The Hitman: Love Is Deadly

I've watched every new (not compilations) release from Sweet Sinner on DVD over its 15-year history, since the label was launched by director Nica Noelle. Most of these were directed by women (Jacky St. James & Nica), as well as the great James Avalon, so it was disheartening to see this new feature directed instead by journeyman pornographer Quasarman.

He's reduced the story/dialogue scenes to ridiculously short, spending 90% of the running time on XXX sex, which kills the potential of an attempted suspense movie.

The IMDb synopsis, taken from the DVD backliner, is correct except that the insurance policy is for $2 million, not $2.5. Tommy Pistol is miscast as the wimpy would-be wife-murderer, overacting even simple scenes, and his tattoos are ugly and distracting in a non-gonzo movie.

The other characterizations are paper-thin, and there's no screenplay credit (for good reason, given the poor quality). Basic plot of a hitman (Ryan McLane) using poison makes no sense, and his transition from cold-as-ice killer to Mr. Nice Guy is poorly developed -it just happens all of a sudden.

Sex scenes are okay, except for Pistol's presence, with busty Kenzie Taylor and equally busty September Reign playing bad guys to less zoftig Freya Parker as good guy. Final three or so minutes of plot twists are ridiculously hurried (and not believable), compared to the tedious sex scenes. Like a bad novel, one is tempted to give up and just peek at the final pages (or footage) to see the story's resolution before chucking the disk into the waste basket.