California Dreaming

Fresh off a gut-wrenching break-up, Elijah is trying to figure out what’s next for him. With his world in shambles and questioning everything he’s ever valued as a relationship partner, the heartbroken romantic finds himself driving aimlessly down his road to Damascus in the form of Route 66. Just when all hope seems lost, he stumbles upon an unlikely opportunity to learn what a healthy relationship actually looks like. But has this unexpected chance come in time to save Elijah’s love life or will he be doomed to wander his life alone?

Lust Cinema has become one of my favorite porn studios over the last three years. Studio head Erika Lust clearly values the pornographic feature which is my favorite kind of porn, and the writers/directors the studio employs always place a heavy emphasis on both narrative and visual storytelling as an accompaniment to the sex. That trend continues with director Inka Winter’s “California Dreaming.” Written collaboratively by Winter, Penelope Wilde and the Mainlands, this movie is a tale told in two halves.

The audience sees Elijah’s mistakes in the past that doomed his relationship, then we journey with him through the present as he strives to learn from his failures. The story is a romance through and through, complete with the pain and suffering that often accompany love. Jane Rogers does a wonderful job as Elijah’s past love, and Maya Woulfe slides in perfectly as his mysterious teacher in the present. Oliver Davis does a good job carrying the overall story, and Inka Winter lets the story play out organically while still delivering sex that the audience will get off on.

Speaking of the sex, it’s some of the most artistic sex I’ve seen from a Lust Cinema film. The scene with Jane Rogers and Oliver Davis goes on for quite some time, but it is built within the narrative, not shoehorned in. They actually have sex multiple times culminating with a full hardcore scene, but their sex is used a tool to show the growth of their relationship. The full depiction of their sex mirrors their relationship at its height. And it’s damn good too. Jane really holds the camera; she’s lively without being overzealous, and Oliver plows away at her like an insatiable lover. He empties himself all over her strawberry-colored bush in incredibly sexy fashion.

Oliver’s scene with Maya is pretty non-traditional. Instead of focusing on the penetration, Winter opts instead to highlight the passion between the two performers by using dim lighting that casts romantic shadows across their bodies. It makes for a very erotic scene that’s full of emotion and passionate energy. Maya does look stunning riding Oliver with the soft light bathing her frame. It’s quite beautiful honestly.

I really liked this movie. As is the case with some other films from Lust Cinema, this one doesn’t feature a ton of sex, but what’s there is very erotic. The story will pull viewers in and the sex will keep them invested. I like Inka’s directing style and the story is a unique take on a very human condition. Also a special shoutout to Nathan Bronson for choreographing an impressive fight sequence for the film! This is the second Lust Cinema film I’ve seen starring Maya Woulfe and I think the two should collaborate often in the future. She really shines in the wheelhouse Erika Lust has created.