by Rich Moreland, October 2020
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“We’ll be watching you!” a researcher for the CIA Psychomotor Enhancement Training Facility tells Dr. Sara Connor, the central character of Colin Rowntree’s latest film, Going Viral: A XXX COVID A.I Thriller. Indeed, the panel of scientists has been surreptitiously peeking at her sexual escapades with the intent of using government programming to transition the shapely doctor into a sex android who will do their bidding, or investigating, if you will.
Going Viral has plenty of penetration scenes for the porn fan, but there is no fluid exchange among players. There can’t be because this is the pandemic and such things cannot—or must we say, should not—take place. But fun can still be had in this tale if a modest dominant/submissive theme is for you. Sicilia Ricci’s portrayal of Dr. Connor is well placed with lots of celebratory erotic utterances flowing from the buxom actress who really knows how to get herself off.
The viewer learns early that Dr. Connor’s personal life is a ready target for government programming. From her apartment, she has her own cam girl show complete with dancing pole (she goes by the name, “Covert Covid”) and a boyfriend with whom she shares her sexual energy. Early in the film we discover that the guy is quarantined. With her computer, Sara checks in with him to break his erotic loneliness. Using a speculum to give him an “up close and personal” view of her offerings, she masturbates to orgasm. We assume he does likewise. That’s love in the covid age, you see.
To illustrate covid’s impact, contrasting images are presented at the film’s beginning. When we first see Sara enjoying self-pleasuring there is sex on two screens. She tunes into a Shhh.com scene in which fluid exchange happens on film. It’s in an inset mode on her computer screen while she is in real time, alone.
Throughout Going Viral, Sara’s performances are solo with a plethora of sex toys to fascinate the viewer. When she is being “trained” in a quasi-dungeon setup, the mechanical “Shockspot” dildo gets a workout. There is a bit of a tease about the dungeon, however. Though a St Andrews Cross and a couple of whips are visible, Sara never is subjected to any disciplinary procedures at their behest unless, of course, she is a medieval flagellant, a seeker of self-punishment for a higher calling.
Remember, she is alone.
It’s worth a note that Sicilia Ricci does a magnificent job of carrying the film. Her sense of humor is displayed as she drops a couple of “oops” in situations when her lovable partner, the mechanical dildo, slips away from an orifice or two. And then there’s her stilted appreciation of Malexa’s decision to change her hair color to pink. It matches the changes in her eyes post-programming. The scene is adolescent stupid, but hilarious! Android status has reduced the doctor to an automated suck-up of the first order.
By far, the most amusing character in Viral is not a person, but the aforementioned personal home device named Malexa. Dr. Moriarty, Program Coordinator for the Surgeon General in Washington, DC, sends it to her via Amazon delivery (we find out later that she also gets a butt plug). Colin Rowntree, plays the good (or perhaps we should say, evil?) doctor who wants his own private cam show featuring Sara. And what nasty demonstrations lie within her talents! This girl knows how to get off.
By the way, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would be proud that his devilish creation lives on at least in name and comparative forms in our time.
Malexa’s most humorous moment is on tap when she cums with Sara who uses the device to rub against her clit. Malexa repeats very mechanically and without emotion, “Dr. Conner, I’m cumming. Ah! Ah!” Sara responds with, “Me too!”
But, oh, what a mistake pleasure has wrought because now Sara is primed and Malexa switches her into android mode. The saucy cam girl becomes the erotic slave of the diabolical doctors who enjoy her autoerotic fun.
At this point, the real tale of this tale is evident. Malexa having an orgasm indicates technology is taking over our lives, reducing sex to mechanics. Almost comical because the personal device is Dr. Connor’s new sex partner.
But there is more . . .
Malexa tells Sara she is under the command of Dr. Moriarty and the pandemic has reached epidemic proportions. Those still alive are locked down and quarantined. She has been transformed into an android and is immune from the disease and is now the eyes and ears of the doctor and his team.
By the way, take notice of the most impressive image in the film; it’s is the artwork above Sara’s bed. A series of candles are positioned in ascending and descending rows. Beneath each is a ring. Sara references her many lovers when she sends out the online invite to her cam show. These candles and rings are Freudian notches on her bedpost, so to speak, examples of pre-covid love . . . in the good ole days.
Going Viral sports the timeless theme of “big brother is watching you.” Of course, we all know it’s the government, but Colin Rowntree does the whole show with tongue-in-cheek to minimize the chilling possibilities of such a thing actually happening in our collective bedrooms.
Finally, pay close attention to the ending as Sara is released from her “training.” Her white coat and clipboard belie what is destined to become an orgy of epic proportions, something we are sure will be most amusing for that other mysterious character who sneaks into this film—the phallic rat on a researcher’s desk. He calmly takes everything in! Now, don’t get the willies, he’s just a bizarre piece of plastic. It’s the creepy-eyed researcher who strokes him that should give you pause.
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Going Viral is available to consumers in the Wasteland member area, Kink on Demand and Adult Empire VoD.
To Watch the trailer, click here.