Nitro Video Rating:
PURCHASE THE DVD: Passion's Obsession (2000)

Near the end of Surrender Cinema’s run, their chief director Cybil Richards helmed this rather tame softcore detective mystery starring the incredibly attractive CC Costigan as a private investigator immersed into an underworld of sex parties and S&M Clubs during her search for a kidnapped actor/model (Brian Heidik – Costigan’s Husband and winner of Survivor-Thailand.)

Is it engaging? Not really as the plot feels lazily penned. Is it hot? It has its moments, but not really. There is supposedly an unedited version from Shadow Entertainment that has a few more minutes edited back in, but that doesn’t seem as though it would help add much steam. Are the girls attractive? For the most part, yes. Costigan surely is fantastic in the lead, and softcore veteranRegina Russell provides several moments of eye-popping goodness, types. Also on hand to keep things interesting are Shyra Deland as a strip-club dancer who may know more than she’s letting on, Samantha Phillips as the model/actor’s concerned agent, and Joanne Choo and Susan Hale as strippers.

All in all, a bit of a disappointment from director Richards and Charles Band’s Surrender Cinema featuring a “twist” ending that’s just plain goofy. Considering the talent involved, this should have been much, much steamier. If you are a fan of the genre, however, or a Surrender completist, this is a must-have.

• Format: Color, Rated R VHS version reviewed, NTSC
• DVD Release Date: November 11, 2003
• Studio: SHADOW ENTERTAINMENT
• Run Time: 85 minutes