This movie was almost a total waste of time if you had nothing better to do or just believe in supporting indie films it's okay.If you are expecting anything that holds the attention or even decent acting forget. To be fair the actors can't be blamed the writing was terrible which I can't understand when the premise of the movie had such potential.It seem to be a soap opera and not a very good one at that there was no character development nor any type of build up to important scenes. The dialog was unbelievable as well as strained to the point where nothing seemed realistic I would suggest that you see anything besides this movie unless you just want to be able to tell your friends that you saw a train wreck.
15 Reviews
If only the movie itself was half as fascinating as its villain.....
bob_meg11 July 2011
N-Secure is billed on Amazon as some sort of psychological character study of how a man can go from the pinnacle of success into the bowels of hell, simply because he isn't secure with himself and the people around him.
Well, that's not quite accurate...it's really more about an obsessive controlling psychopath and his attempt to enslave virtually everyone around him into a "serve me or die" pact. What starts as an intriguing character study of an obviously emotionally bruised martinet devolves into an African American take on "the female imprisoned" ala Jennifer Lopez's "Enough," only that film was played much broader and almost for sheer action-adventure adrenaline. N-Secure never achieves that kind of driving, operatic rhythm, and by the end, you could swear you're watching a Lifetime movie.
This film had four screenwriters. That's about two too many in most cases, and it definitely shows here. The film is littered with stray, odd scenes that are intriguing in that they illuminate bits of David's shattered psyche, but then doesn't do anything with them. For instance, early on we meet a Marine buddy of David's who appears to only be in the movie as a sounding board for an exposition on David's combative resentful relationship with this father. Another scene shows his current girlfriend seeking help from a therapist who seems to understand how dangerous David is. Neither of these scenes pan out or add anything to the movie in the long run, they may as well have been cut.
Cordell Moore, who plays David, comes across as such an over-the-top maniac it's hard to feel any sympathy for him and it makes it even more implausible when his latest squeeze Tina (Denise Boutte) stays with him through repeated abusive episodes --- David isn't just a physical abuser, he's downright nasty to be around most of the time, even when he's showering her with gifts.
The real problem, though, lies with director David Matthews. The film has a lot of pacing problems, never balancing the tension between David's current world with the paternity subplot helmed thanklessly by the normally very good Essence Atkins. There are times you wonder if one of the plots has just been dropped. Yes, this is a script problem but the director seems to not have had much input into this, or not cared. Unfortunately, at times, the whole thing seems a bit too much like a "hey-I-got-a-pile-of-money-to-blow-on-a-movie" experiment. It seems clotted with family and friends, many of whom can't act at all and who obviously are playing a "type:" Tempest Bledsoe (yes, THAT Tempest Bledsoe) and Thomas Miles as Harold (WHAT does this guy DO at David's office...is he doing a Jimmie Walker impersonation or is he just the Jive A** court jester?).
It's too bad because this had some very interesting seeds of an intense character drama. But it's hard to make films like that. It's much easier to churn out formulaic psycho-husband movies, like this one. It makes Tyler Perry's pseudo dramatics almost seem professional by comparison.
Well, that's not quite accurate...it's really more about an obsessive controlling psychopath and his attempt to enslave virtually everyone around him into a "serve me or die" pact. What starts as an intriguing character study of an obviously emotionally bruised martinet devolves into an African American take on "the female imprisoned" ala Jennifer Lopez's "Enough," only that film was played much broader and almost for sheer action-adventure adrenaline. N-Secure never achieves that kind of driving, operatic rhythm, and by the end, you could swear you're watching a Lifetime movie.
This film had four screenwriters. That's about two too many in most cases, and it definitely shows here. The film is littered with stray, odd scenes that are intriguing in that they illuminate bits of David's shattered psyche, but then doesn't do anything with them. For instance, early on we meet a Marine buddy of David's who appears to only be in the movie as a sounding board for an exposition on David's combative resentful relationship with this father. Another scene shows his current girlfriend seeking help from a therapist who seems to understand how dangerous David is. Neither of these scenes pan out or add anything to the movie in the long run, they may as well have been cut.
