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Shades of Scarlet

Zero Tolerance

Genre: BDSM, Feature

Director: Mike Quasar

Cast: AJ Applegate, Mr. Pete, Romi Rain, Tommy Pistol, Karlie Montana, Skin Diamond, James Deen, Derrick Pierce
Non-sex role: Anthony Rosano

Length: 123:30 minutes

Date of Production: 2014

Extras: On the movie disc itself, the only extras were the trailers, a popshot compilation from the scenes, and photogallery but a separate copy of “Dr. Ava’s Guide to Sensual BDSM for Couples” was also included.

Condoms: None

Audio/Video Quality: Shades of Scarlet was presented in anamorphic widescreen as shot by director Mike Quasar for Zero Tolerance. Mike was credited with almost all aspects of the production other than performing, his editing looking good on the footage he shot so well that took into account the framing, flesh tones, and camera angles. The lighting could have been more consistent in a few scenes but it was far from terrible, the aural components of the production sporting a 2.0 Dolby Digital presentation despite the company typically using monaural these days. The score was basic but appropriate, the vocals easily heard in most cases, and only a little distortion worth mentioning, the dubbed narration very even by comparison.

Body of Review: Mike Quasar has long been one of the best gonzo directors in porn, his work for Zero Tolerance and sister companies often winning him and his bosses scores of awards and nominations as a result. His latest movie coming in for review is called Shades of Scarlet, a takeoff on the ever popular book series whose owner kicked one company in the balls about not long ago, this thinly veiled version of the story in good company given other versions many of you have probably seen. That said, this version starred hotty Karlie Montana, the beauty featured on the front cover who portrayed a meek office worker who is transformed into a sensation slut courtesy of her favorite novelist’s decision to help her explore her darker fantasies. AJ Applegate, Romi Rain, and Skin Diamond were also included in the four scenes of decadent fun, the light BDSM themes focusing mostly on power exchange than intricate rope work or toys, the psychological aspects looked at in an interesting manner.

The company website described the release like this: “Dear Valued Customers, Zero Tolerance Entertainment is pleased to announce the release of Shades of Scarlet, a new film featuring the psycho-sexual relationship between an erotic writer and his biggest fan. The film is being released in limited packaging with a bonus 2-disc DVD set, Dr. Ava's Guide to Sensual BDSM for Couples, making it the perfect package for couples who want to start slow and finish big! Special pricing applies to this release at the rate of one and half times regular price. Erotic novelist Roz Collins is writing a new book and wants superfan Karlie to become his real-life protagonist - and lover. She's shocked and amazed when the author himself returns her fan mail, and discovers that he's got a very hot, sexy fantasy in store for her. She eagerly follows the story he's written for her, but as she transforms into the sultry Scarlet, it's not clear that she will ever be able to return to her old life. "I love the twist on the Fifty Shades of Gray trend," says Karlie Montana who stars as the besotted office worker turned fantasy lover. "Erotic novels really do turn women on and make them crave things they might not normally. It was fun to play out that drama with a character who was suddenly taking risks and discovering her own sexuality." Shades of Scarlet's cast also includes Skin Diamond, Romi Rain, AJ Applegate, Tommy Pistol, Derrick Pierce, Anthony Rosano, James Deen and Mr. Pete, with stellar performances that bring the enigmatic script to life.” Here’s a brief look at the scenes by cast and action, noting that no condoms were used for those still interested:

Scene One: AJ Applegate, a fetching blond with a glorious ass and incredibly sexy eyes, was up first in a tryst with Mr. Pete as Karlie observed. The movie had already had a few false starts in terms of Karlie getting naughty but this was the real deal as Pete flogged AJ’s ass, the gal blindfolded and bend over in restraints before Pete stuffed his turgid pecker in AJ’s mouth. She slobbed his knob nearly to the hilt with streamers flying, her blindfold removed as she reveled in getting her limits pushed. Pete licked her ass briefly with some gash gobbling beside before drilling her sweet cookie, stuffing her panties in her mouth and making her masturbate before pounding her precious pussy some more. Her bald beaver took all he had and she nuzzled his nuts as he stroked off onto her face, milking his balls dry of semen for her to savor. The company website described the scene like this: “Gotta love a girl like AJ Applegate who is all in, even when she doesn't exactly know what she might be in for as this mysterious XXX scene suggests. Real submissives say Yes before they even know the question being asked.”

