Sci-fi with style, but poorly developed story

Michael Raven gets full marks for his design work and visual style in this exercise in dysopian science fiction, but for some reason was Mr. Lazybones when it came to his screenplay. The pretty pictures and eroticism pass muster, while his story never progresses beyond the narrated starting point.

We're in the year 2033, and after half the Earth's population has died through war and disease a world order has been established that controls procreation and has banned both marriage and co-habitation. Beautiful and silent (as is virtually the entire cast, while a femme voice-over drones on with expository information for the viewer) heroine Monica Sweetheart is arrested along with her lover Joey Ray and sent to the BRC (Biological Release Center) where she will be re-programmed and used to service elite males.

Once this has been established, the rest of the movie is merely beauties humping away with the usual Chatsworth studs -no revolution, uprising or anything disturbing this future totalitarian society. After the final money shot there is some talk of Monica refusing to give up her fantasy life (of still being with Joey) but otherwise the bad guys win -hardly a testament to the human spirit if that is in fact what Raven intended.

The sets are highly imaginative and visuals striking, especially in capturing feminine beauty -so effective that the show might have been far better if conceived and executed as softcore eroticism rather than Raven's chosen medium of XXX. It wouldn't have killed him to write some dialog and enact a few dramatic scenes, rather than fall back on the all-sex crutch of pornography.

The romance genre features the theme of romantic relationships and emotional connections between characters. These stories focus on the development of love, desire, and intimacy between protagonists, often exploring the challenges, conflicts, and triumphs that arise in their relationships.

Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)

The sci-fi genre, short for science fiction, features imaginative and futuristic concepts that are often rooted in scientific principles, technology, and possibilities. These stories delve into "what if" questions and can serve as a platform to address contemporary social, political, and ethical issues by projecting them onto future or alternate settings.

James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Deering Studios, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Evolution

Top Cast17

User reviews1

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed