Flesh and faith make strangely enticing bedfellows in Holier Than Thou, the latest and decidedly controversial release from Adonis Pictures. Written and directed by Mike Donner, it follows the ecumenical sexploits of Justin Wells as “Father John,” a sexy semen-arian who saves souls by pumping their holes. It’s an intriguing concept, but is this unorthodox Passion of the Vice blasphemous? No. However, for those who might be sensitive to it, the use of any genuine religious symbols is nearly nonexistent.

On his first night out, Father John picks up hustler Jason Crew. “You’re too young to be called daddy,” Crew playfully tells him. “Then call me father,” Wells replies. Lanky, smooth and delectable, Crew is always a knockout. His gorgeous baby blues alone could temp Adam away from Eve!

At the other end of the spectrum, Eddie Stone is another priest with a not-so-repressed indulgence in forbidden pleasures (or, as Wells reminds us, “Dogs wear collars too!”). When he catches cute, young cleric Zachary Pierce drooling over the naked hunks in a gay rag, Father Eddie forces the wayward lad into a kinky pairing that’s equal parts punishment and pleasure. “If you’re going to act like a child,” he scolds, “you’re going to be punished like a child – bend over!” You can bet these raunchy men of the cloth aren’t just playing ring around the rosary. After all, that ain’t Lazarus rising in Stone’s pants! Additionally, both are masters of oral maneuvers: licking, sucking, prodding and poking. They do it all until Pierce lays Stone back and goes on a pooter-pillaging pilgrimage into Stone’s promised land.

Meanwhile, Father John tells us about his roommates, Clay Anderson and Damon Phoenix. “Good men,” he says, “who believe in love” (especially for each other’s astonishing erections!). Strumming his own mighty stalagmite, he listens to the pair in the next room rejoicing inside one another’s most sacred and profane orifices. Clay even sucks Damon’s toes while diddling him before Damon returns the favor, spreading the “Gospel according to his Johnson” deep within Clay’s ass-holy grail.

Donner crafts some profoundly polished money scenes, working with such a heavenly looking group, all of whom themselves are supremely succulent beings. Stone is stunning and is completely believable as the stern priest. Phoenix too is fast becoming a boner-fide beefy babe just oozing with pure carnal attraction. At the center of all the action, though, is Justin Wells as the macho minister. With guys like him in the pulpit, perhaps we’d go to confession more often (and have plenty to confess!).

The next night leadeth Father John to a sleazy bar, where Brant Moore is a devilishly handsome bartender who corrupts vulnerable innocents, including Josh Carter and Kyle Aames. Soon he’s conducting an aggressive mass buggering involving them all and carried out with a fury worthy of the Book of Revelation. If there’s any flaw, it’s that Wells’ character still seems to be motivated by homophobic judgment, equating sexuality with immorality. He claims to accept those he gets it on with, but in this final episode particularly, he’s seething with so much hostility that it threatens to detract from what’s otherwise a pretty sweltering episode.

Nonetheless, as crotch stroking as it is thought provoking, you have to hand it to Donner, producer Jeremy Spencer and everyone at Adonis Pictures for pushing the envelope.

rating:

HIT THE STRATOSPHERE ***

Adonis Pictures

Directed by Mike Donner

Starring: Justin Wells, Eddie Stone, Zachary Pierce, Jason Crew, Kyle Aames, Josh Carter, Brant Moore, Clay Anderson, Adonis Pictures exclusive Damon Phoenix