Torn

I can't be the only one who thinks Torn is a bit of a rough name for a porn flick. I get uncomfortable feelings hearing that. There are far too many ways fun parts can tear. No thanks. But even more interesting is the plot of Torn, where the male lead has a happy, stable relationship, but the fire is gone and another woman offers him that flicker. I say it's interesting because I understand it. I've been in my current relationship for close to two decades, and we really are best friends at this point. No, the fire doesn't just stay put. Honestly, I can't think of a single couple where it does. But then I have one alternative, a close friend with whom I've had a relationship, who is a single mother, while I've wanted children and don't have any. The other is my former girlfriend and current friend-with-benefits. She's the one like Remy La Croix in Torn. She's my flame, the one I'm perfectly physically compatible. So I've faced this choice, and I think it's a false choice. Again, every relationship I've known cools over time. What's left is compatibility, comfort, friendship. Of course, being polyamorous, I haven't had to make any kind of decision like the main character of Torn does. Another reason to ditch jealousy and open up what we consider normal relationships, then.

My intro to this review is so long because, really, this is not only a porn film aimed at couples, but also how a traditional couple is viewed in entertainment. That is important to understand, because it goes a long way to understanding how these studios ultimately view all of us. Me? Well, my eyes are on a young art professor, not an art student, at the moment. She's taken, though, and I don't want to mess that up. But I understand the appeal, and the plot here is that our male main character is being tempted by a young art student. I'd be tempted by Remy as well, though I'd be more tempted by the Remy from some of her dirtier films. Now that would well be worth watching, er, doing. I have to ask, too: Is anyone else amused that Tom Byron is starring in a couples film? I mean, looking at some of the films he has produced, he's about the last person I would pick as being couples-friendly. This is, however, the perfect film for India Summer, as her practice doing the faux drama in all-girl flicks has her perfectly prepared for this role. She could also do a wicked Danica Patrick impression if she so chose.

I wasn't really expecting much in the way of bonus features on this one, as that's kind of tough to do with a couples flick. I mean, there's still a behind the scenes bit, but that has to remain subdued to really keep this within the theme. I was surprised to see a pick-your-pleasure option, though, as that seemed to run counter to the theme. As for the technical side of things, well, it's no secret that I'm no fan of Eddie Powell's directorial approach. No camera angle is too strange for him, including far too many that are basically from the floor. Be prepared to be zoomed in too far most of the time, the lighting to be edgy rather than helping you to see anything, and to otherwise not be able to put yourself in the scene. Eddie has a lot of expensive toys, and he understands what they do, but I fear he doesn't really understand what it means to be a porn fan, to watch, to fantasize, and to put yourself in that place. The first step is to be able to see it. This is what, for me, tanked Michael Ninn when he started his own studio.

I suppose I'm a bit beyond the typical couples films by this point of my life, and they were never my wife's thing. She'd rather watch something a bit harder, though she does like quite a bit of kink in her adult fun. Torn is fine enough, though I wonder, for the couple new to this stuff, just what they'll make of the way this is portrayed.

Dr. Chauntelle does not use a rating system. Five stars is a default setting only.

New Sensations has really been bringin' it lately with a collection of new lines - first, we had New Sensations Swingers; and now, New Sensations Couples!!

Swingers... Romance (New Sensations currently sets the standard for "romance porn" in the mainstream "straight" market)... and now Couples? There seems to be a lot going on over in Camp NSensations...

...so before I go too much further, I gotta say that, at least in terms of product development, New Sensations seems to have each of these lines very well conceptualized. Consider:

- "The Romance Series from New Sensations is a masterfully passionate movie line and the first collection to cater to the erotic needs of women and enhance their sexual experience. Seducing female consumers with stories of sensuality, connection and devotion, The Romance Series promotes the tingling, butterflies-in-your-stomach, giggly excitement girls crave. It combines elements of the greatest love stories of all time with sensual pleasures."

- The Swingers Series focuses on couples involved (or getting involved) in the swingers lifestyle. The line is designed to appeal to consumers interested in testing the limits of their own sexualities in this particular way.

- The Couples Series focuses on the trials and tribulations of relationships after the honeymoon has ended.

(these descriptions are either pulled directly from New Sensations-issued press or are slightly modified versions of New Sensations-issued press)

Sure, you can poke sociological and social justice-related holes into each of these descriptions (though I think I've beaten "romance porn" to death, you can read all about that here if you want) - fine. The important thing to remember though is that each one of these lines does, in fact, attempt to engage a collection of emotions and constructions that many members of human society have experienced.

Regardless of how New Sensations sets up "butterflies-in-your-stomach" (conventional, heterosexual, etc), you cannot pretend that those butterflies don't exist in romantic relationships. Whatsmore, you can't pretend that the likelihood of those butterflies eventually flying away or changing shape is not... well, likely... all while the people and the relationship and the developing dynamics thereof still remain. Simply on the basis of attempting to engage an uncommonly discussed "stage" that many people are currently in, I love New Sensations' new line.

Here are some of my thoughts on their first, soon-to-be released New Sensations Couples title, Torn (2012).

* * *

At the risk of sounding cliche, I was a little torn over Torn. At first.
Here's the plot description...

