Review

Nexus is a mind-blowing - and multiple-load-blowing - follow-up to Ward’s 50th production, Sexus, and is the second part of a planned trilogy. The premise is simplicity itself: Take a select cast of oversexed manimals, turn on the heat, turn on the camera, and watch the magic.

The opening is one of the most imaginative this reviewer has ever seen. We find ourselves amidst a sizzling orgy of seven men - all of them fully dressed in black tank-tops and skin-tight jeans! When their tongues aren’t down each other’s throats they are licking at each other’s assholes, through denim stretched to the breaking point. As the camera weaves in and out of the writing bodies, each man looks up and smiles at us as the credits give his name. The camera then pans back on the entire group, and suddenly all the clothes disappear so the real action can begin. Whew!

As with Sexus, there’s no plot, just sex. The set by David Hall is an arrangement of multi-tiered platforms with only one prop - a giant antique Crisco drum (a marvelous touch). The soundtrack by J.D. Slater is masterful. The videography by David Hempling is brilliant. Some individual shots last as long as 3 to 4 minutes, as the camera caresses the bodies before reaching in for extreme penetration close-ups. With these long shots the sex doesn’t look at all choreographed, but spontaneous and intense. These guys make it clear that they would be fucking each other even if there weren’t a camera.

Nexus is first and last a fuck-flick - there is some great oral action, but primary attention is given to heart-stopping assplay. It’s not the violent kind, where the bottom looks and acts like he’s being raped; instead it’s joyously fiercesome. Ward has assembled some of the most aggressive bottoms you’ll ever want to meet (and I want to meet them all!). The orgy serves as a bridge between each individual scene, where one ass after another is pounded, pummeled and pile-driven - though these assholes work over the cocks as much as the other way around.

In the first scene the older Jammer bends over and lifts a leg up to give the younger, brooding Serrano full access to his hole. The second features model-handsome hairy-chested Jennings passionately kissing, rimming and fucking blond, ex-twinkie Porter on his back. It’s a particularly thrilling fuck and demonstrates the ways Nexus makes the sex as genuine as possible. For example, usually when a bottom is in this position, he pulls back his balls to give the camera a clear shot of the strokes. Still, it looks phony; guys just don’t do that in real life, so Nexus doesn’t do it either. Sure, maybe you don’t always get a fully unobstructed a view… though there are enough close-ups to satisfy the most gynecological fans. But you do get sex that is absolutely real. And incredibly hot.

The next scene is a three-way: Jennings and Porter are on their backs, with their legs in the air and their asses wide open to show two of the juiciest holes you’ll ever want to eat. Serrano chows down on both, and then stands up to fuck Jennings. (Versatility is so sexy in a man, isn’t it?) Porter waits with heady anticipation for his turn; his gaping hole positively quivers with excitement. Serrano is nothing but accommodating - this guy must have been fed Viagra intravenously! After he fucks the cum out of Jennings, he turns on Porter, who at one point gives himself a helluva aerobics workout bouncing on the darker man’s pole.

The penultimate scene involves five men. On the lower level Serrano sucks Fyerfli who sucks Vacarro, while behind and above them, Jammer (in a rare turn as a top) fucks Morales. Then everyone changes positions, as Fyerfli pounds Jammer and Serrano fucks Morales who sucks Vacarro. The video ends with the one pairing we’ve been waiting for: The dark and dangerous Vacarro, who is one of Raging Stallion’s hottest tops, enters the sweet-faced Morales, who is fast becoming one of porn’s reigning bottoms. It’s one final demonstration of Nexus’ inventiveness - while other videos will start with a pairing and end with an orgy, this started with the orgy and ended with the pairing. It will leave you totally drenched and utterly satisfied!

Given the unparalleled excellence of first Sexus and now Nexus,
Chris Ward should call the third one Lexus!
-Jameson Rodgers

OK, now comes the caveat:
There is one stunt that occurs in every scene of Nexus that some may find unsettling. It’s what we in our office call “dipping” - simulated (or so they say) bareback fucking. With the camera in tight, the top thrusts his condom-less cock directly at the bottom’s hole and gives every appearance of actually penetrating the sphincter. The studios insist it doesn’t happen, but come on, guys: These are rock-hard battering rams knocking against doors with the resistance of toilet paper. Likewise, these are asses with the gravitational force of black holes, sucking in any rocket that comes near them.

