Naked Acts

The only legitimate reason I can think of why this wonder’s impact was blunted was possibly a washed-out quality of the original 16 mm transfer, judging from the VHS box stills. Whatever transfer flaws that may have been present have magically vanished with a stunning restoration. Naked Acts now looks like a million bucks, with popping candy colors on a gorgeous print. The tightening and brightening reveal the integrity of Davis’s compositions, making any previous technical limitations vanish. This restoration also allows a clear runway for Jones to fly high with her stellar performance. Jones gives spotlight-worthy acting work that is now on a much brighter stage.

There are many ways Naked Acts was way ahead of its time. No indie in that part of the 90s directly addressed how oppressive the nude factor of film economics was at that point. This focus also turns the film into an amazing time capsule for the days of the flesh game, as the market for commercial titillation has collapsed. Davis perfectly captures the pressures on all sides of the movie’s skin mosh pit for later generations to see and understand.

“Naked Acts was denied its place in 90s indie history, but now it cannot be ignored.”

However, this aspect is only a fraction of the real true worth of this film. Throughout the film, the director provides the perfect primer for all the artistic methods of using nudity. We have the incidental, the side frame, the partial, the fleet, the functional, and the ultimate non-sexual full. We have a wealth of techniques on display to guide current filmmakers in utilizing body art in a post-exploitation landscape. Davis even puts some skin in the game herself in the pivotal sauna scene, which is so appropriate for a study like this.

The emotional engagement of the storytelling locks your interest in like a bear trap. It is a high-stakes drama that never loses momentum and elevation. Also, DeArcy’s video store is now my new classic cinema setting, like Sam’s Bar in Casablanca. With the restoration coming from the current theatrical run that stretched throughout the summer, this is definitely worth hunting up on streaming. Naked Acts was denied its place in 90s indie history back in the day, but its place in cinema history now cannot be denied.