I would like to start with an apology: I have probably underestimated Digital Playground in the past, and I’m not sure why.
As a European, I may have had a sense that US porn was either simplistic clips (perfect bodies fucking in a well-lit room) or ambitious, couples-friendly feature-like movies – almost forgetting the sex (I did a lot of fast-forwarding through Digital Playground’s own “Pirates”).
But, I admit it – I was wrong.
DIgital Playground’s catalogue is huge, and not everything will be for everyone. But their best videos are great for a number of reasons:
- The sex is hot (should always a must, right?). The performers throw themselves into the scenes and fuck with great intensity – none of the sex-by-numbers clips you sometimes get from big studios.
- The stars just keep coming. I can hardly think of a major performer who hasn’t appeared in a Digital Playground video. From Adriana Chechik to Jesse Jane to Stoya to the iconic Sasha Grey. They’ve all been here – and done some of their hottest scenes ever.
- They get humour right. This may actually be my favourite point. I’m usually no fan of “humorous” porn, as it often descends into the puerile – or simply distracts from the excitement.
But what Digital Playground does (in their best features) is perfectly clever: Rather than earnestly trying to suspend disbelief in the many unlikely scenarios, the good-natured humour merely acknowledges that “hey – this is porn, you know”. Rather than mocking porn, it becomes a celebration of sexuality and erotic fantasies.
I first succumbed to this particular style when I stumbled across the school bus orgy in “Teachers” (2009). Done as a playful take on the classic “teachers and students” trope does not prevent the sex from being absolutely scorching hot. And when I realized they’d made a flight attendant-themed feature (“Fly Girls” (2009)), I was sold.
Digital Playground has features in just every genre imaginable – from the sweet to the dark. Of the latter, I’d recommend the surreal, somewhat fetish-themed, Mad Max-inspired “Wasteland Ultra“.
If you like your porn with high production values and gorgeous women, Digital Playground has something for everyone.