For those who think all S&M videos are alike, you may discard that mistaken notion now and for always. Though we don't rate non-hardcore specialty tapes, if it were up to this author, On the Edge 40 would earn a solid five stars. It's that good.

The centerpiece is the second half of the tape, starring the real-life wife/husband team of Missy and Mickey G.

First using his wife's delectable rump as a footrest, Master Mickey takes Missy, hands cuffed behind her, and forcer a thick whip handle between her teeth. She hisses and thrashes and growls as the whip comes down repeatedly on her near-naked torso and mound, raising her legs as if to kick him. That's when things become a test of wills. A spit fight follows, with the strong-willed Missy unrepentently refusing to lick her spittle off Mickey's face. She spits on him again! He loogies back, wipes it all over her face, slaps her hard, and pushes the pointy tip of a spike-heeled shoe into her nipples. A zoom-in on Missy's face shows a genuine look of consternation, as she is temporarily paralyzed with fear.

Enter Master Charley and slave Wilde. The two women are thrown down together on the couch. Mickey's temper gets the best of him as he pulls Wilde over into a headstand, hawking gobs on her red ass and making Missy lick it off.

"Yeah, tell me you want it," he says to Wilde before uprighting her. This scene depits one of the few times we've actually seen Wilde get emotional as her voice quavers, "I wouldn't tell you if I did."

If you can believe it, it gets better from there. This 40th volume in the series should've been dubbed "Over the Edge," because of the realistic, unrestrained emotions of the players as they truly get caught up in the game of consensual S&M. Pre-nom this as the Best Specialty/Bondage video of the year.

Guess it ain't so bad to turn 40 after all.