Cordell Moore, who plays David, comes across as such an over-the-top maniac it's hard to feel any sympathy for him and it makes it even more implausible when his latest squeeze Tina (Denise Boutte) stays with him through repeated abusive episodes --- David isn't just a physical abuser, he's downright nasty to be around most of the time, even when he's showering her with gifts.
The real problem, though, lies with director David Matthews. The film has a lot of pacing problems, never balancing the tension between David's current world with the paternity subplot helmed thanklessly by the normally very good Essence Atkins. There are times you wonder if one of the plots has just been dropped. Yes, this is a script problem but the director seems to not have had much input into this, or not cared. Unfortunately, at times, the whole thing seems a bit too much like a "hey-I-got-a-pile-of-money-to-blow-on-a-movie" experiment. It seems clotted with family and friends, many of whom can't act at all and who obviously are playing a "type:" Tempest Bledsoe (yes, THAT Tempest Bledsoe) and Thomas Miles as Harold (WHAT does this guy DO at David's office...is he doing a Jimmie Walker impersonation or is he just the Jive A** court jester?).
It's too bad because this had some very interesting seeds of an intense character drama. But it's hard to make films like that. It's much easier to churn out formulaic psycho-husband movies, like this one. It makes Tyler Perry's pseudo dramatics almost seem professional by comparison.
Not Bad For A Freshman Effort
zardoz-1323 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Freshman director David M. Matthews delivers a tolerably entertaining soap opera/crime thriller about an affluent, white-collar, African-American worker who suffers from an abysmal case of insecurity where the women in his life are concerned. David Alan Washington (Cordell Moore of the video version of "Why Did I Get Married?") is a micro-managing martinet of man who doesn't trust women, especially after his fiancée cheats on him the day before his wedding with a close friend's boyfriend. Predictably, David cannot stand for this indiscretion, much less the complete lack of respect that his fiancée, Robin Joyner (Essence Atkins of "Dance Flick"), treats him when she tries to have sex with a well-chiseled guy on the floor of David's palatial residence. The boyfriend happens to be the dude that her closest friend, Jill (Tempestt Bledsoe of "Bachelor Man"), intends to wed, and Jill is just as furious with Robyn as she is her musician fiancé, Isaac Roberts (Lamman Rucker of "Meet the Browns"), for permitting Jill to seduce him. When David and Jill walk in on them, David asks Robyn why she is out of breath while Jill points out that Isaac has his fly unzipped. David rules his life by his watch; he is a creature of habit and refuses to tolerate anything less than perfection. Be a minute or two late to an appointment with David and he blows his stack. We learn that he was a Marine who paid for his college education without having to appeal to his equally intolerable father who held a low opinion of him for the get-go. This part of his character has alienated Robyn and she confided in Jill that she doesn't love David on the day before they are to be married.
No sooner has David broken up with Jill than he takes a fancy to his secretary's cousin, Tina Simpson (Denise Boutte of "Extreme Movie"), and takes her off on a vacation that was initially designed to be his honeymoon with Robin. Tina has a rough time adapting to David's lifestyle. Moreover, she doesn't realize how jealous that David is. Indeed, David tampered with the brakes on Isaac's caddy and Isaac collided with a train at a railway crossing because he couldn't put on his brakes. The actual collision is suggested more than shown and the opinion of the coroner is that Isaac committed suicide. The biggest problem that "N-Secure" suffers from is its lack of tying up all the loose ends. For example, Robyn winds up pregnant with David's child and he issues a restraining order that she is not to come within a 100 feet of him. Robyn calls for DNA testing to prove that David is the father of her baby daughter. David responds by bribing the medical technician who performs the test, but this redoubles Robyn's efforts to make sure that David pays for his consequences.
When David and Tina start seeing each other, the relationship is like a dream come true until David demands that Tina sign a contract so that he can trust her. He demands that she respect him, call him no later than a minute after he has called if she cannot answer, and stay away from her girlfriends. As far as David is concerned, when a woman hangs out with her girlfriends, this kind of behavior qualifies as an alibi so that she can cheat on her man. One day Tina accidentally burns herself with a curling iron while fixing her hair and David jumps to conclusions and accuses her of having been out with another man. Despite David's terminal case of insecurity, Tina loves him for the beautiful man that he is deep down in side. It doesn't take long for Tina to go sour on their relationship. When her brother calls and asks her to come home for the weekend, David immediately concludes that Tina is lying so that she can hop in the sack with another dude.
