Below Her Mouth (2016) User Reviews

Doesn't deserve all the bad reviews

[shannen-l-c · 5/10 · 24 June 2018]

Below Her Mouth isn't the best movie ever written, it's not original or well-thought out, but it has a lot of good points.

Firstly, though neither of the main actresses Natalie Krill (Jasmine) and Erika Linder (Dallas) are amazingly talented, their chemistry is fantastic. Although the relationship between the characters develops at an incredibly fast pace, the electric chemistry between Natalie and Erika sells it and makes it believable. The sex scenes were a lot more explicit than I expected (I didn't watch the trailer or know anything about the movie before watching, so went in blind and was a little surprised) but incredibly erotic and sensual. For those reviewers saying the sex scenes were awkward or boring, they must have been watching something different to me. I could feel the attraction and connection between the two characters through the sex scenes. It definitely wasn't porn in the traditional sense because none of it felt mechanical, it was as though I was genuinely watching two people having raw, intimate and vulnerable sex.

The movie is guilty of playing into some over-used stereotypes by writing Dallas as the butch, mean and dominant lesbian and Jasmine the meek, confused femme lesbian that cheats on her fiance. Generally, there also wasn't much development for the characters or as much insight into them as people as there could've been. However, I do think the romance between the two women made sense. You could feel the loneliness of Dallas and Jasmine at the beginning and that there was something missing in their lives. They had a magnetic pull and in each other found that spark that had been missing. Dallas found someone she wanted to open up to and be vulnerable with and Dallas allowed Jasmine to finally feel all the emotions she'd been suppressing since she was a child and release all that pent up tension and unhappiness that came from denying her sexuality for so long.

Admittedly, there wasn't much plot and the sex and romance is really all there is, but if people dig a little deeper with this move there are actually some very important messages contained within it. It shows how difficult it can be to be who we truly are and be honest with ourselves about what/who we want, and that sometimes it's not always easy to label ourselves one way or another. Dallas said she knew she was attracted to women from a young age, it was a simple choice for her, but Jasmine didn't have that same clarity. In that respect, it shows some of the struggles people can come up against in discovering who they are or the inner turmoil people can go through when they're confused about their sexuality.

Overall, Below Her Mouth isn't a great movie, but it's not terrible either. It would have benefited from more character development and plot and perhaps a little less sex, but was still a reasonably engaging movie.

The film did its job

[neosoul1500 · 5/10 · 11 April 2020]

The love scenes were great. Who watches these for the plot?

Sexy and Erotic.

[SameirAli · 5/10 · 11 July 2021]

Erotic, sexy and and a lot of nudity. Almost all female cast and crew did a good job, but, the film not something to remember. I have seen people comparing with Blue is the Warmest Color, but, they somehow forgot Bound (1996). But, couldn't reach up to the standards of these films.

Plot less soft-core tawdry attempt at Canadian Blue is the Warmest Colour

[emolosesgirl · 3/10 · 4 April 2017]

Pretty obvious spoilers.

I was excited for a lesbian movie set in my beautiful city. They had so much to work with, and yet they did nothing with it. The plot was cliché and overused, and somehow, even then, minuscule. The acting was embarrassing. I wanted to like Erika Linder because she's beautiful and she has perfect eyes, but no one in this movie could act to save their lives. The dialogue was pitiful. I think I have watched D list horror flicks with better dialogue.

The movie was marketed as being sexy. That would have worked if it were sexy. I can understand directing the women to not moan like porn stars, but neither of them looked like they were enjoying it. It was absolutely uncomfortable to watch two women hump each other disinterestedly.

I thought that this was trying to be the Canadian Blue is the Warmest Colour, but instead it was a soft core porn flick set in Toronto. Although, to be honest, I've watched porn with a thicker plot than this movie had. Also, apparently the only way lesbians get off is with dildos and rubbing their vaginas against each other. TIL.

Main character's (MC) boyfriend goes away for the weekend (or a week? I don't even know). MC meets lesbian with a hot name, doesn't discourage any of her advances, hooks up with her a day later, they have sex the whole time. And then the most predictable thing happens - the boyfriend comes home early and catches them. Who saw that coming? Everyone. Just insulting to the viewers' intelligence. Boyfriend and MC try to have sex, can't, and then a black screen later and MC and hot lesbian are together again.

