Whereas Deep Throat is a silly, adventurous movie that amuses while it titillates, this modern day imagining is cynical and callous. Drawing inspiration from the dark corners of the adult business that Linda Lovelace condemned years after her infamous performance, more so than the campy film it is (loosely) based on.

Throat is told in the past tense, narrated by the Female lead Julie, played by Sasha Grey. Julie has met a grisly demise, and while being examined on the coroner's slab we discover that she has a clitoris in the back of her throat. After this revelation Julie begins to tell us her tale of woe.

Julie is a woman disconnected from her sexuality, going through the motions in her sex life. She works in a peep show to make ends meet, something her controlling boyfriend doesn't approve of. One day a coworker offers some pointers on her routine and it is here that she discovers that she can achieve orgasm by taking a dildo all the way into her throat. Predictably Julie sets out to make up for lost time and take advantage of her discovery, incorporating her “talent” into her routine, as well as giving her boyfriend a nice throat job when she gets home.

In short order Julie's opportunistic boyfriend sets about abusing his girlfriend's new-found talent for his own ends. Forcing her into sucking off several men in succession so he can get a free motorcycle. It's a scene that is very hot yet sleazy, a reoccurring theme in this film. During this blowjob marathon Julie meets Evan Stone's character, who helps her break away from her controlling boyfriend. Initially he seems to care about Julie, but soon it becomes apparent he is also just taking advantage of her.

He books her into deep throating a famous hung porn star, that feels more circus freakshow than erotic performance. This sets the stage for Julie to rail against her exploitation, and chastise those who are objectifying her. It is a powerful and gutsy, if not disturbing scene whose impact is lessened by what happens to the character immediately afterward. And the film's conclusion is rather abrupt and leaves the story feeling incomplete.

I enjoyed this movie overall, but felt it could have been better. It's advertised as a mystery with an engaging plot, but that is overstated. Yes, it has more of a plot than most erotic films, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

Sasha Grey definitely has a hot look and raw sex appeal, but I found her acting to be rather flat. Normally this wouldn't surprise me in a porno, but seeing as how she has crossed over into mainstream film, I expected more from her. What she lacks in acting chops she more than makes up for in her sex scenes, and her ability to deep throat in particular.

Penny Flame plays a detective, who along with her partner and sometimes lover (played by Tom Byron) tries to piece together happened to Julie. Her sex scenes are also very hot, but I found her character's struggle with alcoholism and sex addiction disturbing, especially when you consider her issues with these problems in real life.

I would have liked to have seen more of the detectives. Their relationship and S & M dynamic could have greatly enhanced the film, but instead came off as random, and incomplete, like the main story.

The random sex scenes in the club work, and it was easy to imagine that you could wander into this debaucherous place, filled with strangers engaged in anonymous fucking, and watch them from afar, or join in as Penny's character does in one instance.

The actors' bodies are realistic and the sex is steamy, and really that's what you're getting this for. The material will obviously appeal to men, and women who enjoy deep throating. Fans of rough sex should also enjoy this, although they may find themselves wanting more.

The criticisms I have are the lack of chemistry between Sasha and the actor playing her 1st boyfriend and her flat expressions throughout the movie. Perhaps this is intentional considering her characters' detachment, regarding her own sexuality for most of the story, but I suspect it's really just bad acting.

I do give the film credit for taking a shot at the exploitative nature of pornography and the abuses those who perform in it can suffer. The film makes you think about these dark corners of the industry, yet still delivers as an arousing piece of erotica.

Throat: A Cautionary Tale is a hot if not somewhat disturbing piece. Like a one night stand that leaves you feeling a little dirty afterward. You don't feel particularly proud of it, but you don't feel too bad about it either.