Meanwhile, Robyn doesn't let the restraining order keep her from getting what is rightfully her's for her daughter. She sneaks into David's office (how'd she get past the building guards who should have been alerted to her status?) and steals a straw out of David's garbage can so she can find something to test his DNA. The DNA doctor stands by the negative reports that were shown in the test that David did not sire the child. Nevertheless, he agrees to an informal re-test. David loses no time trying to kill Robyn. He tampers her brakes and she careens through Memphis traffic and strikes a lamppost because no harm occurs to either Robyn or her baby. The re-test proves that David is the father of Robyn's baby. Eventually, Tina musters the nerve to leave David, but he catches her and slaps her. Tina seizes a knife and slashes David; David pins her to the floor with the very same knife and prepares to kill her when . . . the surprise ending kicks in.
This low-budget feature film lensed on location in Memphis, Tennessee, has just enough polish to get by, but it lacks closure of the issue of David's murderous behavior and his willingness to bribe anybody to get his way. Not a bad start for Matthews as a helmer. The cinematography and editing are crisp. Presumably, the lack of closure in regard to David's deeds can be chalked up to the low-budget. The ending is somewhat of a surprise. The movie doesn't wear out its welcome, but it isn't as smooth as a major studio picture.
No sooner has David broken up with Jill than he takes a fancy to his secretary's cousin, Tina Simpson (Denise Boutte of "Extreme Movie"), and takes her off on a vacation that was initially designed to be his honeymoon with Robin. Tina has a rough time adapting to David's lifestyle. Moreover, she doesn't realize how jealous that David is. Indeed, David tampered with the brakes on Isaac's caddy and Isaac collided with a train at a railway crossing because he couldn't put on his brakes. The actual collision is suggested more than shown and the opinion of the coroner is that Isaac committed suicide. The biggest problem that "N-Secure" suffers from is its lack of tying up all the loose ends. For example, Robyn winds up pregnant with David's child and he issues a restraining order that she is not to come within a 100 feet of him. Robyn calls for DNA testing to prove that David is the father of her baby daughter. David responds by bribing the medical technician who performs the test, but this redoubles Robyn's efforts to make sure that David pays for his consequences.
When David and Tina start seeing each other, the relationship is like a dream come true until David demands that Tina sign a contract so that he can trust her. He demands that she respect him, call him no later than a minute after he has called if she cannot answer, and stay away from her girlfriends. As far as David is concerned, when a woman hangs out with her girlfriends, this kind of behavior qualifies as an alibi so that she can cheat on her man. One day Tina accidentally burns herself with a curling iron while fixing her hair and David jumps to conclusions and accuses her of having been out with another man. Despite David's terminal case of insecurity, Tina loves him for the beautiful man that he is deep down in side. It doesn't take long for Tina to go sour on their relationship. When her brother calls and asks her to come home for the weekend, David immediately concludes that Tina is lying so that she can hop in the sack with another dude.
Meanwhile, Robyn doesn't let the restraining order keep her from getting what is rightfully her's for her daughter. She sneaks into David's office (how'd she get past the building guards who should have been alerted to her status?) and steals a straw out of David's garbage can so she can find something to test his DNA. The DNA doctor stands by the negative reports that were shown in the test that David did not sire the child. Nevertheless, he agrees to an informal re-test. David loses no time trying to kill Robyn. He tampers her brakes and she careens through Memphis traffic and strikes a lamppost because no harm occurs to either Robyn or her baby. The re-test proves that David is the father of Robyn's baby. Eventually, Tina musters the nerve to leave David, but he catches her and slaps her. Tina seizes a knife and slashes David; David pins her to the floor with the very same knife and prepares to kill her when . . . the surprise ending kicks in.