The best shot of the movie was literally the lighting of a cigarette 15 minutes in. It felt like Film School 101. There were no real inspired shots of the city, which was extremely disappointing.

Movie Fan Real Review

[brentnacu · 7/10 · 1 October 2018]

First off, this is a sexy, sensual-based bi-sexual drama. If you don't like solid Indie films, don't get carried away over thinking this. It's like hating John Wick and writing a review.

Early PS: this is so much sexier than any 50 Shades version... watch it twice with wine!

I won't spoil this, but was surprised and pleased with plot and subsequent sexual intensity that took place.

1) the actors seemed natural 2) the sex and intimacy were even better 3) much bigger Hollywood films have tried this hard and not achieved the results.

Congrats to the hard work and trusf by the actors to create this level of sexuality and viewer attraction without being difficult.

Although it's Canadian and lower budget, I need to be real. But still very well.done for eroctic.

Below Her Mouth: Still don't know why it's called that

[Platypuschow · 4/10 · 28 August 2017]

This piece of LGBT cinema was flawed from the outset for a number of reasons and that is a damn shame.

Telling the story of an engaged girl who finds herself in a sexual relationship with a girl and the effect it has on her life.

Here is the main issue, a movie is doomed to failure if you don't like the protagonist(s). And how am I supposed to like or care about this girl when the entire movie is about her cheating on her partner? She may very well be having a sexual "Awakening" but that doesn't take anything away from her actions. The movie doesn't even present the fiancé as a bad guy either which they often do to soften the blow.

Highly explicit very graphic (And certain sexual acts are clearly real) this highly charged tale of seduction, sexuality and betrayal is a simple one but quite powerful regardless.

I being the loyal pup I am simply cannot get over that one major plot flaw though and that's why to me this piece of cinema fails and fails hard despite being a well made film.

The Good:

Very well shot

The Bad:

Just can't get behind an unfaithful protagonist

Refreshing

[Northpole49 · 7/10 · 10 September 2017]

I enjoyed this movie despite the rather bland performance of Erika Linder. Taking into account this was her first film, I can give her break in that regard especially since she performed so well in the lovemaking scenes(Not much talking there,I suppose). But the true show -stealer was Natalie Krill. She was very convincing in her portrayal of a woman fighting her feelings and desires for another woman while engaged to a man but losing the battle bit by bit. A very beautiful and versatile actress is Natalie and one that I will look forward to seeing more of. The movie itself could've been better I believe had there been more effort given in portraying Dallas as a protagonist. Part of me wanted to see her fall in love and find happiness while another part didn't think she truly deserved it because of her insensitivity.Very much like Shane McCutcheon as the previous reviewer stated.

Very disappointed.

[cheevang · 1/10 · 16 June 2018]

As an avid lesbian movie-watcher I'm very disappointed in this movie. The main actresses had no emotions and their personalities were so blah! The story line is cheap and a typical cat and mouse game. The only thing that saved this movie was the sex which took up 90% of the film which leads me to think "what was the point of this movie??" Their conversations weren't witty or sexy just plain boring and immature. Both characters were shallow, one is a cheater and the other is a player, again another lesbian relationship based off of infidelity. Very very disappointed in this movie and would not recommend.

Underrated

[lucymull · 7/10 · 10 January 2020]

I really enjoyed this film and would definitely recommend it. In places it did seem a bit derivative, as does any romance film, but that didn't spoil my viewing. Despite what I've read in many of the other reviews, I personally liked the acting and dialogue. I think the chemistry between Dallas and Jasmine was clear from the start. The love between them actually made me cry at times. It was really refreshing to see sexuality portrayed on screen as something that is not black and white, and to see an androgynous main character. My only complaints are the beginning and the end. I think the affair escalated too quickly, with Jasmine's guilt seemingly disappearing in an instant, never to be mentioned again until she was caught in the act. And I think the ending jumped too quickly to happy ever after with no transitional period shown on screen. However, I can excuse the rushed start to the film as being due to time constraints or as a sign of the passion between the two main characters, and it was nice to see things end well for Jasmine and Dallas. I would definitely watch this film again.

