Here in part 2 of our mini-reviews of recent studio releases we take a look at Raging Stallion which is turning out movies faster than we watch and review them. Nevertheless we didn't want to exclude those videos we haven't seen from this listing. We've got them marked with an * and will post reviews of them at a later date.

Hotter Than Hell Part 1 
   Here is this year's Raging Stallion blockbuster, directed by Chris Ward & Ben Leon who brought you last year's award winning Grunts. This one isn't as "epic" as past blockbusters but is a "saga" in two parts. Essentially this is a dark film about sexual obsession and its price. Like Grunts there's a psychological edginess to the film that some will find erotic and some will find slightly disturbing. Unlike Grunts there's a supernatural twist here that gets revealed and explains the title of the film while setting up the plot of part 2 (due in August)
  The star of Hotter Than Hell Part 1 is Steve Cruz who stalks, videotapes and can't get enough of fellow gym member Damien Crosse who wants nothing to do with him. Cruz goes on a binge of debauchery and eventually meets up with the mysterious Ricky Sinz and that's where the plot takes a Faustian turn--unknowingly Cruz literally makes a deal with the devil to get Crosse. Sinz works his black magic and Crosse becomes sexually mesmerized by Cruz who finally gets to obtain his object of desire. What follows is yet another twist and slight cliffhanger ending with a preview of what's in store for Steve Cruz in part 2.
  Ward & Leon have proven in the past that they like to do story-driven adult films that give the men in the films something more to do than "perform". Literally, they get to act. As we mentioned Hotter Than Hell Part 1 is more scaled down than the directors' other efforts so this becomes a much more intimate film. The film moves pretty seamlessly although a bar orgy scene seems a little superfluous to the plot. It looks like it was thrown in to give a few of the actors some screen time. However, if it turns out that this scene is integral to part 2 we'll take back our criticism. Other than that the plot and the sex scenes flow together well.
  The nature of the film also presents a challenge to the actors who have to deliver lines convincingly as well as become their characters. While porn stars aren't known for their acting, the guys here do surprisingly well. Steve Cruz has the most screen time and his acting is very plausible throughout. Of course he's always well above par in his sex scenes. Damien Crosse really emotes here and plays off Cruz well. He gets to show different sides to his character. His domestic scene with onscreen boyfriend RJ Danvers is more like the Crosse we are accustomed to and Danvers once again shows why he is a rising star. Then there's Ricky Sinz who seems to be having the most fun with his role without camping it up. He doesn't have a sex role here but it looks like he's going to have his hands full in part 2. Speaking of which there's a nice sized preview of the conclusion here and it looks like it plunges headlong into the supernatural and dark tone hinted at in part 1. 

Home Bodies*
   There's no big plot here, just a series of five very hot vignettes of featuring five couples consummating their desires in the confines of their own homes.  There's a bit of a twist too: even though the sex scenes take place in a domestic setting none take place in the bedroom. There are two scenes in the living room, one in a nearby wet bar, another in the kitchen, and one in the dining room. Victor Steele and Tristan Phoenix are in two of the scenes (separately & together) but this film is being hyped by the scene with Damien Crosse & Roman Ragazzi.
Here perennial bottom Roman flips and tops Damien for his first on-screen bottom role.

                 

 Oil Change* 
 A Cazzo Films import. The title should tell you a lot. Yes it's a blue collar sex fest featuring garage mechanics. You may not know the names of the performers here but we have a feeling you will after Raging Stallion is through promoting them.

 Masters and Servants*
  Recently Raging Stallion acquired the rights to the European company High Octane and this is the first release. No play on words here either. It's all about dominance and the sexual duel between the servant class and the master class. This is a long one too--over two hours of Euro-sex.

 Here a F---, There a F---*
  More Euro-studs in another of the Raging Stallion "gonzo" series of films. No plot, just free-wheeling sex romps caught on tape as is.

 Hairy Boyz 9*
  This popular compilation series returns with more scenes involving hirsute men. We wonder--does Raging Stallion have a greater percentage of hairy guys? They sure seem to have no problem filling these discs.

               

 The 4th Floor
  A certain floor inside a warehouse becomes the focal point of a series of sexual adventures featuring an all-star collection of  Raging Stallion performers. There's no plot or dialog in this Ben Leon film--just sex scenes and a driving musical score. The first scene is a sexual game of cat & mouse between Logan McCree & Roman Ragazzi. It starts out rough and tough but becomes slow & sensual and Ragazzi once again emotes more in action and sexual grunts than if he had a script. Scene two features Jake Deckard as another warehouse worker who seduces Aaron Action while on the job on this 4th floor. Can a scene with Jake be mediocre? Hell no! He again shows why he's a superstar. Jake can do it all and make us feel the pleasure of man-to-man sex. Scene three is a three-way (naturally) with Billy Berlin, Jack Ryan and Antonio Biaggi. Biaggi comes upon the two as they're already going at it and hot sex ensues. Scene 4 is a Logan McCree solo that shows why it's important to have lube of any kind standing by when you're horny. The last scene features Steve Cruz as a guy on the lam being handcuffed by cop (?) Scott Tanner then becoming his very willing sex toy. It took us a little while to warm up to Cruz but we love that he throws his whole body into his sex scenes. Very hot. 

 Matchmaker*
  This Cazzo Berlin film is another series of sex vignettes featuring most unfamiliar (to us) Euro-studs except for 
Tamas Esterhazy. There is an overriding plot here too. In a small village during summer holiday a couple who own a villa open their doors to allow local horny guys to "get together" at their estate.


 Jock Itch 
  Jake Deckard has his own production company at Raging Stallion (Screaming Eagle XXX) that allows him to direct his own fetish-themed films in his own style. Of course he gets to act in them too so he gets to indulge in his own fantasy fulfillment. The theme here is jocks and jock gear and those who are into it. Jake plays a player who throws a game and gets topped by his teammates Scott Tanner & Tyler Saint as a result. The lengthy scene features a few changes in position and although Deckard "pays up" he still gets clocked and knocked out and the next scene plays out in his head--a hot solo with Vic Rocco in football gear which becomes his scene partner. The next scene is a coach-player shower scene with Josh West and a horny subserviant RJ Danvers.
Scott Tanner is back is the second Jake dream sequence as he and fellow player Logan McCree go from tossing a ball around to wrestling for control.
  Jake Deckard shows he's learned a lot being in front of the camera and as director he knows what works. The film has an edge to it but it's not disturbing. Also, Jake can't be in every scene as an actor, so he projects his persona into the action through other actors. The sex here is rough and tough it's not brutal or unappealing--the guys look like they're enjoying themselves which maskes OUR enjoyment much more possible.  The only concern we had before seeing this was that the scenes would be too long. Interestingly they are lengthy but don't seem so. In fact we appreciated that they seemed very natural and unrushed. Kudos to Jake Deckard.


 NEXT UP----HOT HOUSE