It looks like Ward is trying to appeal to both sides of the bareback debate, but only ends up offending them instead. Given the resurgence of AIDS infection rates in gay men and (coincidentally?) the resurgence of bareback videos, it is terribly irresponsible for a major studio like Raging Stallion to give even a hint of endorsing unsafe sex. Hey, Chris: Fuck this “dipping” stuff - either dive in or don’t! For the record: This reviewer would prefer that you don’t, but at least go one way or another. In the business of cocks and asses, there’s no room for “pussy”-footing.

OK, sermon’s over. Back to the sinning!

In an exclusive arrangement, we are proud to offer you an extraordinary 105 minutes of additional Nexus material, which is presented on the set's second DVD. Ward calls it Nexus: Raw & Hardcore. Talk about understatement!

The first 50+ minutes (Hardcore) offer three fisting scenes that simply couldn’t be more explicit. They are utterly appalling - and arousing. You’ll get hard in spite of yourself!

First, we “get inside” Rik Jammer - literally. Jammer is flat on his back with his meaty legs way in the air encased in kick-ass knee-high black leather boots. But don’t ever kick Jammer’s ass - your foot will get stuck! He reaches down to his manhole (and that ain’t just a cute metaphor - it’s almost that big!) and shoves in a giant black bulbous dildo that looks like the Michelin Man. Then Jammer fists himself. Yep, fists himself.

But that position can strain a man’s spine (it certainly doesn’t strain his sphincter) so Tom Vacarro gives his friend a helping hand - again and again and again. He pushes in and pulls out his fist from several different angles, with Jammer first on his knees, then on his back. (Note: Ward sets up the position change with a very clever camera trick!)

This stretches Jammer’s hole until it becomes all but unrecognizable. In the very last image, Vacarro sticks in the forefingers and middle fingers of each hand and pulls it wide open. Remember that scene in Poltergeist when the two kids are almost pulled into that grotesque, gaping blood-red hole down to hell? Spielberg’s set designer obviously knew Rik Jammer. One more thing - Jammer’s hole is absolutely spotless. What did he douche with, Old Faithful?

The third scene features Carlos Morales and Raging Stallion favorite Aaron Tanner, who is usually a bottom but here shows that he’s also good with his hands. As a warm-up, Tanner shoves the head of a mega-dildo in Morales’ ass. He then slides his fist in and keeps it there - for about 15 minutes. I would have thought he might get a hand cramp, but since it was in a warm and wet place, I suppose he was OK. Tanner actually starts to “fist-fuck,” thrusting his wrist in and out. At one point Morales flips himself over from his back to his knees - keeping Tanner’s hand in there the whole time. Talk about getting “screwed”!

Finally Tanner pulls his hand out, but only to stretch it, because it goes back in - way in. Tanner does some power-thrusting, practically shoving Morales off the table. And in the last astonishing shot, Tanner pulls out and Morales’ hole snaps back to a normal size and shape. Hell, Gumby doesn’t have this much elasticity!

Two more things: The reactions of both bottoms couldn’t be more different. Jammer is one noisy sex pig as he gets impaled on Vacarro’s spit; Morales never makes a sound and shows very little emotion. (Either he’s the greatest stoic since Marcus Aurelius or he was on some mighty-fine medication!) Second, instead of the white surgical glove, both men use a glove that’s bright baby-blue. The sight of that bright blue disappearing into each man is breathtaking.

The next 50 minutes are great fun - unused footage from Nexus edited together and accompanied by a passionate drum soundtrack by J.D. Slater (Raw). During principal filming Ward used more than one camera, so we get many of the same scenes from different angles. We also get a few new scenes that didn’t make the final official cut. The most noticeable difference is the increased amount of cock-sucking. We also get an ejaculation from Jammer that is so intense the cast and crew chuckle when it’s over to relieve the tension.

The footage isn’t perfect; sometimes we see a camera lens or hear voices, but for me that just adds to the immediacy and intensity of the action. We periodically hear Ward give direction, but very rarely. Cleary his style is to set up the scene, and then let these guys do what they do so well.

The extras end with three previews:
Fistpack 1: Extreme Penetration, Fistpack 2: Ass Masters, and Raging Stallion’s masterful epic Raiders of the Lost Arse, starring this reviewer’s future hubba-hubba husband, Jeff Allen.