Unbelievably awful

[tamsin_thorne · 1/10 · 4 May 2017]

As a lesbian in her mid-forties I have seen many lesbian films of the past several decades, and after seeing the trailer I was not about to miss this one. I almost wish I had passed, but this movie is so laughably awful, it has to be seen to be believed. The 'acting' is so terrible that I literally was laughing out loud at some parts. Several friends and I watched this together, and we all agreed that this movie ranks as one of the all time worst.

Very explicit, however not unnecessarily...

[wingram-98658 · 8/10 · 11 August 2019]

I have read a lot of the reviews, and although I agree, somewhat, I still liked this movie very much. In my opinion, the acting was raw, but it fit the storyline perfectly. Erika was making her first movie, so she wasn't Meryl Streep, but that was what I liked so much. It felt like you were watching the real deal. Sometimes nervous, sometimes imperfect, a little awkward, not always saying the right things in the "perfect tone". But, the chemistry and the emotion all seemed so believable and real. Both actresses conveyed their emotions wonderfully. I was completely mesmerized by how well they were together. Yes, the sex scenes were explicit, but they were not just thrown in there to sell the movie. The scenes were realistic, emotional, and necessary to show the incredible connection they were building. No spoilers...the only complaint I have is the same as others...the ending could have been explored a little more. I would watch a sequel to find out more!

I would highly recommend this movie. The bonus is you get to watch Erika Linder, who is absolutely beautiful.

Raised Questions

[Moviegoer19 · 6/10 · 13 August 2017]

As a straight woman I've wondered what the appeal is in a woman who acts like a man? The answer would seem to be that hopefully the more positive qualities that women often have, e.g., sensitivity, awareness of another's feelings, willingness to talk and discuss, would still be there despite the more masculine appearance and personality. In this film, I questioned what was it that attracted Jasmine to Dallas and the answer kept being that Dallas treated her like a princess. Jasmine appeared to "love" Dallas because of Dallas's seeming worship of her. That, and perhaps the greater knowledge of how to treat a woman sexually that lesbians tend to have. So ultimately this was a film about two self-centered characters getting off on each other's ability to feed their respective egos.

Another question was again in Dallas's character, she was all about sexually pleasing whatever woman she was with, yet they didn't do the same for her. So naturally, she seemed doomed to wind up feeling unhappy, deprived and somewhat like a martyr. We did see her going down on Jasmine but not the reverse, which also implied the question of whether Jasmine was even into Dallas's body?

Ultimately, I have to agree with the other reviewers who said this film was short on plot and big on soft-core eroticism. A couple of questions were raised but there's not enough depth for them to be answered.

A real pile of garbage

[thedisco · 1/10 · 24 August 2017]

I originally gave this movie 3 stars but after further consideration downgraded to a 1. This film is so bad it deserves a review. The film centers around a total douche bag lesbian (Dallas) who, without any charm, character, or color, manages to seduce a snobby shallow strait girl (Jasmin) who is engaged to a man (Who we never really get a chance to know because he has only a handful of lines in the film).

The acting is terrible, the direction sucks, the script is horribly written, the editing was done by a monkey, and the settings are poorly made.

None of the characters are developed in any way so you don't really understand why the two leads fall for each other. The film has almost no men in it as well and when there are men, they are portrayed as assholes of course (the director 'April Mullen' is clearly upset about something).

Don't waste your time on this film

A complete disaster

[GomezAddams666 · 1/10 · 9 August 2018]

This is probably one of the most unrealistic romantic films I have ever seen and hat says a lot.

We are supposed to believe that a person who has been seeing their partner for years falls madly in love with someone over a weekend.

I know romantic films do not have to have realism in it but they have to at least have some sort of feeling to suspend disbelief and this movie does not.

This is a raunchier version of Room in Rome but without the great performances, dialogue and photography that define that movie.

classic and sexy

[christophe-31 · 7/10 · 18 November 2017]

it's a classic story, i like romance. Very hot sex scenes, but behind that it remains the eternal question, who am i ? do i live the way i wan't, or i'am just following my parent's hopes. Not a masterpiece, but i really love this movie. the actresses are beautiful and play honestly.

Sexy but Ironically Flat

[tcheng-83002 · 4/10 · 11 August 2017]

This is pretty much the prequel to Shane McCutcheon before she moves to LA. The dialog wasn't there and there wasn't a lot of character development. Honestly the main character, I'll just call her Shane, was boring as hell and is kind of an asshole. The sex scenes were good, but awkward at some points. But overall it was a pretty boring film

A Canadian movie!

