Hardgore

When one talks about the dark side of adult cinema, a certain film has never failed to be part of the discussion. That certain film has often been labelled as the most outrageous and shocking adult film of them all, defeating the rest with its blood-soaked scenes of depravity. Indeed, that certain film is undoubtedly outrageous as it's often claimed to be - but shocking? Shocking to a certain extent, yes; but not as shocking as some of the other adult films I can name and had the pleasure of viewing amongst the madness provided by that certain film this review is about. That certain film is Hardgore (Horror Whore, Sadoasylum).

Hardgore was made in the year 1974 during a cluster of Satanic porn films which dominated the early porn scene. After porn was thrown into mainstream by the now notorious and scandalous Deep Throat, porn seemed to struggle in an attempt to find a direction. The classic era of adult films didn't really start until 1975 when adult films started to include erotic storylines and pretty women. The classic era continued until 1983 before the Regan administration began clamping down on pornography and started tarnishing it as sexual violence. Detailed storylines (even the most erotic storylines contained the occasional rape scene) became extinct and the adult film hasn't been the same since. Gay porn, however, didn't suffer entirely from the same needless restrictions imposed by the Regan administration in the 1980's. Most of the adult films between 1972 and 1975 were rather tame and slow (at least when compared to the successful films from the classic era). But what gave these early adult films a much needed attraction was the sadistic violence contained within the script. This reign of sadistically violent adult films continued until 1983, despite being forced underground by the erotic films from the classic era 1975 onwards. Many of the controversial adult film makers were known by many different names in order to suppress their guilt at making such depravity. The same controversial adult film makers eventually faded away, integrating into society whilst leaving no trace of where they went or how they lived, thereafter. Some fled the country in an attempt to evade pursuit, emigrating to live a new life in another country where nobody knew who they were. Some became Christians in order to either repent what they did or permanently conceal their guilt. There are many interesting stories of disappearing adult film makers who took part in these sadistic films that so angered and sickened the Regan administration. One of the greatest tales is the disappearance of Joe Davian. Some say that he was either shot dead after the collapse of the Avon Studios or he emigrated to Israel where he became a Jew. The Avon films were highly criticised, becoming the pinnacle of all sadistic adult films. Many others: Hardgore, Femmes Desade, Little Orphan Dusty, Long Jeanne Silver, etc. were also pursued and their reputation has forever been concealed as roughies. Hardgore is not the most shocking adult film of all time; but it is the most famous shocking adult film of all time.

The violent and controversial adult films pre-1975 contained masses of Satanic storylines that included the sexual violence which made the 1970's a sadistic decade for adult films. These Satanic adult films consist of the following: All the Devil's Angels (1979); Angel Above, Devil Below (1974); Blue Voodoo (1977); Daughter of Satan (early 1970's); The Devil and Mr Jones (1975); The Devil in Miss Jones (1972); The Devil Inside Her (1976); Devil's Due (1973); Devil's Ecstasy (1974); The Devil's Playground (1974); The Horny Devils (1973); The Lucifer's (1971); Madame Satan (early 1970's); Night of the Warlock (early 1970's); Rites of Uranus (1975); Satan was a Lady, directed by exploitation director, Doris Wishman (1975); Satan's Lust (1971); Satan's Sex Slaves (1971); Sexorcist Devil (1974); Sexual Satanic Awareness (1972); Suburban Satanist (1974). And, of course, Hardgore (1974) is included. Even gay adult films got in the act with Finger Lickin' Good (1972) and Sons of Satan (1973).

As controversial as Hardgore may be, it isn't the most controversial adult film of all time - if it is, then it shouldn't be. It is, however, the most bloodiest, and even that cannot save Hardgore from the futile attempt it created at merging horror and pornography. The horror in Wet Wilderness (1974) is far better at illustrating an attempt to merge horror and pornography, which actually succeeds in creating a disturbing experience these type of adult films try to convey. Through the Looking Glass (1976) is not only a contender for the greatest adult film of all time; but a winning contender for the greatest attempt at merging horror and pornography. Compared to Hardgore, other roughies grant far more sickening material: Femmes De Sade (1976) contains rape, bestiality and scat; Forced Entry (1971) contains graphic rape, Vietnam War footage and gore; Kneel Before Me (1983) contains genital piercing, abuse and forced piss drinking; Little Orphan Dusty (1976) contains gang rape and fisting rape; The Taking of Christina (1975) contains the most shocking rape in any adult film and a bloody climax you won't forget; Through the Looking Glass contains rape, pissing and highly disturbing horror scenes. The list of adult films containing shocking perversion is too long to continue, yet Hardgore is still positioned at the top, despite many more shocking adult films deserve to be there in Hardgore's place. In my opinion, the most shocking adult film from the classic era is the gay porn film, Born to Raise Hell (1975). It really comes down to what one would like to see in a shocking adult film. If one wants to witness horror and bloody scenes of perversion then Hardgore would be the most shocking adult film of all time. If one would like to witness realistic perversion (sexual violence, abuse, vulgarity, etc.) then many other adult films would be the most shocking adult film of all time. I don't necessarily hunt down these titles to witness realistic perversion, but the realistic perversion witnessed in Femmes Desade, Born to Raise Hell, The Taking of Christina, etc. remains far more shocking than the made-up perversion in Hardgore. However, Hardgore is still a great viewing experience that provides enough pleasure to the viewer who has managed to track down the uncut version. It's exploitation allure is almost unbeatable - you know it's not the greatest adult film of all time; but it still manages to astound you with plenty of satisfaction. Hardgore is a cult film in its own right, even if it is slightly overrated after the success it has erected (no pun intended) on many internet websites selling VHS copies over the years - of course, that's just my opinion. Scenes of castration, decapitation, necrophilia, infinite streams of sperm spewing from rocket dildos, Satanic masks and orgies, should provide the genre buff with an abundance of depravity. It's this allure which makes Hardgore a great viewing experience. Hardgore is the perfect adult film for horror fans.

