Hotel Exotica (1998) User Reviews

Should have been better

[maciyver · 4/10 · 21 August 1999]

This is one of those movies that really should have been better. First, take it for what it is worth - a jiggle film. Given that, the scenes are pretty risque: bottomless front shots of women and all that (that is, if you see the unrated version, I guess). The two female leads, Landon Hall and Ahmo Height, are both well suited to this type of movie. Height, a glamour model in her second movie, is particularly energetic in her roles. She reminds me of Lisa Boyle (Cassandra Leigh) from several years ago. Hall is clearly less concerned about emoting a performance, but then again, she's been around for a while. The men are, as usual, cookie cutter and unmentionable.

What I think is too bad is that the movie set itself up for interesting scenes, but then pulls back to the basic mid-range bed shots for the lovemaking. Why bother? Height's romp in the inn's kitchen is a good example. Rather than going whole hog 9 1/2 weeks-style with the props at their displosal, Height and her female friend (Taylor St. Clair) bump and grind on the counter. Again, watching Height is an experience (all 3 of her sex scenes have a definite attraction to them), but couldn't they have done something more?

Many watchers of this film will see other wasted opportunities. Given the physical talents of the cast, it just seems to be a waste to go to all this trouble, then not do something more interesting with them than what turns up.

Ahmo Hight and Landon Hall: Like Night and Day.

[BlackJack_B · 11 February 2002]

The gorgeous Ahmo Hight, who stole "Insatiable Wives", steals this one, too; although the lovely but very wooden and stiff Landon Hall isn't much of a challenge to start with. Hight and Hall play Rachel and Carly, two sisters who don't look like they'd be related LOL who are unhappy with their sex lives. Rachel has been two-timed by her artist boyfriend (who must be an idiot to not enjoy Rachel's prowess in the sack) and Carly's husband is a good man who's too busy with his career to even need to get down to his birthday suit and...

Carly's husband comes up with a place for them to spend the weekend: The Hotel Exotica. However, he's waylaid by business, so Carly takes the rambunctuous Rachel with her. Then the fun begins, with a psychic played by Taylor St. Claire fortelling the futures for their sex lives, along with plenty of steamy sex and lurid fun for the viewer. Eventually Carly's husband and a MFV hunk friend of his make a surprise visit, and it gets very interesting.

As with all MFV soft-core erotica, the acting is negligible and the storyline is hackneyed. The "money shots", which are the point of this film being cobbled up, are summed up in two words: Ahmo Hight. Nobody in the history of cinema can say she's put Sharon Stone's sex scenes in "Basic Instinct" to shame but her. Ahmo is a dynamo in the Unrated version of this film; whether man or woman as her partner, she delivers a temperature-rising performance in her sex scenes. Using her athleticism and gymnastics, she makes you forget that this is "simulated sex". Landon Hall, on the other hand, delivers a less than exhilirating ride, which probably explains why her husband isn't itching to bed her. LOL

Bottom line: it's too bad Ahmo doesn't make these films any more, because she was stellar in the two I've seen with her. She makes this film. I would have liked to see her in a film with Jennifer Burton, that would be a scorching hot film. Good stuff.

needs more Landon Hall

[juwnd · 7/10 · 7 April 2001]

Overall your basic run of the mill softcore video. Having seen both the unrated and rated versions, I can say that without a doubt there is no point to even thinking about the rated version. As for the movie itself, was a little surprised to see more lower body detail then I expected. Only a few scenes were disappointing, mostly due to wasted potential, especially the kitchen scene, but make up for it in energy. My only complaint is that we don't get to see nearly enough of Landon Hall. As for the plot ... you don't really watch these films for the plot, do you?

An all-around great flick.....A+

[Smooth B · 10/10 · 15 September 2001]

"Hotel Exotica" was the movie that gave me the idea to start writing reviews on IMDB about B-movie/softcore/erotica films. It's just that good. Well, good within its own particular genre!

It starts off with Landon Hall (a great looking woman, why isn't she in more movies?) as Carly, a frustrated woman whose significant other can't seem to spend time with her outside of having sex with her. She arranges a romantic weekend in a cozy cottage up in the hills, called "Hotel Exotica." He tells her he can go, but then "something comes up" and he decides not to go.

