'Fatal passion' is so astoundingly blunt, and lacking of all subtlety, that it frankly is much more of a comedy than a thriller. The opening credits utilize a font that I swear I recognize from either 'Saved by the bell,' or some other early 90s live-action kids' television programming. We're treated to an astounding abundance of nudity that is only ever gratuitous (mostly from star Lisa Comshaw, apparently also known as Tori Sinclair), and sex scenes are filmed with such similar outrageous forthrightness that I can't help but laugh. Some performances (Lawrence Tierney, Cynthia Rothrock) bear traces of meaningful range or nuance, but to a greater extent most are characterized by unbelievably straightforward, plainspoken delivery and comportment that can't possibly be called "acting." Nowhere is this more true than with Comshaw (her casting here was obviously not based on dramatic skills), and especially with Steve Vaughn (cinephiles the world over should be grateful for how few credits he apparently has to his name). I won't say this movie isn't entertaining, but to the extent that it is, it's mostly for the wrong reasons.
In all fairness to the cast, the shortcomings in their contributions surely can be ascribed to at least some degree to thin material, and weak direction - and filmmaker T. L. Lankford is to blame for both. Though Lankford's work as director is broadly unexceptional, his guidance of the cast seems to hone in squarely on black and white moods without any consideration for shades of grey. Meanwhile, his dialogue varies between brusquely bland, overwrought, and clichéd, and scene writing is no better. Characters are flat and unremarkable, and like the narrative are largely defined by tropes. The concept has potential, and that potential has been teased out elsewhere to vibrant, exquisite ends (see Maria Alice Arida's 2018 short film 'Instinct'). Here, sex and violence in the first act that should be invigorating is only funny. Romance in the second act waters down the possibilities and makes for a weird tonal shift that's unconvincing, if not also unintentionally humorous (and on par with the tawdry sex scene in Uwe Boll's 'BloodRayne' in terms of sensuality). Would-be moments of emotional weight just don't cut it. And the third act slams all this together with deep inelegance, and a climax that all but totally breaks suspension of disbelief.
I do earnestly appreciate the work on the movie from behind the scenes. I feel like more attention and detail was applied to, say, set design and decoration, than to anything else we see. Hats off to the crew! Would that more care were put into other aspects. I don't think 'Fatal passion' is outright bad, but it's stunningly weak in too many important ways - writing, directing, acting - for it to be anything more than very, very average. Above all, a thriller should be thrilling (imagine that), and this is decidedly not. Whatever it was to draw you in to this movie, even with all its flaws you could certainly do worse. Still, with so many other pictures to watch in so many other places, why would you go out of your way for this one? Uneven and unbalanced from the very start through to the very end, 'Fatal passion' is a title to watch more out of idle curiosity than earnest desire.
In all fairness to the cast, the shortcomings in their contributions surely can be ascribed to at least some degree to thin material, and weak direction - and filmmaker T. L. Lankford is to blame for both. Though Lankford's work as director is broadly unexceptional, his guidance of the cast seems to hone in squarely on black and white moods without any consideration for shades of grey. Meanwhile, his dialogue varies between brusquely bland, overwrought, and clichéd, and scene writing is no better. Characters are flat and unremarkable, and like the narrative are largely defined by tropes. The concept has potential, and that potential has been teased out elsewhere to vibrant, exquisite ends (see Maria Alice Arida's 2018 short film 'Instinct'). Here, sex and violence in the first act that should be invigorating is only funny. Romance in the second act waters down the possibilities and makes for a weird tonal shift that's unconvincing, if not also unintentionally humorous (and on par with the tawdry sex scene in Uwe Boll's 'BloodRayne' in terms of sensuality). Would-be moments of emotional weight just don't cut it. And the third act slams all this together with deep inelegance, and a climax that all but totally breaks suspension of disbelief.
I do earnestly appreciate the work on the movie from behind the scenes. I feel like more attention and detail was applied to, say, set design and decoration, than to anything else we see. Hats off to the crew! Would that more care were put into other aspects. I don't think 'Fatal passion' is outright bad, but it's stunningly weak in too many important ways - writing, directing, acting - for it to be anything more than very, very average. Above all, a thriller should be thrilling (imagine that), and this is decidedly not. Whatever it was to draw you in to this movie, even with all its flaws you could certainly do worse. Still, with so many other pictures to watch in so many other places, why would you go out of your way for this one? Uneven and unbalanced from the very start through to the very end, 'Fatal passion' is a title to watch more out of idle curiosity than earnest desire.
