cream Queen” Zenova Braeden makes her directorial debut with Spice Studios’ “The Taunting,” an erotic, S&M thriller delving into the disturbing realm of hedonistic spirits. While the press release claims that no expense was spared for the creation of this latest picture, “The Taunting” doesn’t have nearly the production resources or entertainment value that 2005’s “Pirates” (an adult film with over 300 effects shots) had for a mature audience release. Plus, there aren’t even any major porn stars present, which immediately designates this endeavor as one of an indistinguishable slew of tiny, independent projects.

Myths and ghost stories waft through the abandoned and crumbling walls of the labyrinthine monastery outside the college town of Golgotha. Two overly curious students venture into the haunted building, in the hope of locating a mysterious and shuddersome succubus. Once inside, they are subjected to forbidden desires and fevered fantasies replete with unholy fetishes, lurking phantasms, and sadomasochistic patrons of sexual depravity.

Mimicking the style and tone of Japanese horror film remakes such as “The Grudge,” “The Ring,” or “Dark Water,” “The Taunting” even goes so far as to reproduce the eerie editing techniques that make many childlike specters appear even more frightening. The title sounds like a typical, over-the-top pornographic spoof of popular horror flicks, but the film actually keeps a very serious and morbid tone from start to finish – amidst the salacious activities. It’s difficult to comprehend the erotic nature of both creepy ghouls and naked flesh, which seem wholly incompatible.

From bondage scenes to dominatrix torture to plenty of fetish indulgences, this is not a typical mindless adult title, but a film that targets a specific hardcore audience. “The Taunting” is not intended for those who are looking for a campy good time, but rather those seeking a dark and feral, fleshly experience studded with heavy gothic undertones. Nightmarishly lightless and grainy, which actually aids in its resemblance to older features like “The Blair Witch Project” or even “Night of the Living Dead,” “The Taunting” is clearly more focused in its scenes of carnal bawdiness than in trying to appeal to a wider adult audience – especially when it comes to those who wish to strike a balance between arousal and fright. Definitely not for the squeamish and definitely not for children, this XXX release even includes a bonus scene with the nude ghost woman, which is highly disturbing and not the least bit titillating. In fact, there’s far more haunting than taunting going on in this obscure undertaking.

– Mike Massie