Her sister Rachel, played by the extremely flexible Ahmo Hight, has just caught her boyfriend cheating on her with another woman (played by Nikki Fritz). Rachel volunteers to go on the trip with Carly instead, and they become overwhelmed by the sexual energy in the place....it's almost like a bordello!

Then comes the psychic, played by Taylor St. Clair (yes, I do mean the porn star). She has an awesome sex scene with Rachel in the kitchen, where Rachel does the first of her many splits. Now that is some flexibility!

Eventually, Carly's hubby comes down, and he brings his business partner along with him. This causes Rachel to drool. You know where this is going before it even happens!

Whereas Carly seems to be more low-key sexually, Rachel has this "I know you want me, so come do me" attitude about her the entire movie. She just emits this aura of sexuality. Everything about her is sexy. Ahmo plays this character so effortlessly you'd think she was playing herself.

Carly has some rather uninspiring sex scenes, featuring her mostly on her back looking aimlessly in the air. She's not really into it at all. I don't know whether it's because of her character or something else.

Rachel's sex scenes are very....um, athletic. She bends over backwards, does splits, puts her legs over her head, and all kinds of other body-twisting activities. The last sex scene she does in the movie is some of the most vigorous sex I've seen on the screen in a long time.

The story is simple, yet effective. Not much else you can say about that.

All in all, it's a well-rounded movie with good looking women, great sex scenes, and just the right amount of story mixed in. This is probably what you'd look for in a movie in this genre.

Sex: A+ Women: A Story: A Overall: A+

Nice eye candy. But be cautious!

[max65det · 8 August 2004]

Those of you familiar with Surrender Cinema Films are well aware of what type of film this is. Softcore at its best, well maybe close to it. I have rented the uncut or "director's cut" version of this film and it was not bad. It actually was rather entertaining. When I finally saw this on DVD at a store with the label "directors's cut", I immediately purchased it. I was horrified to find out that this was not the same hot film that I saw but rather a watered down R rated version! If you plan on getting this film, be very careful. The distributor, Shadow, is doing a good job of false advertising. I certainly fell for it. Again don't buy this, even though it says "director's cut"!

Excellent romantic scenes

[toyesh · 9/10 · 18 December 2001]

Nikki Fritz, Ahmo Hight, and Taylor St. Claire provide some visually pleasing performances during this film. An especially long and sensual scene with Ahmo Hight and Taylor St. Claire is one of the best I've ever seen in a B-movie erotic film.

some hot scenes

[Verbal-17 · 3 October 1999]

I'm not normally a big fan of softcore stuff (or hardcore, for that matter), but I happened to catch this one on late night cable, and while it has the same horrible script, lame acting, and cheap budget as other softcore flicks, I will say that on its own terms, it succeeds quite well mainly because of a few excellent scenes. One is where a girl fantasizes about being with another girl who she would (hopefully) not normally fantasize about. Another is when a guy has just learned how to be more attentive to women during sex, and he uses this on a girl he has just met. This scene, in particular, has to be the wildest sex scene I've ever seen in a movie, and both scenes are very erotic. Don't expect Henry V or anything, but if you're into these kind of movies, you'd probably like this one.

UNRATED VERSTION IS THE ONLY WAY TO SEE IT. VERY SEXY

[INFOGUY · 8/10 · 22 August 1999]

Two sisters, go away for the weekend. One is upset at her non-attentive husband; the other has just caught her artist boyfriend cheating on her. Both need time to find themselves and boy do they. The Bed and Breakfast they go to is magical. All the couples staying there seem to get lost in lust. The most memorable scene is a very sexy dream that one of the sisters have about a kitchen sex-capade with her sister. Wow. In the genera of sexy movies, at least this one has a story.

Surrender Cinema's near the vortex of a downward spiral...

[Mangler · 29 September 1999]

...Hey Surrender Cinema, what happened to the great editor(s) that created what we've come to expect in the incredible 'The House of Exotic Wax' and (the first) 'Femalien'? Ever since the release of these I've lost sleep eagerly awaiting your new flicks anticipating another cutting-edge scene that depicted unquestionable and believable 'soft' action (that's some really great faking or...). Now all you're producing is the typical ho-hum bedroom boredom available in any Shannon Tweed flick.

This serious disappointment had about four scenes where the hottest action was undercovers, always two people constantly pulling the sheets up over each other -- come-on people, it's all-too-obvious that they're ONLY playing "footsies"! Where were you intending for this to get released, in Saudi Arabia? And why did you disguise this celluloidal waste with an Unrated sticker when what you should've slapped on it was "Disney quality PG-13"?

