"Big River" (1995) is a bucolic tale that tells the story of a legendary boogeyman who lives in the woods. Everyone is afraid of him, no one for the right reason. Ken Ryker leads the exceptional cast, which includes idols Steve Marks, Christian Fox, Scott Baldwin and Chad Knight, but it's Ken who is the main draw here, and this production was made at the height of Rykermania. Ryker plays the mysterious woodsman, but it ain't his ax that makes him scary, if you know what I mean. The opening scene pays homage to "Tom Sawyer," with a fence whitewashing that turns into paint fight between Scott Baldwin, Steve Marks and Mike Chavez. Scott's ass is still one of the best ever committed to video, and here his tight body looks great even when drenched with white paint. The scene that follows, where the dudes playfully hose each other off in the hot sun is so picture-perfect that it deserves a place in the Gay Porn Hall of Fame.
The action is split into two parts, the outdoor scene and the on that takes place inside a barn; together, they make up one very memorable three-way. All three studs bottom at one time or another, and their oral skills are also great to watch, particularly Steve as he devours Mike's uncut meat. The three-way fuck, with Mike planted inside Steve from behind as Steve plows Scott missionary style (while Scott is on a bale of hay, no less) is also a highlight. Although there are many great cum-shots throughout, the standouts are at the end. Mike blows a load while sitting on Steve's dick and sucking Scott's, and then Mike milks Scott until he explodes.
As he hikes down to the fishing hole, Christian Fox recalls the warnings he has heard about the mean, hairy dude who lives in the woods and when he hears a noise from the brush, he almost gets scared out of his faded overalls. Christian runs, trips, and falls (the damsel in distress always does, right?), only to be found by Big Ryker, who turns out to be nothing like the stories Christian has heard -- except for the hairy part. Ken is a gay porn icon, deservedly, and he looks fantastic here as he gradually gets naked (he only has to lose his cut-offs, actually) and works Christian into a froth by dangling his big dick into Christian's mouth and then fingering Christian's beautiful hole. Part of the reason for putting these two men together had to be their contrasting sizes. Ken literally looks like a giant next to Christian, but when Ken starts to fuck Christian, his dick looks even bigger when it's inside Christian's diminutive behind. Ken is able to impressively hold most of his meat in his fist while he's fucking Christian, no matter whether it's from behind or in the missionary position. Ken does some great ad-libbing, too, making Christian tell him that he wants to be fucked, which certainly helps build the scene to a wonderful finale. Both studs shoot great loads, and the final shot of Christian milking the last drops from Ken's immense meat, shot in profile, is a real stunner.
Drew Nolan spies on a couple of farmhands, Chad Knight and Mike Nichols, who are going at it in the barn. In any production that didn't star Ken Ryker, Mike would have the biggest endowment in the cast. Chad drools over Mike's huge dick like he's starving for it in the great oral action that gets the scene going. Much of the action is shot with the two in front of a huge door, a huge expanse of farmland the perfect backdrop. Mike's oral exploration of Chad's butthole is just as captivating as the suck scene that precedes it, and Chad even helps, spreading his cheeks apart wider for Mike's tongue and fingers. Mike continues to tease Chad by rubbing the length of his enormous dick along Chad's crack. In a very creative penetration scene, Mike stands over Chad, whose ass is still in the air and fucks him sideways, forcing the length of his cock into Chad's primed tunnel. Later, Chad plants his hole on Mike's pole and sits on it, then Mike fucks Chad missionary, and finally, in the sidesaddle position. All the while, Chad moans and groans like it's hurting, but oh so good, and his cock stays rock-hard throughout. Mike pulls out and creams Chad's leg when he shoots, and then Chad brings himself to a gusher, jerking out a big, creamy load.
In the finale, Christian finally makes it to the fishing hole, but once again it is Christian's hole that gets the action. This time it's with Drew, who has been incited to lust while watching Chad and Mike. These two blond cuties look great onscreen together, and the scene is perfectly realized, with the golden sunlight accenting the light sweat on their tight bodies as Drew gives Christian a long, lingering blowjob in a lush green field. They move to the shade next, and Christian explores Drew's pucker with his tongue, flicking it and licking it out as Drew gives him verbal encouragement. Drew drives into Christian relentlessly, fucking him as Christian leans against a tree and later on the ground. In the finale, Drew splatters Christian's ass with his load, followed by Christian jerking his cock until big globs land on his belly.
Director John Rutherford's attention to detail, particularly his attention to settings and costuming, and most of all his artistic vision make this one an all-time favorite.
DVD features: Chapters; gallery; and no regional coding (playable worldwide).
A DVD Review by Martin Cox
