Taboo (1980)
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After her husband leaves her, a woman's exploration of her own desires leads her into a forbidden relationship with her son.
The story
After her husband leaves her following a disagreement over their private life, Barbara Scott is left alone to care for her teenage son, Paul. While struggling to find work and navigate her new reality, Barbara's social circle attempts to introduce her to new experiences. However, the proximity of her son and the influence of a nearby swingers party begin to blur the lines of her boundaries. As she grapples with her isolation and burgeoning desires, the tension between her role as a mother and her personal urges creates a growing internal conflict.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following her husband's departure, Barbara Scott is left alone with her son, Paul. While she struggles to find employment, her friend Gina arranges a date that leads her to a swingers party. During this experience, Barbara becomes aware of her own intense desires. Upon returning home, she discovers her son's attraction to her and, fueled by her own feelings, she acts on their shared taboo. After their encounter, feeling regret and confusion over the violation of the incest taboo, Barbara finds solace and employment through an old friend named Jerry.
- First release year
- 1980
- Runtime (minutes)
- 86
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Kirdy Stevens
- Writers
- Helene Terrie · writer
- Cast and characters
- Kay Parker · Barbara Scott; Dorothy LeMay · Sherry; Mike Ranger · Paul Scott; Miko Yani · Girl with Gina; Juliet Anderson · Gina; Tawny Pearl · Diane; Lee LeMay · Charlie; Turk Lyon · Chris Scott; Milton Ingley · Jerry Morgan (as Michael Morrison); Holly McCall · Marlene
- Genres
- pornographic film
- Themes
- incest; isolation; social rejection
- Tone and mood
- sensual; melancholic
- Premise and plot tags
- mother/son incest; feature-length
- Franchise connections
- series of 23 episodes
- Content notes
- incest
- Reception
- The film was noted as a turning point for the acceptance of adult entertainment by the mainstream video industry. It received praise for its visuals and the lead performance, though it was criticized for its portrayal of incest and technical aspects like editing and sound.
- Reported review scores
- Rogreviews · score: 11 · scale: 12
- Awards and nominations
- Homer Award · Best Adult Tape · 1983 · win
- Production trivia
- It is the first in a series of 23 episodes.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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