This low-budget feature film lensed on location in Memphis, Tennessee, has just enough polish to get by, but it lacks closure of the issue of David's murderous behavior and his willingness to bribe anybody to get his way. Not a bad start for Matthews as a helmer. The cinematography and editing are crisp. Presumably, the lack of closure in regard to David's deeds can be chalked up to the low-budget. The ending is somewhat of a surprise. The movie doesn't wear out its welcome, but it isn't as smooth as a major studio picture.
Seriously?!
darkangelchyc31 October 2010
Wow. First I had to double check that I was on the correct page for the movie that I just watched with my man last night. The other four reviews I have read are all positive and are flooded with undeserving compliments. We went into this movie without high expectations but at least expecting a good, solid effort. There were about 20 other people in the theater with us and we were all on the same page. This movie was atrocious. The dialogue was very poorly written, the filming was worse than a bad Lifetime movie, the actors and actresses were NOT on point. When the audience should have been getting worked up with emotion, they were all laughing instead... at the pure ridiculousness of this horrible excuse for a film. I heard one couple say this as we were leaving the theater, "I bet if Tyler Perry watched this, he was laughing his @ss off". I completely agree.
Do not waste your money to see this at the theater. Go see Red instead.
Do not waste your money to see this at the theater. Go see Red instead.
More Like a 'Comedy'. Shallow Writing. Cool Plot
stewart-sabrina18 August 2012
Warning: Spoilers
As an avid watcher and fan of Low(er) Budget/Independent films, I found this movie to be a ...
... disappointment.
I'm a fan of movies of this caliber, solely for their direction and plot, never taking the acting and production too seriously. However, this film was entirely too disconnected. The actors, who i do admire from other productions, were simply subjected to what seems like a very tight and cliché script writer.. there was absolutely NO raw passion or feeling allowed. Independent movies drool RAW - which is why I don't understand the robotic-ness of the roles. In fact, this is exactly what made the film's 'Psychological Thriller ' intention - more of a comical feeling! lol.
too bad though... the premise and the cast seem so promising. :-/
... disappointment.
I'm a fan of movies of this caliber, solely for their direction and plot, never taking the acting and production too seriously. However, this film was entirely too disconnected. The actors, who i do admire from other productions, were simply subjected to what seems like a very tight and cliché script writer.. there was absolutely NO raw passion or feeling allowed. Independent movies drool RAW - which is why I don't understand the robotic-ness of the roles. In fact, this is exactly what made the film's 'Psychological Thriller ' intention - more of a comical feeling! lol.
too bad though... the premise and the cast seem so promising. :-/
All over the place...
whitneyfwalker11 February 2013
Warning: Spoilers
...and implausible. I can't even figure out what the movie is really supposed to be about, because what the summary stated isn't in this movie. That is a psychological profile/thriller. But the characters aren't developed enough to have a feeling either way about them. Hmm. But I watched the whole thing just so I could accurately comment. The dialogue was horrible, and some of the acting (not all) was...there are no words. It's a shame because I have seen these actors in other films - they deserve better. But another user summed it up saying that Lifetime had better movies, and they were correct. I just reread this review, and it is isn't very clear. Kinda like this movie.
Awful
valeriegreen_154521 August 2012
I've seen bad movies before but this takes the cake! This movie is awful! Are the directors, writers, producers first-timers? Poor script, poor acting, poor directing; this is unreal! Nothing is believable. What many buys a woman he barely knows diamonds? I've seen many of these actors in other shows and this movie does them and injustice. I wonder if their acting careers became stagnant after this movie? Was this movie not read many times before the actors were selected? Were the scenes not viewed many times before this movie was edited? What was the budget of this movie; a few hundred thousand? Who did the make-up; yuck! Horrible, horrifying, terrible, this is beyond an epic fail!
Jesus H. Christ this movie is bad
durran-anon3 December 2012
I thought Tyler Perry was a horrid film maker. This movie truly reaches new lows. How could sigh a shitty movie attract so many talented actors?
The actor portraying David Washington does so in such an over the top manner that it is hard to take on a serious tone. You end up laughing when you should feel sympathy for his victims or anger towards his abusive behavior.
