fascinating to see these adult film actresses being displayed as more than just sexual playthings; it’s classy and erotic because Anderson takes the time to be able to give these women a classier look. She really has designed the film to make them look sultry and sensual instead of the usual porn star style of slutty. It makes the film visually compelling but it has a hard time keeping it when the women speak.
One imagines if they used less women and let them speak more, as opposed to just giving us snippets, we’d get more out of their lives than the superficial view provided.
No extras beside the trailer are included.
Arc Entertainment presents Aroused. Directed by Deborah Anderson. Starring Belladonna, Kayden Kross, Lisa Ann Katsuni, Teagan Presley, Ash Hollywood, Misty Stone, Tanya Tate, Asphyxia Noir, Jesse Jane, Francesca Lé, Lexi Belle, April O’Neil, Brooklyn Lee, Allie Haze and Alexis Texas. Running time: 73 minutes. Rated R. Released: June 4, 2013. Available at Amazon.com.
