While this tries to be a psychological thriller 'deadly illusions' is a snooze. The acting doesn't feel authentic and there's no chemistry. The storyline is fairly predictable and the brilliant twist falls flat. Characters lacked depth and made it hard to connect to the story. Story was basic and lacked development.
771 Reviews
Silly, third-rate 'Basic Instinct'-y thriller
Sir_AmirSyarif19 March 2021
Mary Morrison is a bestselling author who writes novels about "passion, sex, lies, betrayal." In order to focus on writing her next novel, Mary Morrison hires a young, hot nanny to look after her children - and maybe her husband too. It's pretty obvious where this is going. Anna Elizabeth James' 'Deadly Illussions' is a silly, paint-by-numbers, third-rate 'Basic Instinct'-y thriller with its thin and definitely confusing plot. Anyone who can sit through this without cringing at least once deserves an honorary Oscar. Stream it!
A throwback to 80s made for cable erotic thrillers - but not in a good way.
adrian-weale21 March 2021
The one redeeming feature of the 80s erotic thriller genre was that we got to see attractive performers get their kit off and do their thing, albeit in a usually clichéd and highly derivative set up. Sadly, that doesn't happen here. We've got the clichés and the lack of originality but none of the eroticism.
3 stars for the cast for managing to keep straight faces but that's about it.
3 stars for the cast for managing to keep straight faces but that's about it.
Reading the reviews is more entertaining than the film.
dansalisbury20 March 2021
The only thing this film is good for is slowing the passage of time, perhaps useful if you're on your deathbed. However I feel you'd be begging for death's sweet embrace far before the end credits.
Worth watching solely for the old woman in the library who does the worst keyboard acting I've ever seen in my life.
Worth watching solely for the old woman in the library who does the worst keyboard acting I've ever seen in my life.
I wish I could unsee it
austindoerr20 March 2021
Possibly the worst movie of 2021
liferightnah18 March 2021
Watch it if your day is really good and want to balance it out by feeling upset a little bit
citaernanda-9718420 March 2021
I'm so upset that this movie had to be this bad. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't boring but it was almost entertaining to watch how bad its plot and acting were.
I mean, the villain CAME OUT FROM NOWHERE. The story of the mother being a writer is almost useless. There was no correlation between the character and the conflict. The motives and background were definitely not in sync with the plot it meant to give.
The acting was not helping either. When they supposed to be happy they didn't look sincere, when someone supposed to be in shock, they didn't even do what people supposed to do when they're shocked.
I personally don't recommend it but go watch it if your day is so good and you need to balance it out by feeling upset a little bit.
I mean, the villain CAME OUT FROM NOWHERE. The story of the mother being a writer is almost useless. There was no correlation between the character and the conflict. The motives and background were definitely not in sync with the plot it meant to give.
The acting was not helping either. When they supposed to be happy they didn't look sincere, when someone supposed to be in shock, they didn't even do what people supposed to do when they're shocked.
I personally don't recommend it but go watch it if your day is so good and you need to balance it out by feeling upset a little bit.
Quite boring and doesn't make sense
Shoebarno18 March 2021
The movie is seemed to be quite lost about what story it was trying to tell. It could have been a good psychological thriller but it ends up being a sometimes sexy and sometimes meh slasher flick.
The "villain's" goals are unclear and nonsensical. The exposition of what makes the villain the villain is hamfisted and comes out of nowhere. The pieces of the early parts of the movie that is used as "foreshadowing" do not work. And in the end, as always, everything is blamed on a mental illness that the writers (and Hollywood really) don't seem to understand.
I don't recommend watching this.
The "villain's" goals are unclear and nonsensical. The exposition of what makes the villain the villain is hamfisted and comes out of nowhere. The pieces of the early parts of the movie that is used as "foreshadowing" do not work. And in the end, as always, everything is blamed on a mental illness that the writers (and Hollywood really) don't seem to understand.
I don't recommend watching this.
Has potential, the directing ruined it
jessdelong-2507220 March 2021
Heinous
bigturk-7631321 March 2021
So bad that it's actually entertaining.
ShriArunKumar4 April 2021
Delusions(?)
kosmasp31 March 2021
Do I consider this a great movie? No. Do I think it can be entertaining, especially if you consider the "competition" this has when it comes to similar movies? That is a very big yes. So I reckon I am a little bit surprised, but I reckon when people get savvy and snarky and cynical ... I almost want to board their train to be honest.
On the other hand, I also have expectatins to fulfill. And those include me being nice to movies from time to time. This being one of those instances. Especially considering that the shy one from Sex and the City is almost the complete opposite in this one ... Quite raunchy role she gets here. It is all in good fun ... if deadly games can be considered good fun that is of course.
Try not to take this too seriously and you'll have a good time. All the mayhem and insanity included.
