Plot: What’s it about?
A serial killer is loose on the beautiful beaches of Hawaii, leaving a trail of blood and slaughtered victims. A place that should be serene and romantic has turned lethal, as the waters run red with the blood of the slain. But of course, the police are on the case and doing all they can to bring the killer to justice, even though clues have been slim to this point. But on the case is Alexandria Jameson (Diana Kaufman), an officer who wants to see this case closed once and for all, as well as make sure justice is served. She is hard at work trying to crack the serial killer’s case, but she also has a life outside the police station. This involves her husband, her coworkers, her friends, her not so friends, and of course, her obsession with tracking down the brutal murderer. So in between sexual liaisons, the case is brought closer and closer to completion, but it might take a whole lot of brains and even more sex to wrap up this one. I have to admit, I am surprised I could write that much about this plot, as it has a minimal storyline and that exists solely to hang sex scenes on, including some prime lesbian action. So don’t expect a complex, twisting plot with Tropical Passions, just expect a lot of sex and hilarious attempts to act.
If you’ve ever seen one of those erotic thrillers shown late at night on cable, then you know what kind of movie Tropical Passions is. But with those Cinemax efforts, you at least get some kind of standards, whereas in Tropical Passions, it seems like anyone who wanted to act was allowed in front of the camera. And yes, I use the word “act” lightly, since the performances are so terrible here, it makes most cable erotica look like Shakespeare. I mean, I knew this wouldn’t be a good movie, but I expected some hot chicks, a couple passable turns, and ample naked flesh, but as present as the skin is, the other elements damper that fun too much. The girls are a solid selection of hotties, with Diana Kaufman (Ted Bundy, Getting Out) heading the line and several unknown beauties behind her, but they’re eye candy and that’s where it ends. Although Kaufman is halfway decent here, the other females lose all appeal once they attempt to deliver lines, as these are some of the worst performers ever, awful even by softcore standards. Even though director Mike Sedan, helmer of such erotic productions as Confessions of a Lap Dancer, Insatiable Wives, and Naked Wishes is unable to draw much effective erotica out of his mess. I can’t say this movie is worth seeking out, but if you’re an erotica B movie completist, then a rental should suffice.
Video: How does it look?
Tropical Passions is presented in full frame, as intended. This looks like a low budget project shot on video, so in other words, it doesn’t look too good. I watched this on a 61″ screen and it looked very soft, though on a smaller screen, the softness decreases, of course. Even so, you can tell this was shot on a thin budget, as the equipment used is pretty low end and by turn, we’re given an image that isn’t up to snuff. The colors and contrast look solid, but this is simply a visual effort that lacks polish in all respects. You can’t blame Lions Gate however, as this one was doomed from the start, thanks to the filmmakers’ approach.
Audio: How does it sound?
A basic, but acceptable soundtrack is found here, which more than covers the limited needs of this material. This sounds much like a television based mix, with decent left & right separation at times, but no real punch. That never proves to be an issue however, as this material never asks much of its audio presentation. The music sounds good, dialogue is clear, and the other elements are also well presented. This disc also includes English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc contains no bonus materials.
