The film is categorized as a "steamy" drama, focusing strongly on sexual expression 1.2.4.
A successful fashion editor who is seemingly happily engaged to her fiancé, Rile.
: The movie was filmed in Toronto over a period of just three and a half weeks.
The story follows Dallas (Erika Linder), a roofer who ends her relationship with her girlfriend Joslyn due to sexual frustration. Meanwhile, Jasmine (Natalie Krill) is a successful fashion designer engaged to a man named Rile. While Rile is away on a business trip, Jasmine goes to a lesbian bar with a friend, where she encounters Dallas. The two share a passionate kiss, and despite Jasmine's initial resistance, they begin a heated affair. film below her mouth wikipedia
Many critics praised the film's explicit and unflinching depiction of lesbian sex but criticized its weak narrative and character development. Diego Semerene of Slant Magazine gave the film 0.5 stars out of 4, calling it "an unquestionably pornographic fantasy barely trying to pass as something other than masturbation material". Guy Lodge of Variety described it as "a sexually frank but narratively flimsy girl-meets-girl romance that never gets under its gorgeous characters' amply exposed skin". Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter called it "an undeniably steamy effort that delivers plenty of heat in its sex scenes, while falling significantly short in dramatic terms". Katie Walsh of the Los Angeles Times noted: "Despite female filmmakers at the helm, the film treads into exploitative territory, with the ratio of screen time given to writhing female bodies far outweighing that given to their unique experiences as gay or closeted women in the world".
A concise, spoiler-heavy summary of Jasmine and Dallas’s relationship arc.
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Upon its debut at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Below Her Mouth polarized critics, a fact reflected in its mixed aggregate scores across review platforms.
Detractors often criticized the screenplay and character development. Some critics felt that the dialogue was sparse to the point of being shallow and that the plot relied too heavily on romantic clichés (such as the "insta-love" trope) despite its modern setting. Comparisons were frequently drawn to the French film Blue Is the Warmest Colour (2013), though many reviewers felt Below Her Mouth lacked the emotional depth and narrative arc of its predecessor.
The narrative ignites when Dallas and Jasmine cross paths at a nightclub. Despite Jasmine’s initial hesitation and her upcoming marriage, the chemistry between the two women is immediate and overwhelming. When Rile leaves town for a business trip, Jasmine gives in to her attraction, initiating an intense, physically and emotionally charged relationship with Dallas. The film focuses heavily on Jasmine’s internal awakening and Dallas’s vulnerability, culminating in a dramatic confrontation when Rile returns home early. Unlike traditional romances that rely on heavy subplots, the narrative remains tightly focused on the kinetic, evolving dynamic between the two protagonists. The Historic All-Female Production Crew The story follows Dallas (Erika Linder), a roofer
as Joslyn: Jasmine's close friend and confidante. Tommie-Amber Pirie as Quinn: Dallas's ex-girlfriend. Melanie Leishman as Claire: A friend of Dallas. Production and Creative Choices The All-Female Crew
Critics and scholars have noted the film’s focus on the "female gaze," particularly in its sex scenes. The filmmakers prioritized the sensory experience of the characters—the sounds, the breathing, and the tactile nature of the encounters—rather than framing the bodies purely for visual consumption.
The Washington Post gave the film a score of 88, stating that "the frequent sex scenes are graphic, they're also driven by vulnerability and long-buried desire". Some critics and many viewers on platforms like IMDb argued that the film was an exhilarating erotic tour de force that explored intimacy and sexuality without male fantasy as a filter. The all-female production team was seen by some as a step forward in representing lesbian sex authentically, as opposed to the male-gaze-driven portrayals common in mainstream media.
The specific used in the film
(played by Natalie Krill): A successful fashion editor who is engaged to her fiancé, Rile.