This is the fourth Inside Out video collection from Playboy Entertainment, showcasing short films that have a "Twilight Zone" feel to them. Departing from the suspense and sci-fi of the first tape, literally five of the ten stories here are watchable, and five are lousy. At ninety-five minutes, none of the stories are too long, actually some of the worst ones are too short. In order on the videocasette release (with individual "1 being the worse, five being the best" star rating):
"Natalie Would" (Directed by John Wentworth) A poor opening segment features Catya Sassoon as a woman who is mistaken for a man's former lover, and goes along with him as he takes her to bed. The final "twist" is immediately obvious, and the sex scenes are brief. (* *)
"Motivation" (Directed by Bernard Rose) "Candyman" director Rose and cameraman Sam Raimi put Ted Raimi through the paces in the video's best piece. Ted is an actor tricked into going on location in the desert, and finding out the film is a porno. Very funny, especially the punchline. (* * * * *)
"Put Asunder" (Directed by Charles McDougall) A battling divorced couple cannot keep their hands off of each other, so they hire a hitman to kill one of them, based on chance. Surprise ending is awful, as is the main plot thrust. (*)
"Save the Wetlands" (Directed by Charles McDougall) A reporter visits a sexy environmentalist, who also happens to be a "sexaholic." Sexy for what it does not show, and not very satisfying for the same reason. (* * *)
"The Thief" (Directed by Antoine Fuqua) Yes, even the director who got Denzel Washington his first Best Actor Oscar had to start somewhere. A depressed woman is visited by a suave thief, who makes her see the light about her cheating husband. Kind of average until a genuine twist in the plot, followed by another twist ending. (* * * *)
"Jilted Lover" (Directed by Paul Rachman) A man obsessively videotapes his ex and her new boyfriend, going to extraordinary means to get them together. Really unfunny and smug. (*)
"Three on a Match" (Directed by Richard Shepard) The next best film here has unhappy couple Phil Brock and Heidi Philips trying to pick up a girl for a threesome, with the young lady having no idea what the two want. Very funny, despite a rushed ending. (* * * * *)
"What Anna Wants..." (Directed by Bob Kubilos) The hottest sex on the tape does not help this silly story of an artist who photographs her boyfriend having sex with other women so she can find that elusive "look." Great sex, but where is the ending? (* * *)
"Video Mate" (Directed by Adam Friedman) A funny effort has a nerdy porn fan wishing his video vixen was real, and his wish is granted. Funny sex scenes, and a good final joke involving a certain 1950's television show. (* * * *)
"My Cyberian Rhapsody" (Directed by Nigel Dick) In the future, a recently released convict orders up a session of cybersex from a seedy urban shop. The game malfunctions, and so does the story, ending before the viewer has a chance to warm up to it. (* *)
I did not get out the slide rule and average the scores, but the overall impression I had of the video was indifference. When it was good, it was good. When it was bad, it was bad, so I will slightly recommend "Inside Out IV."
Contains some physical violence, some gun violence, strong profanity, strong female nudity, male nudity, strong sexual content, and strong sexual references.
"Natalie Would" (Directed by John Wentworth) A poor opening segment features Catya Sassoon as a woman who is mistaken for a man's former lover, and goes along with him as he takes her to bed. The final "twist" is immediately obvious, and the sex scenes are brief. (* *)
"Motivation" (Directed by Bernard Rose) "Candyman" director Rose and cameraman Sam Raimi put Ted Raimi through the paces in the video's best piece. Ted is an actor tricked into going on location in the desert, and finding out the film is a porno. Very funny, especially the punchline. (* * * * *)
"Put Asunder" (Directed by Charles McDougall) A battling divorced couple cannot keep their hands off of each other, so they hire a hitman to kill one of them, based on chance. Surprise ending is awful, as is the main plot thrust. (*)
"Save the Wetlands" (Directed by Charles McDougall) A reporter visits a sexy environmentalist, who also happens to be a "sexaholic." Sexy for what it does not show, and not very satisfying for the same reason. (* * *)
"The Thief" (Directed by Antoine Fuqua) Yes, even the director who got Denzel Washington his first Best Actor Oscar had to start somewhere. A depressed woman is visited by a suave thief, who makes her see the light about her cheating husband. Kind of average until a genuine twist in the plot, followed by another twist ending. (* * * *)
"Jilted Lover" (Directed by Paul Rachman) A man obsessively videotapes his ex and her new boyfriend, going to extraordinary means to get them together. Really unfunny and smug. (*)
"Three on a Match" (Directed by Richard Shepard) The next best film here has unhappy couple Phil Brock and Heidi Philips trying to pick up a girl for a threesome, with the young lady having no idea what the two want. Very funny, despite a rushed ending. (* * * * *)
"What Anna Wants..." (Directed by Bob Kubilos) The hottest sex on the tape does not help this silly story of an artist who photographs her boyfriend having sex with other women so she can find that elusive "look." Great sex, but where is the ending? (* * *)
"Video Mate" (Directed by Adam Friedman) A funny effort has a nerdy porn fan wishing his video vixen was real, and his wish is granted. Funny sex scenes, and a good final joke involving a certain 1950's television show. (* * * *)
"My Cyberian Rhapsody" (Directed by Nigel Dick) In the future, a recently released convict orders up a session of cybersex from a seedy urban shop. The game malfunctions, and so does the story, ending before the viewer has a chance to warm up to it. (* *)
I did not get out the slide rule and average the scores, but the overall impression I had of the video was indifference. When it was good, it was good. When it was bad, it was bad, so I will slightly recommend "Inside Out IV."
Contains some physical violence, some gun violence, strong profanity, strong female nudity, male nudity, strong sexual content, and strong sexual references.