Scene Two: Romi Rain, a curvy brunette in fetish attire, was up next as scruffy Tommy Pistol roughed her up. She was bound with her hands above her head and he stuffed Karlie’s panties in Romi’s mouth, slapping the brunette around but explaining he preferred the psychological aspects of the action more than delivering such brutal slaps and other stimulation. Romi began thanking him as Karlie sat off to the side masturbating as ordered (in a non explicit manner), the blindfold removed to show her mascara smeared and what looked like bruises before his paddling led to a balls deep hummer with hand to gland friction, Tommy slamming his cock in her neatly trimmed pussy as she got off and thanked him repeatedly. She was an active rider and soaking wet as they continued banging, Romi kneeling to drain his dragon of sperm and savoring it at length before the scene cut away. The company website described the scene like this: “Romi Rain Loves To Be Spanked. Some girls are brats because they think they can get away with it, others like Romi act that way simply because they are hoping to get caught. Watch her get put in her place by Tommy right now!”

Scene Three: Karlie Montana, next up in her cover outfit seen on the left side of the cover, sleek Skin Diamond, in sexy lingerie too, and a shaven head James Deen, were up next in a sank dungeon setting where Karlie actually participated. Karlie was positioned with her head down on a table and her ass high in the air as Skin and James had some fun. James stimulated her juicy ass and left a lot of red marks as Skin took over to finger her and lick her a bit, moving to slob James knob before Karlie was set to rimming Skin and then blow James. He then took Skin vaginally in a standing doggy before Karlie in her kneeling doggy, the ladies sharing the resulting facial glazing together as they knelt before him. The company website described the scene like this: “Karlie Montana And Skin Diamond Vs James Deen would seem to stack the odds in the girls' favor, but an experienced master like Mr. Deen can definitely pull some tricks from his black bag when it comes time to turn the tables.”

Scene Four: Karlie Montana, all dolled up in anticipation of her moment of glory, was then racked with mixed emotions as she was verbally handed over to bald Derrick Pierce, her sexy dress soon discarded and the gal wearing only her sexy panties and a blindfold as he pawed her in a dumpy red brick walled room. They kissed and he secured her hands before going down on her at length, her hairy pussy trimmed close to her skin but covering far more territory than usual too. When he finished, she was allowed to see him and kneel down for an enthusiastic hummer, her hand assisting before they engaged in various forms of active vaginal riding with and without a blindfold. He then doused her mouth with his manly fluids and she seemed to swallow them, the scene anticlimactic for me given the previous outings. The company website described the scene like this: “Some girls scream while others whimper when finally give permission to orgasm. Karlie Montana Bellows With Delight as her chest heaves every gasp of orgasmic bliss into the ether and her eyes roll back into her head!”

Summary: Shades of Scarlet by director Mike Quasar for Zero Tolerance was a quirky but appealing, entry level fuck flick for those who might be interested in learning something about BDSM. The four trysts starring beauties like Karlie Montana, AJ Applegate, Skin Diamond, and Romi Rain plus the bonus educational flick the initial round of the release has merited a rating of Recommended as far as I was concerned, the fetish-lite action not likely to appeal to hardcore genre aficionados but a good starting point all the same. In short, I’m sure the Hollywood version will work better for the vanilla masses wanting to upgrade their boring sex lives but until then, Shades of Scarlet is yet another porn industry response you might check into while waiting.