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November 2010
cast: Rachel Walters, Caroline Haines, Laura Evans, Alexander D'Andrea, and Robert Sean Riazo
director: Catherine Taylor
87 minutes (18) 2009
widescreen ratio 1.78:1
Eureka DVD Region 2
RATING: 2/10
review by James A. Stewart
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Temptation
Vampire stories divide opinion like few other genres. The definition of the vampire is so loose that it allows a myriad of interpretations and
some quite ingenuous movies have been made using the broad spectrum of myths, lore and legends of the beast. Temptation, on the other hand,
is throwaway crap of the highest order.
The opening scene, classic beginning the story in the middle technique, shows Issy (Caroline Haines) on London's Tower Bridge, wrestling with
the question of whether or not to jump. If only she had. You see, we soon find out that Issy has 48 hours to decide between 'life', as a member
of London based group of female vampires, or death.
Quite a choice; and how she gets to this life-defining moment is presented to us in gloriously awful acting and direction. I do wonder as to
whether the acting is really as bad as it appears, or if the direction just makes it seem so. It is as if every scene is cut about one second
short, meaning reactions and dialogue all look as if they are just that bit forced. Whatever it is, Temptation becomes quite difficult to watch.
Issy is raped and about to be left for dead by an unregistered cab driver in London; you know the stereotype, overcoat wearing Caucasian in his
late-fifties, greying hair and perma-sneer. In fact, just the kind of guy whose non-taxi looking car you'd jump into after a night on the tiles.
However, as Issy is being finished off, Aurelie comes in and kills the rapist. Issy's pleas for help are then answered by way of a drop of the
vampiric Aurelie's blood. Thus, her 48 hours of hell begin.
Meanwhile, the police are on Issy's trail after her phone is found next to the mutilated (and trouser-less) corpse of her violator. Inspector
Morris makes the stereotype of the cabby look positively unique in comparison, and his pursuit of Issy is tiresome. Fans of the genre will enjoy
the gore, and that there is an army of female vampires luring unsuspecting young lads to a lust-laden doom as well as the fact the violence and
sadism levels are on high. The gratuitous flashing of flesh is done from the get-go but adds nothing to the plot, thin as it is, and the overall
presentation.
Whilst the acting and directing are well below even a poor B-movie standard, the cinematography is quite well done, with the lighting and vistas
of London bringing a pleasing-on-the-eye production to the viewer. If psycho female vampires, below par acting, purposeless plots, and stuttery
direction are your thing then I hope you enjoy Temptation, as it has everything you need.
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