[annuskavdpol · 6/10 · 14 February 2017]

This movie is very graphic. It is about a very passionate and honest lesbian who breaks up with her long-term relationship because she believes she is toxic to her because she does not love her the way the other loves her. In a way this is both cruel and honest. It is not very accommodating to the feelings of the girlfriend, who shows signs of disgust, hurt and utter alienation. This break-up scene which sets the stage for the whole movie is significant. Lesbian movies often do not make the big screen theaters, so this one slipped through the cracks, in my opinion. In a way, Dallas, the lead female actress, is a very cold and calculated person. How could you be living with someone and treat them so callously in the end of the long-term relationship? In a way, Dallas is like a sexual predator. Within, what seems like minutes and seconds, she goes to nightclubs to scope out her next victim in the lesbian bars and nightclubs. She has no remorse, empathy nor compassion for the feelings of her ex. Instead she jumps on the saddle, makes a move with the bar-tender (who her best-friend indicated that she really liked herself for a couple of months already) and then kisses and makes out with the neighbor of her Roofing construction work site. It is the contention, that Dallas finds love in the end. But the story development surrounding the theme of love in relationships is not fully explored through the cinematic camera shots. Broken Back Mountain, a movie about two men who create a bond with each other, is a far more in depth character study of two individuals who really care a lot about each other. To me, Broke Back Mountain is a way better portrayal of the theme of universal love. This is a Canadian movie versus a Hollywood movie. And the genre of other love is still new to the silver screen. This is a good attempt into this genre. It is similar in style to the Canadian movie, Exotica.

Could be a Porno

[chimforever · 2/10 · 13 August 2018]

There was no relationship development at all. This was just like a porno and it was so boring. There was more sex in it then words.

Love women

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 29 April 2022]

What is not to love? Ok if you think about certain things portrayed here they are quite simplistic. But it is a movie. And yes those involved are pretty - that being said, even that is in the eye of the beholder. But overall I do believe that most would call the women in this pretty. And if you are not frigid or easily offended you won't mind them getting it on. The movie has quite the steamy scenes too - they are not too explicit, but on the other hand certain things can not be faked (again do not expect anything too vivid).

That all being said, the story is quite simple - a love story or almost triangle. Something that has been told before, but in this case with the added taboo of there being a lesbian love story thrown in there for good measure. There have been other tellings of a story like this - but this is a decent effort too - if you can dig it ... or whatever else you'd think of doing. Not responsible for your thoughts on this I am. Also not Yoda me being.

soft porn clichés, rename to "Below her Navel"

[a666333 · 2/10 · 20 June 2017]

Don't have any doubts, this is an amateur(ish) soft porn film that is vainly trying to sell itself as something meaningful. Unfortunately, it doesn't even succeed well as soft core porn as it amounts to one tired cliché after another and is not even sexy. The clichés are in every scene setup, every character and every line of dialogue. You know the ultimate role and fate of every character within seconds of their introduction. There is not even the smallest surprise or suspense in anything. And certainly you have seen everything here before and done much better.

The production team took the straightest and easiest road at each turn. If it was sold as a demo film designed to show that the production team could actually carry the thing through to the end, then maybe they succeeded but they are selling this as some kind of significant film. In that, they simply insult the audience and engage in fraud.

And don't look for a rescue in the WOODEN acting, the camera work, the lighting or the directing. You will search in vain. You might find entertainment value is seeing just how predictable it is or how many clichés they march out.

Better on the second viewing

[valinvancouver · 9/10 · 4 August 2017]

I first saw and reviewed this movie in 2017, then this past week the title popped up while I was surfing the internet. I remember it had made an impression on me, so being curious as to how it would stand up I've just watched it a second time.

It was WAY better than I remembered! The words that come to mind are honest, raw and brave. I now see why it was chosen to premiere at TIFF!

