Def by Temptation (1990)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Absolutely the worst movie.

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

K(Kadeem Hardison)must find away to stop a succubus/vampire/temptress(Cynthia Bond)from securing the desires of his young minister brother, Joel(James Bond III, who also produced and directed)who is visiting him from a bible belt town from North Carolina. He'll seek help from ladies' man wannabe Dougy(Bill Nunn, well cast)who frequents a popular pick-up bar. The temptress, as seen in flashbacks through Joel's nightmares, caused the car crash and death of his parents. This would be the ultimate victory for the succubus if she could cause a man of God to follow his fleshy lust and fornicate. We see the succubus claim several male victims she picks up in bars through various vicious attacks(Dickerson often shades the violence through some creative photography and set-ups perhaps because the money for the budget was tight and using the imagination was crucial). Will Joel remain faithful to the Lord or surrender his lusts to a demon? Can his brother, K, somehow help Joel before it's too late? Exceptionally well made considering it's minuscule budget thanks to cinematographer Ernest Dickerson's amazing, imaginative camera-work. The acting is off at times, providing some awkward moments, but the direction is potent enough to hold interest. The plot and decision to use all black performers adds a special ingredient to the horror genre. James Bond III is weak in the lead, but has enough charismatic supporters around him to sell the picture. The low rating on this site is ridiculous.

Atmospheric, erotic, sleek, poignant, original? Def By Temptation is none of these. Painfully slow, painfully boring. Terrible cinematography, lighting and editing. Terrible acting. Terrible music. Nothing worth seeing.Samuel L. Jackson is prominently featured on the front and back of the DVD box, and the DVD menu, and his name appears first on the front and back of the box's credits. He's barely in it!The DVD box states there is "Commentary by Fangoria Managing Editor Michael Gingold" and "Commentary by VideoHound author Mike Mayo." Think that means there's feature- length audio commentary by them? Think again! They are seen talking about the movie for less than two minutes each in videos in the special features section. There is only one audio track for the movie, and no commentary track by anyone.Cynthia Bond, playing the "Temptress" is not pictured or even credited on the box. Little wonder! She's a very homely looking middle-aged woman. Still, she's one of the main stars of the movie, and that's hardly fair to her to not credit her on the box.Not sure what this what was shot on. DVD has full-frame presentation only.

What? And why?Thinking of seeing this? Ha ha ha. My dear friend, greater pleasure can be derived from a root canal or a slow limb amputation, minus the anesthesia. Watch this only if you're into laughably bad make-up effects or "Diff'rent World" actors destroying their careers.I like a lot of celluloid garbage but this merits a 10 on the no effing way scale.A stake through the heart! If it had one.

This is more than a, 'blaxplotation' film. It has deep, 'religious overtone's' Director Bond was attempting to make a point to that, 'male unsatisfied lust'! Doing this by way of a scary demon temptress called, 'Temptation'! It was meant to scare, and make you think. (Unfortunately a fixed film budget can only go so far when you're making a horror film which requires special effect's on the order of the, 'Exorcist'.) Mr. Bonds point was well taken here! I recommend the rental!