Taboo I-ii-iii-iv -1979-1985- < 2025-2026 >
The original Taboo introduces Barbara (the remarkable Kay Parker), a lonely, middle-aged mother whose husband is emotionally and sexually absent. When her adult son, Paul (Mike Ranger), returns home, an undeniable tension erupts. The film’s genius is its patience: long, uncomfortable dialogues about loneliness, aging, and desire precede any physical act. Parker’s performance is startlingly vulnerable—she’s not a predator but a woman starving for affection. The infamous mother-son encounter is shot with a strange, somber tenderness, framed against mundane domesticity (the kitchen, the living room couch). The taboo isn’t exploited for cheap shock; it’s presented as a tragic symptom of familial breakdown. The ending, ambiguous and haunting, suggests no winners—only secrets.
The final original installment, Taboo IV , was released in two versions: the theatrical cut and the re-edit Taboo IV: The Younger Generation . Here, the series pivots to the grandchildren—teenagers discovering their family’s twisted history. Unfortunately, IV shows franchise fatigue. The raw psychological realism of the first film has hardened into formula. However, two elements save it: a stunning, dialogue-free opening sequence recapping the previous films via home-movie footage, and a final scene where a character looks directly into the camera and asks, “What would you do if no one was watching?” It’s a self-aware bow that asks the audience to confront their own voyeurism. While the weakest of the quartet, IV provides a grim closure: the sins of the parents are, inevitably, the sins of the children. Taboo I-II-III-IV -1979-1985-
The series began in 1980 with the first Taboo , directed by Kirdy Stevens and starring Kay Parker as Barbara Scott. Unlike its contemporaries, the film attempted to explore the psychological weight of social rejection and female sexual liberation. Critics have noted that at its core, the film is about a woman being rejected by society and her husband, with her subsequent "taboo" actions being underscored by intense guilt and shame. This focus on character development helped it win the inaugural Homer Award for Best Adult Tape in 1983, a milestone in the mainstream industry's recognition of adult content. Narrative Expansion: Taboo II and III The original Taboo introduces Barbara (the remarkable Kay
Unlike many of its contemporaries, the Taboo series prioritized plot and character development, often mirroring the style of mainstream soap operas or psychological dramas. While the weakest of the quartet
