Adult Material (2020) User Reviews

Quality Adult Drama

[dgjones-62258 · 8/10 · 29 March 2021]

This certainly isn't a comedy or a comedy drama. It's a powerful drama that deals with a serious issue in an intelligent manner and it's very good.

Hayley Squires is brilliant in the lead role and Rupert Everett is pure class.

Top quality production values with good direction and an excellent script.

Once the characters were established I was gripped and watched all four episodes in one evening.

If you like quality drama, you'll like this. Don't be put off with it being set in the porn industry as it is not at all sleazy.

Deconstructing Jolene

[danybur · 8/10 · 20 August 2021]

Summary

Brief English miniseries that addresses with intelligence, sobriety and sensitivity the current small porn industry from the gaze of one of its stars, through the crisis that sooner or later the dark areas of that apparently friendly business will generate in the balance between his life pro like Jolene Dollar and the real Hayley Burrows.

Review:

Hayley Burrows is a woman who reasonably reconciles her work as a star of a small porn production company (with the stage name Jolene Dollar) with the role of her mother (she has a teenage daughter and a child) and her wife. But the debut of a young porn actress in the production company where she works will become the seed of a personal crisis.

The entire beginning of the series scripted by Lucy Kirkwood paints, even with a comedy tone, that idyllic balance between the two worlds of Hayley, that of the porn celebrity and the domestic one, with a husband (Joe Dempsey, the blacksmith of Game of Thrones) who acts as the community manager of the diva's individual porn ventures.

But the appearance of the young Amy (Siena Kelly) in a film will trigger a series of rethinking for Hayley about personal and work issues that she until now had kept in a territory between denial and unconsciousness.

What happens to Amy puts questions that have to do with consent, abuse and health in the mirror, unleashing a deep crisis in the protagonist, an awareness about the cracks and shadows of the apparently friendly work environment of the small porn producer (and not so independent) led by the flamboyant Carroll (Rupert Everett).

Haley suffers a kind of deconstruction of her character Jolene of hers that will have profound repercussions on her personal life and will illuminate her own personal history with a new light. She will contribute to unleash the crisis the meeting with a deputy (great role and performance of Kerry Godliman, whom we already saw in After Life).

Hayley Squires, in a remarkable performance, is the one who puts the body and traces the incredible physical and emotional journey between Jolene, the porn doll with stilettos and not so young anymore, and the Hayley who, from her domestic placidity, suffers the unraveling of his personal life.

In short, Adult Material soberly addresses the current small porn industry from the point of view of one of its stars and the crisis that sooner or later generates its dark areas.

The dark side of porn

[peterrichboy · 7/10 · 9 December 2020]

I've watched a few documentaries over the years on the porn industry. And I am always amazed at the number of young girls desperate to be porn stars. They seem to think it's very glamorous and an easy quick way to make money. In reality whilst it may start out that way, many end up on drink or drug's and after 10 years in the business nobody wants you. And that is in a nutshell what Adult Material is about. This show goes to great lengths to show how the men in the business do treat women like pieces of meat for their own sexual gratification. The performances are solid throughout in particular Haley and Rupert Everet. Well worth a watch 7/10

Something Different

[the_nephilim71 · 10/10 · 25 October 2020]

The show starts out as a raunchy-esque comedy but quickly evolves into something wonderful and inspiring. Great acting and writing.

I'll buy you for a dollar.

[southdavid · 8/10 · 29 March 2021]

I came across (pun intended) this series as another entry on the Guardian's top TV of 2020 list. It's a mini-series, of just four parts, with incredible performances, if perhaps one that suffers a little from too much going on.

Seasoned adult film star Jolene Dollar (Hayley Squires) meets new girl Amy (Siena Kelly) on her first day on a shoot. Against her nagging concerns, Jolene leaves the set once she has finished her scenes, after which something happens with Amy that has a profound affect on her mental state. Her guilt, and the reaction that Amy has at an industry party, lead Jolene on a crusade against producer Carroll Quinn (Rupert Everett). Ostracised from working, and with her life falling apart, dark moments from her past continue to destroy her present.

IMDB classifies "Adult Material" as a comedy drama - which is fair, because there are funny moments in it. That doesn't, though, come close to explaining the depths of grim stories and behaviour that make up the cultures of abuse, in one form or another, that the show goes into. There is very little in the way of titillation, the opening scenes establish that shooting the films are much like any other job, chatting about your weekend plans, waiting around. From there issues of rape, both in and out of relationships, alcoholism, drug abuse, revenge porn and prostitution are explored. I wonder if perhaps it hits a little too many of them a little too shallowly for it's own good sometimes. I also think that the character of Amy has a little too much going on, or it doesn't perhaps explain her well enough. I'm still not sure know if she's calculating, damaged or genuinely psychopathic. (Perhaps she's just all three).

You cannot argue with the performances though. The quality of Rupert Everett, Phil Daniels and Kerry Godliman have been on show for years, in everything they've done. Alex Jarrett is great, as Jolene's oldest daughter, who has a lot to go through herself. But Hayley Squires is revelatory. (Another reason, if there wasn't enough already, for anticipating Ben Wheatley's new horror film "In The Earth").

I started watching one episode, and then I couldn't stop!

[plasmatika · 10 November 2020]

Great acting, writing and directing. I watched one episode and ended up binge watching all four episodes in one sitting. Love the ending too.

