Dark Secrets (2012)

Sadly Over-hyped

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Simple: basic "couples want to address what's missing in their relationships besides enjoying the great sex that seems to define what's actually good about them" subplot equipped with attractive leads having rather unspectacularly staged softcore sex scenes. Major plus are the lovely women of the cast: Jayden Cole (while I think she's ravishing regardless of her partner in sex scenes, I prefer her work with women), Victoria White, and Heather Vahn. Kelli McCartney has never really done much for me; she is the sex therapist who really has no business coaching others on how to get more in relationships…she bangs Billy Chappell after he gets in an argument with lover Cole (she walks out as he comments about how entertaining it is to see McCartney "push people's buttons"). Because the men (Chappell, Michael Vegas, and Richard Lounello) are consumed with their careers, the ladies become miffed at them because they want some attention, too. That's the gist of the plot connecting the softcore scenes. I could ogle Cole sun up to sundown, but because just about all of the sex scenes look so staged and unauthentic (the hardcore porn explosion of a few years ago thanks to the internet has taken its toll on Skinemax softcore), it becomes difficult to get a rise (pun intended) out of them. Ultimately, the girls were there to go through the motions expected of the faux sex performance (moaning and gyrating to the best of their abilities) while the guys try to keep their peckers concealed, but some of the men's positions were absurdly unrealistic (especially when attempting to convince us of anal penetration). I give this film extra points for Cole, especially in her knee high boots and those skirts that show off her curvaceous figure. Because the film has the same couples performing almost the exact same sexual acts, there's a dull repetition that exists. Naked beauties are here, but that's it. For some, that's all there needs to be. The title would lead you to believe that this is an erotic thriller, but its just another "sex therapy" softcore flick.