Porn filmmaker Gregory Dark went semi-legit in the early 90s at the beginning of the erotic thriller craze. Even for the genre, his “softcore” work was pretty hardcore back then. Now it all seems a bit quaint – but just a bit. He could give Seduction Cinema a run for its money any day! Unlike Andrew Stevens, Dark (often working under the name Gregory Hippolyte as he did here) concentrated less on story and more on nudity. I’m sure most won’t find fault him for that way of thinking, but his films ended up a lot less entertaining for me. I know, I’m weird.

Night Rhythms is not a bad film. Well, when there’s actually a film going on. Martin Hewitt (Endless Love) is Nick West, a sexy late night radio host who basically talks dirty on the air to a bevy of beautiful and lonely ladies (including Julie Strain). Nick loves the ladies. He even says so. He goes on to prove that statement as well. After a series of dirty phone calls and a run in with Vincent (David Carradine) a tough as nails exotic strip club owner, Nick invites the pretty Honey (Tracy Tweed, Shannon’s sister) to the station for a little on-air fun and games. While Honey and Nick are going at it, he is knocked unconscious and Honey is strangled to death on the air! Now Nick is on the run from the cops and trying to solve the crime with the help of a truckload of beautiful women, including Cinnamon (the lovely Deborah Driggs), a tough talking bartender. This is where Nick gets to put his money where his mouth is (and a few other things, if you know what I mean!). He sleeps with almost every single woman he encounters (the only one he doesn’t pork is Delia Sheppard, but don’t worry boys, you’ll get an eyeful of her towards the end of the film).

There’s not much mystery to be had, and Carradine’s character only serves as a dumb red herring. What there is though is a TON of sex. I mean, Night Rhythms is probably 50% erotic, 25% thriller and 25% nothing. It’s a bit like Nick’s radio show… a lot of sexy dead air. I don’t know how else to explain it.

What Night Rhythms does have going for it is that all of the women are attractive. Only one guy on display here, and I’ve had a crush on Martin Hewitt since Killer Party, so you’ll get no complaints on that end. But unless Cinnamon is your girl of choice, don’t get too attached to any of these ladies as they flitter in and out of Nick’s life.

The only other Dark film I’ve seen is Mirror Images (also starring Sheppard), and that was during the early 90s when it was originally released. I’m not all that eager to re-visit it either. I guess I just like a little story with my sleaze. So sue me.