On the other hand, I also have expectatins to fulfill. And those include me being nice to movies from time to time. This being one of those instances. Especially considering that the shy one from Sex and the City is almost the complete opposite in this one ... Quite raunchy role she gets here. It is all in good fun ... if deadly games can be considered good fun that is of course.
Try not to take this too seriously and you'll have a good time. All the mayhem and insanity included.
Dear god
scarlettimogen19 March 2021
This is bad. Kristen Davis is an absolute embarrassment....her acting is forced and cringingly awful. I can't believe Dermot Mulroney signed up for this absolute garbage. I mean he's not an Oscar worthy actor but he's worth way more than this. It tried so hard to be a psychological thriller and it fails completely and utterly. Avoid at all costs
The only deadly illusion is that this is any good
fiver519 March 2021
Bras
winecellarwomack21 March 2021
A misunderstood movie
ellebbz20 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Everyone has an opinion and their own way of understanding and expressing things/themes etc. For me, personally, the film was set at a good pace and was intriguing enough as I let myself flow with the film, instead of picking at every scene. It had a touch of sexiness without being vulgar, it had a touch of violence without being gore, it had a touch of mystery without being fantasy, you catch my drift?!
It was obvious from the start that something psychologically abnormal was going on there and there were hints at the mother being the killer which was twisted otherwise in the end, that was cute. All in all, my point being, the movie was a refreshing break from mindless saturated action we see these days and far from a trash drama/thriller, which can be so pretentious.
This movie is light enough but deep enough, only if you stopped to allow yourself to enjoy it.
I made an account just to write this review
bus-8683220 March 2021
If you enjoy classic thrillers, then this movie is for you.
matt_jacobs125 March 2021
Don't listen to the negative reviews. This movie is a thriller and exactly what it says on the tin. If you're expecting it to be something else, then you're wasting your time. Having said that, I enjoyed every bit of it. It was slow paced, character driven, tense and very well made. Yes it's corny and yes it's also trashy in parts too, but that's what makes a thriller a classic. There are some very raunchy parts too, which were not only pleasing to watch, but they added a 'forbidden fruit / Pandora's box' feel to the relationship between Mary and Grace. All of the negative reviews were clearly written by people expecting something completely different to what it actually is. Like I said if you are a fan of thrillers than this movie is for you.
The ending
emiliebekaert18 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I quite liked the movie. Although some scenes were very poorly made (especially the fights) I was intrigued by the set up of it all. I quite liked the movie and the mysterious story. My interpretation of the ending is that all of it is Mary and only Mary. She grew up in the traumatic family and created 'Grace' in her mind (Mary, mother of grace). Just an opinion though.
Terrible acting, execution, camera work
phuongchi-8087318 March 2021
The idea of this movie is not horrible. It's just bad and cliche 5/10. The worst thing is the acting. Omg it's like K. Davis never acted b4. So stiff, no emotion, clumsy much. The direction is also bad. Some stupid camera shooting... I want my time back.
Haha
marcus-2269225 March 2021
Once again a movie that spreads misinformation by claiming DID/schizophrenia = killer, disappointing
verycoolmydude19 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I was intrigued by the idea of the movie at first but the further it got, the worse it got. In the end it is revealed that Grace is traumatized and therefore "of course" becomes an insane killer. I am genuinely angry that mental illnesses like schizophrenia and DID keep getting portrayed like something that makes a person dangerous. This kind of "person ends up hurting others"-stuff happens extremely rarely and people who suffer from these mental conditions will probably feel extremely uncomfortable about discussing them because WELL MOVIES LIKE THIS. Using mental illnesses and the incredibly misinformed stereotypes surrounding them as a way to make money is just plain stupid, especially when a movie where these would be corrected would most likely create a much better, well, movie.
Also, the movie made it look like she was able to control her transformations, which is ridiculous, it's not like an on/off-switch you press. It happens through triggers. And she seemed to be able to hide the other personality of hers which, once again is completely unrealistic.
The ending was confusing and the point where she walks out of the hospital is in my opinion completely unnecessary. I doubt anyone liked that part simply because it was such an obvious "mysterious ending oooo". I would have been a lot less disappointed if the movie had ended when they met each other at the hospital -- at least that would've indicated that Grace got help for her untreated illness.
Also, the movie made it look like she was able to control her transformations, which is ridiculous, it's not like an on/off-switch you press. It happens through triggers. And she seemed to be able to hide the other personality of hers which, once again is completely unrealistic.
The ending was confusing and the point where she walks out of the hospital is in my opinion completely unnecessary. I doubt anyone liked that part simply because it was such an obvious "mysterious ending oooo". I would have been a lot less disappointed if the movie had ended when they met each other at the hospital -- at least that would've indicated that Grace got help for her untreated illness.
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