Review: Below Her Mouth

Shot over a period of less than a month with an all-female production crew, the Canadian erotic drama Below Her Mouth offers an abundance of explicit sex scenes as it depicts the steamy affair between androgynous roofer Dallas (Erika Linder) and straight and engaged fashion editor Jasmine (Natalie Krill).

The torrid sex scenes may be the main attraction for both straight men and gay women but, as with the equally graphic sex scenes in Blue is the Warmest Colour, Betty Blue and Last Tango in Paris, the sex is the narrative in much the same way as song and dance numbers are in musicals. The problem with writer-director April Mullen's film, however, is that there's little else of note to keep one's interest.

Dallas is a love them and leave them type. "Even inanimate objects aren't safe from you," remarks one of her latest cast-offs. Dallas herself admits, "I've got no emotional stamina for intimacy." That allergy to commitment disappears upon meeting Jasmine who, though obviously attracted to Dallas, keeps offering up the flimsy defense that she's engaged to a man named Rile (Sebastian Pigott). Resistance is futile and the two are soon engaging in all sorts of athletically choreographed sex in and out of bed, in back alleys, bathtubs, and any other places they happen to be when their desire takes hold.

The whole affair is sleekly photographed, elevating it a touch above an episode of Red Shoe Diaries as far as aesthetics are concerned. However, it certainly matches that program as far as its superficial execution of Dallas and Jasmine's back stories and, more specifically, Jasmine's conflict over her repressed sexuality. Mullen's stars are to be commended for their unimpeachable dedication to the requirements of their roles, but neither are skilled enough to rise above the one-dimensionality of their roles. Krill, in particular, seems adrift when required to utter dialogue. Linder, a model who has done masculine, feminine and unisex looks, at least has the advantage of her striking looks and sulky, evasive demeanour, both of which strongly recall Kristen Stewart.

Below Her Mouth

Directed by: April Mullen

Written by: April Mullen

Starring: Erika Linder, Natalie Krill, Sebastian Pigott, Mayko Nguyen, Tommie-Amber Pirie, Melanie Lieshman