The title is taken from Mickey Spillane, but Sin City's "Kiss Me Deadly" emerges as a simple, straight-forward but highly effective Hannah Harper vehicle in the thriller genre. Credit Melissa Monet with a solid screenplay, featuring many in-joke H.P. Lovecraft references especially in the character names (Talon plays Mr. Ward, first name mentioned as Charlie, riffing on HPL's Charles Dexter Ward).
Listening to cameraman turned director Francois Clousot's audio commentary it is clear that he didn't take this project seriously, but is justly proud of his camera-work on it. Kudos go to name-dropped lighting man Jim Starks, who unfortunately doesn't get a screen credit for his atmospheric work.
Harper gives a subtle but carefully shaped performance as a nutcase, violently killing several other characters in well-staged fashion, with Clousot using sound effects and shadow play rather than explicit violence. That is due to the prevailing self-censorship in Adult Cinema in recent decades, on the principle that sex and violence don't mix.
She ends up at a correctional institution that is a school for femme convicts in their twenties, sort of a continuation of a reform school. Steven St. Croix is the math teacher there, and typical hazing by other girls (particularly bad babes Bobbi Eden, the Dutch beauty, well-matched to fellow blonde Hannah in the inevitable prison lesbian sex scene).
Harper's psychotic ways build up the body count, leading to an unsettling ending. Her evil smile and outward beauty/innocence bring the stock role to life and are testament to this underrated superstar of yesteryear, who can act rings around most if not all of today's Adult actress/models.
Cast is short on big names, but besides Eden we have August and Devon Michaels afforded hot sex scenes too. Hannah's sullen roommate at the institution is played by Gia Jordan, a player Francois dismisses as merely a gonzo performer, and who is unimpressive. He also makes fun repeatedly of the young Mr. Pete, but given Pete's career longevity I think the reliable porn actor gets the last laugh on this journeyman director.
Listening to cameraman turned director Francois Clousot's audio commentary it is clear that he didn't take this project seriously, but is justly proud of his camera-work on it. Kudos go to name-dropped lighting man Jim Starks, who unfortunately doesn't get a screen credit for his atmospheric work.
Harper gives a subtle but carefully shaped performance as a nutcase, violently killing several other characters in well-staged fashion, with Clousot using sound effects and shadow play rather than explicit violence. That is due to the prevailing self-censorship in Adult Cinema in recent decades, on the principle that sex and violence don't mix.
She ends up at a correctional institution that is a school for femme convicts in their twenties, sort of a continuation of a reform school. Steven St. Croix is the math teacher there, and typical hazing by other girls (particularly bad babes Bobbi Eden, the Dutch beauty, well-matched to fellow blonde Hannah in the inevitable prison lesbian sex scene).
Harper's psychotic ways build up the body count, leading to an unsettling ending. Her evil smile and outward beauty/innocence bring the stock role to life and are testament to this underrated superstar of yesteryear, who can act rings around most if not all of today's Adult actress/models.
Cast is short on big names, but besides Eden we have August and Devon Michaels afforded hot sex scenes too. Hannah's sullen roommate at the institution is played by Gia Jordan, a player Francois dismisses as merely a gonzo performer, and who is unimpressive. He also makes fun repeatedly of the young Mr. Pete, but given Pete's career longevity I think the reliable porn actor gets the last laugh on this journeyman director.