Freya Parker makes a strong impression as the scheming antiheroine of James Avalon 's "Duplicity", the inaugural feature for a new Wicked Noir sub-label at the decades-old major porn company, now a part of the Gamma Entertainent/Adult Time platform.
Writer-director Avalon emphasizes style over substance in this atmospheric neo-noir tale, with minimal story elements and dialogue. It's the explicit sex that sells these days, and the show's four XXX vignettes are arousing. Significant use of black & white sequences, as well as black & white stills, adds to the dark mood with enough suspense generated to hold the viewer through the final reel mystery resolution.
Freya makes love to big-dicked Steve Holmes, deep throating the veteran Euro Porn actor, before killing him via poisoning, He's the wealthy dad of Charles Dera, latter playing a patsy as Freya conspires with an unseen partner in crime to dupe and blackmail the hapless fellow. Key plot peg has Freya initially disturbed as she tears up the wedding invitation of Dera to one Molly Andrews, well-played by lovely Evelyn Claire, marrying Dera. A very fine touch by Avalon has this scene of Freya destroying the invitation echoed later in the movie by Dera tearing up blackmail photos taken by Parker.
A talented crew led by camera veterans Ralph Parfait and Shaun Rivera creates chiaroscuro visuals worthy of a film noir, while Avalon uses a mixture of period styling and costuming but pointedly displaying modern technology (e.g., frequent use of smart phones and even a selfie stick). Wicked's new policy of no-condoms is in effect.
Main drawback here, in line with plummeting porn budgets across the board, is only having three actresses in the cast (Diana Grace in a supporting role), a disappointing departure from Avalon movies back in the day which boasted lengthy cast lists, magnified by all three of them same-type slim brunettes.
Writer-director Avalon emphasizes style over substance in this atmospheric neo-noir tale, with minimal story elements and dialogue. It's the explicit sex that sells these days, and the show's four XXX vignettes are arousing. Significant use of black & white sequences, as well as black & white stills, adds to the dark mood with enough suspense generated to hold the viewer through the final reel mystery resolution.
Freya makes love to big-dicked Steve Holmes, deep throating the veteran Euro Porn actor, before killing him via poisoning, He's the wealthy dad of Charles Dera, latter playing a patsy as Freya conspires with an unseen partner in crime to dupe and blackmail the hapless fellow. Key plot peg has Freya initially disturbed as she tears up the wedding invitation of Dera to one Molly Andrews, well-played by lovely Evelyn Claire, marrying Dera. A very fine touch by Avalon has this scene of Freya destroying the invitation echoed later in the movie by Dera tearing up blackmail photos taken by Parker.
A talented crew led by camera veterans Ralph Parfait and Shaun Rivera creates chiaroscuro visuals worthy of a film noir, while Avalon uses a mixture of period styling and costuming but pointedly displaying modern technology (e.g., frequent use of smart phones and even a selfie stick). Wicked's new policy of no-condoms is in effect.
Main drawback here, in line with plummeting porn budgets across the board, is only having three actresses in the cast (Diana Grace in a supporting role), a disappointing departure from Avalon movies back in the day which boasted lengthy cast lists, magnified by all three of them same-type slim brunettes.