Hardgore stars the natural looking, Dianne Galke, who previously was only thought to have starred in Hardgore. However, she also starred in a sicko 8MM loop called Never Talk to Strangers which Alpha Blue Archives have provided as an extra on this DVD. Never Talk to Strangers could be regarded as equally shocking as Hardgore. The character Dianne Galke plays is called Maria, who is sent to a mental hospital because she is suffering from nymphomania. Dr. George (John Seeman - an appropriate second name for a porn film, don't you think?) believes Maria's nymphomania is curable, detailing a high percentage of success as evidence. He orders the nurse to take her to her room where they both end up having lesbian sex on the bed after the nurse flaunts her ass towards Maria. Maria, being the nympho she is, undresses her and they each end up thrusting their hairy pussies together (hairy pussies - God, I miss the 70's). After another lesbian scene, including hairy pussy licking in the bathroom, the nurse warns Maria not to stay in the hospital any longer as terrible things are happening. She promises to unlock her door later that night so that Maria can run away. She takes Maria, who is in a state of confusion, back to her bedroom.

Later that afternoon, Maria ponders on why she ever agreed to be sent to the hospital.

'There's nothing wrong with fucking around a little bit,' she thinks. 'I am so bored. What in hell is there to do here?'

After her ponder, she immediately discovers a box with two dildos inside. She then penetrates her hairy pussy with one, rolling around on her bed, writhing in orgasmic pleasure. Considering that she agreed to be sent to the hospital in order to be cured for her nymphomania, she is doing a brilliant job attempting to cure herself by having a quick fuck now and then. As promised later that night, her door creeps slightly open, allowing a small beam of light to filter through. She gets up to investigate and discovers the nurse with her neck slashed in a myriad of cuts. The nurse falls to her knees with blood spurting everywhere - Maria flees in terror. She runs down the dark corridor without knowing where she is going, however, somebody else does and she is abducted by a man wearing a white cloth around his head, obscuring his facial features. Maria is then laid down and is soon fondled by female hands whilst giving head to two cocks. Unknown to Maria, somebody in the dark is watching her sucking the two cocks - Dr. George perhaps? What follows is a castration scene that erupts blood all over Maria's face in crimson foam of red.

Hardgore then escalates to bloody climax filled with hairy sex, cocksucking, pussy licking and even pillow fucking! Maria continues to copulate with various women, who suddenly end up being killed in the most sadistic circumstances after having sex with her. Maria is pulled into a world of eccentric activities, including talking skulls, talking dildos, flying dildos that drown faces and breasts with gallons of cum, sex with dead bodies, bloody meat hooks, Satanic rituals and peculiar orgies that injects psychedelic images to the nightmarish atmosphere that has all ready been provided. Most scenes are covered in blood-spattered hairy sex - not necessarily erotic, but fantastic to watch, nonetheless. The last image after the hairy orgy is a lit candle protruding from a hairy pussy, exhibiting the hairy vulva into frame within the emanating glow. I shall not describe the sex scenes in further detail as this will spoil your enjoyment discovering the depravity contained within this superb film. In previous reviews, I have gone into further detail, describing the plot and sex scenes as I thought those films needed to include as much information as possible in my reviews in order to coax the curious seeker, such as yourself, into purchasing the DVD. However, I don't really need to go any further into the review of Hardgore as all you need to know is that a bloody mess awaits you when you open a parcel containing Hardgore at the bottom of your hallway floor. Hardgore is the most bloodiest adult film of all time. I will challenge you to find a bloodier adult film than this. If you do then I shall stop regarding myself as an adult/horror, adult/violence and adult/exploitation connoisseur - although, Sex Psycho (1970) comes very close in the gore department.

The DVD release of Hardgore was originally released by Alpha Blue Archives last year, however, the original release contained a fault towards the end during the orgy scene. Just as soon as we were about to witness the bloody killings that makes Hardgore a complete viewing experience, the screen immediately goes black, cutting off the footage. Interestingly, the audio continued as we hear the screams from the victims being slaughtered. Alpha Blue Archives then discontinued Hardgore as many customers sent back their DVDs. Hardgore was then re-released in early 2005 with all the footage now intact. The ending, which many viewers couldn't view because of the fault, can now be viewed in it's gore-soaked and torturous wailing entirety!