Moral sentiment usurps supposed controversial subject

[privatejoe-73661 · 5/10 · 3 February 2023]

The acting is fantastic but the subject matter belies an obnoxious and overwrought desire by the writers to inundate the viewer with their own moral sentiments. If you're like me, you were hoping for a 'slice of life' drama about a subculture rarely discussed.

Instead, the subject matter is used for a flimsy pretense to preach the same Twitter canards that one expects of Netflix. This show isn't the worst way to waste an afternoon but you won't leave being impressed or surprised. It's half shock imagery, half banal progressive lecture with an edgy veneer. That said, if you can get past the assumption that, as a viewer, you're a susceptible vessel for trite cliches - the show provides a lot of memorable and interesting scenes not seen in comparable mini-series.

British TV falls under the streaming gods

[bobfilmman · 10/10 · 12 November 2020]

Lead actress....what a performance. Director....original. Edited...like it's 2023. Why is this not understood, celebrated. " I may destroy you" bold, brave...this....well the other side of the mirror. Bravo to all involved.

This is no comedy....

[kassdo · 5/10 · 19 July 2022]

Very sad graphic drama with bits of humor. There are not a whole lot of adult characters to like and you feel for the children. I binged the 4 hours and almost turned it off during the third episode because it was all leading nowhere, particularly during the trial.

Still not sure what the husband was about? He is up to his eyeballs managing the his aging wife "sex" career (inc. Getting her to become an escort to pay the bills) then suddenly becomes so offended he moves out with son who is embarrassed because his friends discovered his mother on the internet.

Literally the film's payoff "in the end" is much ado about nothing despite all the wasted screen time discussing how porn actress's personal boundary, tied to protecting her butt, is not doing one sex act her whole career. The draining ending leaves the viewers empty like her nonchalant acquiescence.

Brave, real but not gratuitous

[amandaandjasper · 9/10 · 24 October 2020]

I was a little nervous to watch this considering the theme. However, whilst you are always certain that this is about the porn industry, it doesn't show things for the sake of it. Brilliantly acted by all concerned but especially Hayley and Rupert. Loved it.

Entertaining, modern drama!

[ChooChooLLAMA · 8/10 · 12 October 2020]

In the world we live in, pornogrpahy is everywhere. This show gives an insight into the 'darker' side of the adult entertainment industry and the troubles actors/actresses face in every day life. Theres also a few humourous moments which keeps things light. I would definitely recommend this series!

Flop

[frukuk · 1/10 · 20 October 2020]

The stated storyline: "A woman's life working in the adult film industry spans from its seedy beginnings to a highly successful enterprise." What's that all about then? We don't get to see any of that.

This drama seems to take a rather cliched view of the adult entertainment industry and is much less informative than the many documentaries on the subject. Watch a few of those if you want to understand the highs and lows of the industry.

Not only does this drama fail to inform, it fails as a drama. The tone feels wrong, as if someone thought this material was too heavy and had to be leavened with comedy characters, e.g. Phil Daniels as Dave. In fact, most of the characters seem to have a comedic tinge to them, as if they daren't risk being taken too seriously.

If this had lived up to the stated storyline and had adopted a different tone, it might have told a worthwhile story in an entertaining way. Shame it didn't.

Loved it

[rockandroll-36204 · 9/10 · 16 October 2020]

Channel 4 advertised this as a comedy, all trailers and adverts were funny. Etc. Fantatsic series but not at all funny.

Amazing material

[somethingreal81 · 10/10 · 13 October 2020]

Easily one of the best series of the year. If you're looking for a well-written, thought-provoking drama with incredible performances, this show is a must watch.

Unexpected

[meeltem_bora · 8/10 · 18 November 2020]

It was uber good, acting shooting and everything. I have never ever guess the end like this

A different take

[cdool-57635 · 10/10 · 23 October 2021]

Have to say, I found it surprisingly good and honest. It wasn't feel good, but felt raw and true to what probably happens to make people go into this industry. Funny and sad in equal measures.

Complex and dark. Loved it.

[adam-morris-640-374044 · 9/10 · 17 November 2021]

Something really different with fantastic acting, complex characters and a thought provoking storyline. I really liked the fact that none of the characters were just good or bad. They all had their good points and insecurities. We'll perhaps not Tom. Also nice to have a storyline that doesn't try to preach or moralise.

Such a strange, but strong storyline

[anamariajobs · 10/10 · 10 January 2022]

I absolutely loved it, the acting was very good, the storyline intriguing and providing food for thought.

I didn't read the reviews before I watched it, I'm surprised it has such a low score, it should definitely be an 8.

Surprising

[roobypie · 9/10 · 1 November 2021]

Just binge watched all 4 episodes in on viewing. Wasn't the plan but I couldn't help it. Not at all how I thought it would go. Sad. Gritty. Emotive. All handled beautifully by the lead actress. Brings up some questions surrounding consent and boundaries. As well as how secrets and trauma can effect you without even realising. Has left me feeling a bit sad tbh. Although it's refreshing to not have the Hollywood ending where she wins the law suit and becomes rich. It's kinda heartbreaking that nothing will change.highly recommended. Although trigger warning if you've ever been the survivor or rape or sexual assault.

Brilliant drama

[ljsdale · 10/10 · 19 May 2022]

Really bold and interesting storyline that really isnt a look into the adult film industry. More about sexual consent, behaviour, the effects of early life and addiction.

Hayley Squires is such a brilliant actress and I hope she gets more great projects like this. Rupert Everett is also fantastic, he often is when given a good script.

Well worth a watch.