Sorry guys, or maybe you should be sorry, 'cuz I no longer support your efforts to 'pull the covers' over my eyes. Geez, I've seen more skin and action on daytime soaps...

Don't get the Rated Version!

[Watash · 14 March 1999]

I got a rated version from the local Lackluster video rental shoppe...this movie was obviously chopped up with the start of things getting steamy...and then...abrupt music change and there they are, laying side by side basking in the glow of their heated moment. What the movie was about...husband lawyer is way too busy to pay attention to Landon Hall the wife....so wife and sister decide to run away for the weekend...the weekend was originally planned for lawyer husband and attention deficient wife. They arrive at Hotel Exotica and the sparks start to fly as wife watches a couple grope and climb all over each other. Suddenly, back at the Lawyer Shoppe....the husband gets a break in his case load and heads up to Hotel Exotica to meet with attention deficient wife. They meet and after dinner go to bed where...he just goes to sleep. Meanwhile, the very horny sister Ahmo Hight, dreams about a tryst with the palm reader, Taylor St Claire, in the kitchen....only I never saw it...it just starts...and abrupt music change in mid note and she is waking up from the dream with a very big smile on her face. There was a lot of this...like, in scenes where they are in bed, and writhing around, lots of kissing, lots of fondling..but under the covers....WHY? When after the love making, they are laying bare chested in bed....? Was this movie shot with alternate versions in mind and then they got confused as to which version they were putting together? It could have been a great movie for the genre....lots of great looking ladies in little or no clothes....Landon Hall, a beautiful actress who can act well and naturally. Ahmo Hight, the sister, acts well and is built, with a healthy dose of silicone, for serious pleasure. Taylore St Claire is drop dead gorgeous...what scenes I saw her in... If you can get the unrated version, or at least a better edited version, this would be a great show to watch...in my opinion!

Hotel rip-off

[Dr. Gore · 16 October 2005]

*SPOILER ALERT* *SPOILER ALERT*

Ripped off again. The so called "Director's cut" version of "Hotel Exotica" is nothing of the sort unless the director really wanted to sell a tame R-rated version. I know this because I had caught the flick on cable many years ago and I can assure you that there's a lot more to the movie than this. One of the sex scenes I really wanted to see again was the one where Landon Hall's sister and Taylor St. Claire meet in the kitchen for a late night rendezvous. In the cable version, this scene rocked on for a good ten minutes. In the DVD I just saw, the scene ends after less than a minute! Taylor St. Claire sticks a piece of ice in the sister's mouth and that's it. That's it?! Wow! What a rip-off! Do not, under any circumstances, buy the "Director's cut" version of this film.

"Hotel Exotica" is about Landon Hall and her attempts to get her husband interested in her again. They end up at Hotel Exotica with the hopes that sparks will start flying. Her sister tags along and hopes to find something interesting there as well. In the version I saw, nothing interesting is happening at Hotel Exotica. Most of the sex scenes are brief and miss the point. A lot of them have the couples having sex…under the covers! What? That can't be right. Say it isn't so! Who in their right mind films a sex scene with naked bodies hiding under the sheets? "Hotel Exotica" is a complete dud. Don't waste your time.

One last thing, one of the reasons I bought this DVD was because I saw that Nikki Fritz was in it. When I saw the credit flash on the screen, "Featuring Nikki Fritz", I knew I was in trouble. Sure enough, Fritz is on the screen for about 20 seconds. It looked like a Fritz clip from some other movie was pasted onto this one. This Fritz deception elevates "Hotel Exotica" to shameless rip-off level. Avoid this hotel at all costs.

MINE WAS TAPED FROM TV

[bazdol · 13 August 1999]

What I saw I taped from Cinemax late night TV. It didn't seem edited to me, although it is basically soft core porno with no sex organs actually shown and with a lot of panting and heavy breathing but with a final climax not actually depicted.

The girls and guys are beautiful as usual, and the acting and production values are of a pretty high order for a film in this genre.

Heterosexuality seems to be the case in all of these although there is an occasional lesbian scene (guys seem to like watching those).

A fair amount of female dominance and fetishistic S&M although hardly of the 8mm variety.

All in all, good clean fun (!) to watch..