Toby Ross knew how to photograph the human body like nobody else in the adult film industry, at least within North America. Filming his models with streams of natural light filtering in through dirty windows, he had this way of making the skin look like it was glowing. Combined with a brilliant and downright strange music selection, the erotic scenes are given a hypnotic, otherworldly quality. "Boys of the Slums" is a perfect example of the kind of slow, moody and atmospheric style that was exclusively that of Toby Ross. Filmed mostly in a dark, dingy, dirty basement and alley, the guys stand around with their greasy hair in their faces, and talk about various sexual experiences while getting off with each other on torn mattresses or stairwells, all the while thinking of ways to get out of the slum neighborhood in which they live. With the use of dark, murky lighting, the slum looks more like the Ninth Circle of Hell. But Ross has a way of filming so that white light illuminates bodies while the background remains in darkness. There is something very real, and documentary-like about the way he films the action, very reminiscent of the Warhol/Paul Morrissey films of the era. Watching "Boys of the Slums" can be a hypnotic and surreal experience when watched in it's entirety. Any hardcore feature that features a blowjob with Roxy Music blasting in the background is definitely worth a look for connoisseurs of vintage porn. Adult films really lost something when they made the transition to video, as the naked form just looks so much better on real film stock. Check out this relic if you can find it, as it's one of the sexiest movies ever..