The makers of this generic thriller fell into a trap by carelessly updating old film noir formulas for a young audience unfamiliar with the originals: mistaking a convoluted plot for a compelling story, and casting actors who look too young for their roles (and thus resemble children playing dangerous grown-up games). The set-up is incredibly sloppy: a restless Beverly Hills wife plots with her lover to kill her husband, but then conspires with her husband's brother, who kills the lover instead (to save his brother), and buries the corpse (where else?) in his brother's backyard. Kristin Erickson does her best to give the pivotal femme fatale role some depth, but her efforts are wasted on a character stripped by the script of ambiguity far too soon, leaving just another ruthless villainess. An almost upbeat epilogue follows the contrived climax, and Sheila Kelly adds a bright spot with her portrayal of a bubble-headed actress/interior decorator who does Shakespeare in her spare time.
6 Reviews
Well above the level of most "erotic thrillers"
lazarillo8 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Due to its title and the period it was released, this movie has gotten lumped together with about 10 million "erotic thrillers" that were clogging video stores all during the 90's and are still clogging late night cable stations today. Technically, this could be called an erotic thriller I guess, but it was made early in the genre (pre-"Basic Instinct" even) when these movie still had a semblance of a story rather than just being one gratuitously long softcore sex scene after another, and when they still had acting well above the level of hardcore porn. This movie is about a wealthy but suicidal young man (Zach Galligan) whose wife (Krista Erickson) is plotting with her lover (Luca Bercovi) to murder him. The plot is interrupted though when his never-do-well but nevertheless very loyal older brother shows up after being released from prison and also starts bedding the femme fatale wife.
This movie in many ways resembles a film noir more than an erotic thriller. It's not like the original noir films, of course. Nor is it like the self-conscious bigger-budgeted "neo-noirs" that were popular at that time in Hollywood (i.e. "The Grifters", "After Dark, My Sweet"), but it's kind of a 90's direct-to-video version of a noir film, with the same low-budget and downbeat atmosphere those films had. Plotwise it really resembles the noir classic"Out of the Past" with the older brother being kind of like the Robert Mitchum character, ensnared by a woman who he knows is no good, but is unable to resist nevertheless.
The acting is pretty decent, although Galligan of "Gremlins" fame is kind of weak link. Krista Erickson, most famous for playing the original "mean girl" in the 70's summer-camp classic "Little Darlings", is all grown up here and really sexy and effective as the hard-as-nails wife. (In one memorable scene she has passionate sex with one lover after he has just killed another of her lovers and the body is lying in a pool of blood on the floor by the bed). The unknown actor playing the older brother is also pretty good, as is Luca Bercovi in a smaller role. Sheila Kelley, another sexy and underrated actress from the 80's and 90's, has a small role as Galligan's new love interest. This is one of the very few movies of its kind that is genuinely erotic AND thrilling. I'd recommend it.
This movie in many ways resembles a film noir more than an erotic thriller. It's not like the original noir films, of course. Nor is it like the self-conscious bigger-budgeted "neo-noirs" that were popular at that time in Hollywood (i.e. "The Grifters", "After Dark, My Sweet"), but it's kind of a 90's direct-to-video version of a noir film, with the same low-budget and downbeat atmosphere those films had. Plotwise it really resembles the noir classic"Out of the Past" with the older brother being kind of like the Robert Mitchum character, ensnared by a woman who he knows is no good, but is unable to resist nevertheless.
The acting is pretty decent, although Galligan of "Gremlins" fame is kind of weak link. Krista Erickson, most famous for playing the original "mean girl" in the 70's summer-camp classic "Little Darlings", is all grown up here and really sexy and effective as the hard-as-nails wife. (In one memorable scene she has passionate sex with one lover after he has just killed another of her lovers and the body is lying in a pool of blood on the floor by the bed). The unknown actor playing the older brother is also pretty good, as is Luca Bercovi in a smaller role. Sheila Kelley, another sexy and underrated actress from the 80's and 90's, has a small role as Galligan's new love interest. This is one of the very few movies of its kind that is genuinely erotic AND thrilling. I'd recommend it.
Skip this slop
jellopuke31 December 2020
This is pretty awful in almost every way, The story is simply basic and Zach Galligan gives you little to care for in his cuckold situation. There's little to really motivate anything beyond surface level and the action is weak. The ending is the worst part really, but if you lasted that long, you'll probably think the worst part is that you wasted 90 minutes of your life watching this.
A Young-Adult Middle Class and clashful Love triangle.
LockportDonny22 December 2002
First off, the Plot Outline about this movie is totally wrong. It's nothing to do with evil mutants killing college students.
This movie is a look into the past (skeletons in the closet) arising slowly out of a trouble-some woman ; in a marriage who don't know what she wants. Her husband, played by Zach G., of 'Gremlins' fame, is a meek,quiet brother of his oldest brother : a more street wise man, returning in his life after a few years. With his return, he must encounter his younger brothers wife, once his close lady. The rest you must see. I thought it was a fairly good flick. Something you'd see once or twice with your girl eating popcorn and rubbing each others cold feet in front of a wall-based flat screen , pixel- happy television set. Got it?LOL!
This movie is a look into the past (skeletons in the closet) arising slowly out of a trouble-some woman ; in a marriage who don't know what she wants. Her husband, played by Zach G., of 'Gremlins' fame, is a meek,quiet brother of his oldest brother : a more street wise man, returning in his life after a few years. With his return, he must encounter his younger brothers wife, once his close lady. The rest you must see. I thought it was a fairly good flick. Something you'd see once or twice with your girl eating popcorn and rubbing each others cold feet in front of a wall-based flat screen , pixel- happy television set. Got it?LOL!
Femme Fatale
kosmasp25 May 2022
I feel this is way better than the score it got here. The actors alone warrant a higher review score in my humble opinion, but that is me of course. Of course there are some soapy elements, but having said that, the movie works really well. It has the erotic mayhem you'd expect this to have. It has thrilling elements and suspension from start to finish.
You can guess most things that will happen, but maybe not all. It is about friends and what they will do to help you .. and not help you I reckon. Especially when a woman is involved.
The ending is a bit strange to say the least ... but I've seen worse for sure. Still a bit more coherence would have helped its own case - and may be the reason feel so negatively about it. Try not to let it impact what you felt before for it, if you can.
You can guess most things that will happen, but maybe not all. It is about friends and what they will do to help you .. and not help you I reckon. Especially when a woman is involved.
The ending is a bit strange to say the least ... but I've seen worse for sure. Still a bit more coherence would have helped its own case - and may be the reason feel so negatively about it. Try not to let it impact what you felt before for it, if you can.
Ok thriller
fppi3 August 2000
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