I think a big part of the reason this movie doesn't have a higher rating is that initially the two main characters come across very poorly (which is probably why some people have trashed the acting). The movie opens with Dallas having checked-out sex then coldly dumping her girlfriend. She's a player and self-centered. At work Jasmine has no qualms about lying to get the job done. When the two meet at the bar Dallas is (in my books) off-puttingly aggressive. Jasmine, who's "straight" and engaged to a man, is eventually inticed into meeting Dallas for "just one drink." She sets boundaries which Dallas proceeds to trample all over. Jasmine allows herself to be seduced. A night of sex turns into a weekend of physical and emotional intimacy that shatters the carefully constructed walls our two leads have built around themselves. In my original review I complained about Dallas not have enough back story to allow me to feel empathy for her. I now think that I probably just missed some of what was said as Dallas mumbles a lot. I listened much more carefully this time around.

I called it a simple lesbian story before. Still true, but this one goes straight to the heart of the matter, whereas I feel most lesbian movies remain fairly superficial in this regard, mostly by checking off plot points that lead the viewer to believe the characters have fallen in love. This movie is much more visceral than that, likely due to the very explicit sex. It could have relegated this movie to the softcore bin, but instead it serves to validate the connection that forms between Dallas and Jasmine.

Once again I've been blown away by Natalie Krill's portrayal of a woman thrust into a maelstrom of emotions. She does the heaviest lifting here, but with this second viewing I have much greater appreciation for Erika Linder's portrayal of Dallas.

Hopefully this review helps you to go into this movie with an open mind.

Insightful

[Xelent · 6/10 · 13 January 2023]

The best aspect of this movie is how realistic it portrays the dynamic between a straight, but curious woman and a lesbian. It is not often movies show how completely impossible it is for a straight woman to resist an attractive women that shows her sexual interest. It is also fascinating to see how a stripper appreciates having a female client, and is the desperate to be touched by her, and does not charge anything for the lapdance.

The movie itself is not memorable, but the glance given into how women's sexuality works, is priceless. Especially when the cheated on boyfriend sees that he could never satisfy her the way a woman can. This is the case for most men in this world.

OMG this movie is so bad

[ractzb · 1/10 · 28 August 2018]

It's so bad I had to make a review. I won't dwell on details, but yeah. Chances are the only people who will like this are horny men and teen lesbians, both people who don't have a clue how lesbian sex actually works. I could talk about the horrible acting, dialogues, stereotypes and whatnot, but since the movie is 70% lame sex, I'll spare myself.

Disappointed.

[mlckiwigirl · 1/10 · 12 August 2017]

It's safe to say I've seen my share of bad lesbian films. This is something else. It's emotionally immature and poorly acted. With a lack of sense of direction at all. Was this just made for straight men? I felt that acting was stiff, the story was so contrived on so many levels. Poorly acted. Incredibly immature. I've never in ten years given a film less than five on IMDb. It's just so bad. How can anyone like a film like this anyway? I've got to say that Dallas's character is everything I dislike about the lesbian scene. She's all about ego, self-satisfaction, emotionally bankrupted, with no hint of emotional intelligence. The only reason decided to watch the entire film was the hope of seeing Dallas's character evolve. It really didn't happen. I so wished it had. Even a little. It would have been the one redeeming thing about the whole storyline. It wasn't sexy, it was cheap and sleazy. It was just sex. Again. Who was this made for? Single teenage boys maybe? It was nothing short of over glorified of porn. It certainly wasn't anything intelligent or compelling. It was so cliché.

A testament to female love & longing

[kenpoet · 7/10 · 29 April 2017]

This film should be commended for its stark and unforgiving portrayal of Female longing, passion and Love. Though the dialogue can be predictable at times and the storyline is nothing new, the actors bring a deep sensitivity to their roles. Erika Linder's Dallas, as the out lesbian, is a character of silent brooding, prone to fits of sensual passion. Natalie Krill's Jasmine, is a Well-to-do Fashion Editor who is caught up in a lesbian romance for the first time. The chemistry between these two is real and sizzling hot, with fine touches of wonder and whimsy sprinkled in that is often the byproduct of intimacy. Like any well-made Romance, you find yourself wanting the couple to find true lasting Love. Dallas needs to find a Woman that she loves unconditionally and Jasmine needs real intimacy, which Dallas unleashes in an uninhibited frenzy. Some may think that this movie is nothing more than an excuse for pushing porn for profit, as the sex scenes are raw and carnal. But at its core, this film is an honest portrayal of the highs and lows of intimacy, from the throes of delight to the dejection of heartbreak. This makes it all the more moving as a testament to the complexity of Love & longing.