Future Darkly: Pandemic Part 1

Pure Taboo presents two very different stories born out of the same circumstances. Necessary quarantine has made isolation the new normal and changed the rules of safe human interaction. This film explores the challenge of embracing said changes through the eyes of Laura and Anthony, two people struggling to survive the crushing weight of a pandemic that has changed their lives in ways they could never have imagined.

I have been so interested to see how porn creators have been influenced by the pandemic. This film taps into the mental strain quarantine can have on a person in a real way. Everything feels real, including the mental anguish and coping skills. The result is a powerful movie that is going to hit viewers in a relatable fashion.

Scarlit Scandal and Jake Adams (“Laura’s Delivery”):

Laura (Scarlit Scandal) has been quarantined with her ailing husband. Isolated in different parts of the house, Laura has to suit up in full safety gear every time she goes into his room. As his health deteriorates, the strain of being trapped inside with him begins to crack Laura’s mental stability. Her lone outlet is the mailman Brent (Jake Adams) who delivers packages to her home regularly. Each hacking cough from her husband is a reminder of the prison she’s living in where touch and human interaction are forbidden. Brent’s healthy body presents a sexual opportunity and symbolizes the freedom COVID has taken from Laura, but he also represents a test of her loyalty and love. One day, Laura can’t handle her self-imposed chains any longer, and she brings Brent into her house to reclaim her stolen liberty. While the story is intense, the sex is surprisingly soft. There’s a deep passion between Laura and Jake (evident in the way they gaze into each other’s eyes), but this isn’t the rampaging pussy pounding you might expect from the story. It’s a slow release of passion and desire, and it’s wonderful. There’s a little bit of pain and regret from Laura, but it’s overshadowed by her desperation for human contact. Scandal is a beautiful woman who understands exactly how to tell a story through sex, and Adams is an insanely sensual performer in his own right. The cowgirl is so, so good! The scene could win an award based on that sequence alone. The story’s end is the perfect culmination to the rollercoaster, and audiences will definitely want to stay through the final frame.

Ana Foxxx and Michael Vegas (“Anthony’s Date”):

This story also explores the weight of isolation, but from a different perspective. Anthony (Michael Vegas) goes out regularly to buy necessities, but due to the COVID risk, he takes extreme precautions. Mask, gloves and eye protection are standard when he goes out. Not only that, but he also sanitizes anything he purchases in his makeshift clean room before bringing it into his home. While his precautions make him feel safe, they do nothing to assuage his loneliness. The first ten minutes of this scene perfectly capture Anthony’s world and, by extension, the world of many viewers. He is utterly alone. Every sound is amplified because there is no one and nothing around to create any competing noise. Eventually, he breaks down and signs up for an online dating app that uses an artificial intelligence to meet its customers’ needs. In Anthony’s case, he gets the stunning Aurora (Ana Foxxx), who is everything he’s been craving since the pandemic’s start. She’s supportive and complimentary, though oddly fixated on sex. Foxxx does a phenomenal job portraying the A.I. She leans into the stereotypical android portrayal, but the way she uses her eyes and mouth gives Aurora a life that is somehow creepy, comforting, and not trope-laden. As Anthony descends further into his imaginary world with Aurora, he moves further away from reality.

This movie achieves social relevance while maintaining its acute arousal. The entire cast should be nominated for their performances here. The creators take a huge chance not incorporating actual sex in “Anthony’s Date,” but the story’s eroticism remains strong. This is the best adult movie I’ve seen this year.