Before the Alpha Blue Archives DVD release, the only online retailer you could purchase Hardgore from was Something Weird Video. All the footage found on the Something Weird Video version can be found on the Alpha Blue Archives DVD release. The Something Weird Video version was under the title Horror Whore, and participated alongside the equally shocking and horrific, Sex Séance. Sex Séance (under the name House of Desade) will be released on the Avon Dynasty: Joe Davian Boxset in 2005 - so there's no need to purchase the Something Weird Video VHS version just to get your hands on Sex Séance.

The visual quality of Hardgore is fantastic when you consider that Hardgore is extremely low budget. Hardgore is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33.1 full screen. The picture quality could have been a lot worse; but I kind of like the fact that these low budget adult shockers remain in the quality they are in. When watching them, you're excited by the fact that you're watching something extremely sleazy, and the picture quality reassures you that your watching something that is still regarded as sleazy; something still regarded as dangerous. The print damage is easy to recognise; but that doesn't spoil the viewing experience, whatsoever. However, Hardgore would make a fantastic release by either Blue Underground or Synapse Films; but considering Hardgore is a full-on adult film, the chances of that happening are highly remote. Saying that, Synapse Films have released The Image (a Radley Metzger classic) onto DVD and are expected to release more adult titles in 2005 - so who knows? But I will be sticking to the Alpha Blue Archives release as it contains a shocking 8MM pornographic loop, Never Talk to Strangers, which features the star of Hardgore, Dianne Galke.

I don't know the year Never Talk to Strangers was made in (most likely before Deep Throat when the loop scene broadly prevailed) but it is among the most unnerving 17 minutes of footage I've seen. We start Never Talk to Strangers with two schoolgirls and a guy inside a room. The girls sit on the sofa as the hairy guy nears them. The guy strips the blonde one first, proceeds to tie her hands behind her back and gags her. Next, Dianne Galke is stripped from her clothing and has her nipples tortured with a pair of pliers. Dianne is then forced to give the guy a blowjob, sucking his dick to an orgasm inside her mouth, despite expressing disgust on her face as she quite clearly dislikes the taste of his salty cum. She is forced to gargle on his cum and lets it drip down her chin towards her reddened breasts. After violating Dianne, he goes back to the blonde and begins to abuse her. Before he fucks her, she is raped with the pliers he used on Dianne's nipples. He then begins to torture her with electricity, especially her thighs and genitals, resulting in slow eruptions of blood. The blood, however, is faked, unlike the blood from many other shocking 8MM loops. If you would like to view more of these loops then you can purchase a number of DVDs from the Alpha Blue Archives Sadistic 70's collection. The Flesh Rippers happens to be the most shocking; but Golden Showers of the 1970's and Masked Rapists are just behind The Flesh Rippers in regards to providing shocking scenes. Never Talk to Strangers also appears on their Sadistic 70's DVD release of Teenage Abductions. Never Talk to Strangers, like most 8MM loops, doesn't contain any dialog; but an extremely funky 70's soundtrack will accommodate you to the end. The soundtrack is probably better than the loop itself - so get out those flares and boogie 70's style.

Despite being rough in places, the audio is easily discernable in the AC-3 Encoded Audio. The sound throughout the film is Dolby Digital Mono. The All-Region DVD will play on any DVD player.

The keywords for Hardgore, including Never Talk to Strangers, are: abduction; abuse/humiliation; age - young women, older men; average looks; bloody scenes; breast sizes - average, natural; castrations; female cast looks - cute; decapitations; cock sizes - average, big; controversial; costumes; cumshots - facial, inside the mouth (Never Talk to Strangers); detailed plot; dirty talk; discipline; fetish - candles; fetish - electric shock; fetish - gagged; fetish - nipple clamping; fetish - spitting; gang-bang; hairy vaginas; lesbian scenes; male casts looks - average, hairy; murder; necrophilia; orgy; porn classics; punishment; rough sex; Satanic plot; sexual violence; tender lovemaking; violence. A few keywords have obviously eluded me as it's quite difficult describing everything that happens in Hardgore and putting them into singular words - there's just too much stuff going on.

It's fantastic that we can now finally purchase Hardgore on DVD after all these years of neglect. All those poor quality VHS copies can now be thrown away and be replaced with this terrific DVD. You simply cannot criticise Alpha Blue Archives for the work they have done with Hardgore. Not only have they corrected the fault during the final few minutes; but they have given us the choice to purchase this adult and horror classic on DVD. It might not be the most shocking adult film you can grasp with your immoral hands; but there is no denying the allure which Hardgore emanates when viewing. It's simply too hard to describe. So what are you waiting for? Purchase this DVD right now before Halloween arrives.

Happy Nightmares!

Reviewed by Pryce