"CAUGHT BETWEEN THE LIFE HE KNEW AND THE LIFE HE WANTED

Drew finds himself at a crossroads in his life. Over time, his long-term marriage has lost its spark, intimacy and most importantly, the connection. Sex has been replaced by friendship. Spontaneity has been replaced by responsibility. Love has been taken over by life. Then one day Mimi, a passionate, young art student, enters his life. Their attraction to one another is immediate. Consumed with guilt at the mere thought of another woman, he recommits himself to his marriage and making it work. However, the connection proves too strong for them both and they slowly delve into an illicit affair.

There often comes a time in a person's life when they must choose what is right or what is best. Drew finds himself in that exact circumstance with peoples' lives hanging in the balance. Between facing society's judgment and hurting someone whom he has spent so much of his life with (all for the hope of true happiness and a love he could never have imagined), he finds himself torn."

So... 40something-ish Drew (Steven St. Croix) has been married to Christine (India Summer) for around 20 years. And as he's grown and matured over the years, what Drew initially loved about Christine - her independence and single-minded lack of neediness - has ceased to work for him. He now wants to be emotionally intimate and needed but finds himself going through the motions with a partner who seems hell bent on going through her own.

Drew's good buddy Vicky (Raylene), herself a very open and connected person, has a mid-20something-ish niece named Mimi (Remy LaCroix). Age differences notwithstanding, Mimi is everything Christine is not (and probably vice versa) - free-spirited, artistic, a student (of photography and life), and open. Drew and Mimi meet at a party and, after a small series of reticent halts, begin a torrid love affair...

I don't want to spoil what happens next, but I'm probably gonna have to in order to explain how and why Torn was a damn near perfect film.

But first, a moment of self-disclosure - I watched this movie twice. The first time with a hefty measure of incredulity, and the second time to pick up what I had missed by being a skeptical hater. You see, I wanted to dislike Torn.

Even though I know people often evolve and grow and develop in different and sometimes incompatible directions and even though I know marriage is difficult, I reeeally wanted to get all huffy puffy/yawn over what I thought would be yet another tale of a bored mid-life-crisis-having dude being "inspired" by some young chic... all while a long suffering wife gets kicked to the curb.

Or, I wanted to roll my eyes at what I often find to be an annoyingly commonplace mega-misstep in film casting - older dude/young woman. Sure that happens in real life, but does it always happen... like, always without fail? No. But if you were to take it from most movies, yes... yes it does.

But Torn unraveled both the skepticism I was aware of and engaged additional issues related to infidelity, marriage, partnerships, and partners evolving apart.

Think about all the arguments you've ever heard for or against infidelity within the context of a long-standing, but ultimately unhappy, marriage - minus the "what about your kids?" argument (there are no children, actual or alluded to, in this film), they're all engaged in Torn. Think about every "creepy older married dude with the spritely and spirited young mistress" issue - they're all engaged in Torn, too.

Torn takes an extremely distressing topic that people (myself included) often have knee-jerk reactions to and eases viewers into thinking about situational complexities. Whatsmore, you have to think about those complexities as they relate to the commonly vilified parties - the cheater and the mistress. And though you may not care for Torn's characters or their biographical details, the fact remains that these scenarios are not completely unreasonable or imagined. In fact, Torn was based on a true story. It was also based on a story you've probably heard before.

In the end, Torn accomplished something that few films do - it made me uncomfortable, and it made me think. It also had a really life-affirming take away message, which is another thing we just don't get enough of these days.

I loved it.

Some notes on other elements of the film...

There are no words to describe Raylene... Perhaps "beautiful shining star"? Her performance and character, though definitely not the center of the film, almost steal the show.

India Summer is an incredible actress. Though she often gets cast as a chilly dragon lady and though the Christine character was a slightly chilly dragon lady, India really extended herself in Torn. She was extremely convincing as an independent and icy, yet ultimately very vulnerable, woman dealing with a pretty rough situation. I know the emphasis of this film was on the main characters' issues, but I found myself wanting to know more about India's Christine.

The sex in this film is perfect - Drew and Christine are heartbreakingly distant, while the scene between Mimi and her roommate is heartbreakingly sad, desperate, and awkward. And the final tryst between Mimi and Drew- Chemistry dripping hott lusciousness, while being far from graphic and not at all porny. Each scene (including what I didn't mention here) is perfectly on point for the project.

My only slightly "hmmm..." moment with Torn had to do with the subject matter itself. As I said in the beginning of this extra-long review, Torn is the first title in New Sensations' new Couples line - a line intended to get at what happens to couples when the butterflies fly away (a party in the USA!!? ...someone please slap me)

I wonder what was behind the decision to start a new line that's very unique in its intent with such heavy material. I also wonder what they're going to explore next... Kids? Money? Illness? Physical distance that comes from extenuating circumstances? The possibilities are endless, but the first things that come to my mind are all actually pretty heavy. What kinds of happy post-butterfly scenarios will we eventually be seeing (if any)?

Recommended for: I want to say everyone because this film is truly excellent; however, I must say "everyone" with the addendum "maybe not for couples dealing with infidelity and/or infidelity-realted issues." This film is pretty intense and could easily be a trigger... but it also might be a catalyst for some necessary/useful conversation.