WHO THE HELL DRESSED NEPHEW TOMMY!?! He looked like a Damn cool in all of those ugly-ass suits. I hope he wasn't advertising a new fashion Pobre or something.
The actor portraying David Washington does so in such an over the top manner that it is hard to take on a serious tone. You end up laughing when you should feel sympathy for his victims or anger towards his abusive behavior.
WHO THE HELL DRESSED NEPHEW TOMMY!?! He looked like a Damn cool in all of those ugly-ass suits. I hope he wasn't advertising a new fashion Pobre or something.
Better than expected
drebaby17 October 2010
I actually enjoyed this movie as did the 25-30 people who were sitting in audience with me in a Los Angeles suburb. This was a thriller full of deceit and manipulation. The production was lacking due to budget constraints, but the story was good even though the main character had issues.
The characters in the movie were urban professionals played by former TV sitcom stars and a couple of actors from Tyler Perry's stable of actors. They were all good but the movie needed an A lister to sell it at the box office. I am thinking if a younger Samuel Jackson or Will Smith had played the lead character David Washington, this would have been a mini blockbuster. (Cordell Moore plays Mr. Washington very well)
It would have been against type for Will who lately has been transitioning from an urban hero to a more dramatic actor. Denzel won his Oscar for playing the ultimate bad cop. Will could have gotten at least a nomination playing the lead in this one.
It is worth the money so I say grab it in theaters if you can, and if you can't, at least get it when it makes it move to DVD where these types of movies usually start off at anyway.
The characters in the movie were urban professionals played by former TV sitcom stars and a couple of actors from Tyler Perry's stable of actors. They were all good but the movie needed an A lister to sell it at the box office. I am thinking if a younger Samuel Jackson or Will Smith had played the lead character David Washington, this would have been a mini blockbuster. (Cordell Moore plays Mr. Washington very well)
It would have been against type for Will who lately has been transitioning from an urban hero to a more dramatic actor. Denzel won his Oscar for playing the ultimate bad cop. Will could have gotten at least a nomination playing the lead in this one.
It is worth the money so I say grab it in theaters if you can, and if you can't, at least get it when it makes it move to DVD where these types of movies usually start off at anyway.
RED BOX it
uenvi_me20 July 2011
OK..The acting IS HORRIBLE. The movie did surprise me with some of the most ridiculous demands from the main character David.
The main character is very insecure, but not just him, the full cast is insecure. I liked the levels of insecurity each showed. I think that those who focus just on David tend to do so because thats what we expect. EXTREMES...
I like that this movie twisted and even though you THINK you know the next role, you don't quite see it or believe it. Its deff worth the dollar at red box, and yes if people can watch "jack ass, or jeepers creepers, they can watch this." Just try it and sit through it..disregard the acting flow and take it for what its worth..A very LOW budget, fluid wise, movie..he scenes were OK as was the wardrobe and extras casted...
The main character is very insecure, but not just him, the full cast is insecure. I liked the levels of insecurity each showed. I think that those who focus just on David tend to do so because thats what we expect. EXTREMES...
I like that this movie twisted and even though you THINK you know the next role, you don't quite see it or believe it. Its deff worth the dollar at red box, and yes if people can watch "jack ass, or jeepers creepers, they can watch this." Just try it and sit through it..disregard the acting flow and take it for what its worth..A very LOW budget, fluid wise, movie..he scenes were OK as was the wardrobe and extras casted...
A must see movie for everyone, not just women. A horrifying look at what a "man" will do in order to feel in control. I say B+
cosmo_tiger12 June 2011
"It's 12:06, I had a reservation for 12:45, you just blew it." David Alan Washington (Moore) is a very controlling man, everything must be on time and to his liking. When he comes home to find his fiancé Robin (Atkins) with another man he calls off the wedding. Then begins to date Tina, and becomes much, much worse. Some movies you watch have such an emotional impact on you that it effects your judgment of the film. This is one of them. The acting from the main cast is good (the supporting is if'y at best) but the Washington character distracts you from the flaws of the movie and you focus all your attention on how much you hate him and want horrible things to happen to him. The steps he takes in order to control the women in his life are very dangerous, and the fact that some people are actually like this is terrifying. It's hard to fully judge how good the movie was because of the hatred you feel toward the main character. It has such a polarizing affect that you can't stop watching because you want to see him get what he deserves. Overall a much better movie then I expected and I think everyone should watch this in order to see the way this "man" acts. You will like the movie but hate David. I give it a B+.
