Originally released as ‘Obsessed’ in 1976, this erotic psychological thriller didn’t get properly distributed, as its disturbing, offbeat and controversial nature wasn’t well received – even by adult film standards – by mainstream audiences nor porn crowds. Time, however, has given this flick its well-deserved cult status.

Even in a time when the artistic merits of porn were at their peak, this is a particularly dark story. It centers around an unhappily married woman being unknowingly stalked by another woman, while the threat of a psychotic serial rapist and killer lingers throughout the movie.

The legendary Annette Haven plays Maggie Ronson, a beautiful and mysterious photographer who charms and befriends Anna Carson (Constance Money), as they build a strong bond over the terrifying events Anna goes through. Anna’s husband David (John Leslie), whose sexual and emotional incompatibility with Anna has their relationship in trouble, rounds out a very strong cast.

Because of the lack of credits, the rumor has always been that most people on the tech crew were established Hollywood professionals moonlighting in porn. It certainly looks better than most porn productions of the time, a lot more technically skilled than your average first-timer film.

The movie was re-released in 1977 as ‘Anna Obsessed’ in edited form, cutting down a tense female-on-female rape that is a bit hard to watch, regardless of the quality of the scene and the non-gratuitous nature of it, since it’s justified within the context of the story. The ending, also kind of dark and impactful, had been changed and watered down for this milder and shorter second release. Fortunately, the full, uncut version was brought back in the DVD re-issue.

Most of the sex scenes stand out among the competition; they’re not raunchy and aim to be a little more real. Two of the lesbian scenes are some of the best I’ve ever seen in a 70s feature film, including a lengthy, very intimate, hot, yet almost touching scene with Haven and Money.

This is one of the greatest unsung movies of the 70s. Beautifully shot and definitely entertaining. The cinematography and editing are spotless, and the performances are fairly good, both sexual and non-sexual. The fact that it also stars two of the hottest women in porn history is just gravy. Anna Obsessed is definitely one of my favorite movies of the genre.