The inevitable sequel arrives three years later. With the first film a surprise hit, Taboo II faces a classic problem: how to top the original incest? The solution is to widen the net. Kay Parker returns as Barbara, but this time the plot involves her younger sister (Dorothy LeMay) and a complicated web involving the sister’s stepson.
The fourth entry is the oddity. Subtitled The Secret of the Taboo , this film attempts to be a prequel of sorts, exploring Barbara’s past and the origins of her liberal attitudes. It also introduces a convoluted plot about a mysterious diary. Directed by Peter Savage (under a pseudonym, likely), this film feels disconnected from the first three. Taboo I-II-III-IV -1979-1985-
What makes the first film remarkable is its restraint—at least for the first hour. Stevens shoots the film like a low-budget drama. The lighting is moody, the dialogue is stilted but earnest, and Parker’s performance is genuinely affecting. She doesn’t play a vixen; she plays a tired, sensual, emotionally starved woman. The famous seduction scene, where she hesitates, cries, and then surrenders, is uncomfortable in the best way. It captures the very real psychological friction of the premise. The sex scenes, by modern standards, are soft-focused and unhurried. This isn't gonzo; it's psychodrama. The film’s success—both critical and commercial—hinged entirely on Kay Parker’s ability to make you feel the guilt as much as the pleasure. She is the soul of the series. Without her, the taboo is just a gimmick. The inevitable sequel arrives three years later