Would I watch again? - I would if someone who hasn't seen it wants to watch it.
*Also Try - For Colored Girls & I Can Do Bad All By Myself
Would I watch again? - I would if someone who hasn't seen it wants to watch it.
*Also Try - For Colored Girls & I Can Do Bad All By Myself
Loved the script
malebaggage3 May 2023
This is a great movie. I truly enjoyed watching. It has me on the edge of my seat all the way until the end. I didn't expect it to end how it ended. However, I recommend watching this movie. Moreover, though the budget might not have been affluent, they did an awesome job with what they had. The actors also did an awesome job at owning their parts. This was like a very good soap opera. I really wasn't expecting it to end. I could have watched this again. I wonder why the movie didn't really make it to the big screen. It seemed good enough to be in a AMC theater or something as such. I wish I could find this movie still till this day.
Not so bad
bbickley13-921-586642 June 2014
From the premise of the film witched I picked up in the first five or so minutes of watching, I was expecting more of a sappy melodrama with some serious over the top acting, which I did get plenty of, but I actually though the story was complex enough to hold my interest.
I thought the main character, David was an awesome villain. From the moment he hits the screen you can tell this guy is selfish and petty and only cares for himself. He's not an ass hole who treats women like dirt, he's a possessive man who wants to own the woman he is with. The highlight of the movie was seeing how far this guy would go to own his woman and the means he goes through when he cuts a woman out of his life. We get to see his entire development when he's in a relationship, which was fun to watch.
Tempestt Bledsoe was not a highlight, however. I felt that her over acting was too over the top from everybody else's over acting. It was really bad to watch.
Overall this was a great soap opera to watch unveil. If you watch Bounce TV late at night like I do, I say don't turn the channel when it's on and take a look.
I thought the main character, David was an awesome villain. From the moment he hits the screen you can tell this guy is selfish and petty and only cares for himself. He's not an ass hole who treats women like dirt, he's a possessive man who wants to own the woman he is with. The highlight of the movie was seeing how far this guy would go to own his woman and the means he goes through when he cuts a woman out of his life. We get to see his entire development when he's in a relationship, which was fun to watch.
Tempestt Bledsoe was not a highlight, however. I felt that her over acting was too over the top from everybody else's over acting. It was really bad to watch.
Overall this was a great soap opera to watch unveil. If you watch Bounce TV late at night like I do, I say don't turn the channel when it's on and take a look.
DIAMOND IN THE Hollywood ROUGH
melanee-may21 October 2010
This movie was excellent. The storyline was fabulous. Seeing Tempest Bledsoe back in the acting realm was awesome and this was Essence Atkins' most phenomenal performance in my opinion!! Essence really displayed her wonderful acting skills! Cordell Moore played this role very well!! I can not wait to see your work is more films. There was such a beautiful chemistry between the cast and it overflowed through to the audience! Lamman Rucker always adds a exquisite flair to any cast with his classical handsome looks..but it was wonderful to see a different side of him in this film. KUDOS to the entire cast and crew! I will definitely add this one to my DVD collection!
Enjoyed the Movie
syvonne22 October 2010
Once I located a theater that was showing the movie I went to see it. This is an excellent movie, plot was so real. Every one should go see it. The crew of actors were great. If you want to see how a controlling relationship really is, go see this movie. Can not wait for it to come out on DVD I will definitely purchase it. I could not see why this type of movie was not at all the movies. Everyone that has been in a relationship can relate to some part of the movie. Ladies take your man to see this movie. If you want to get into a relationship just for the material things and money, beware there is a price to pay, for sure. Controlling someone can be the death of you. This makes you think a few times about marriage, you have to take the time to really know a person male or female. Go see the movie for yourself.
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