By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Sacramento filmmakers,
Deon Taylor and his wife
Roxanne Avent seem to have the Midas touch when making, deliriously entertaining psychological thrillers.
They doubled the drama with last year's hit movies, "The Intruder" and "Black and Blue." Now, they deliver the goods once again with their latest film,
"Fatale which Taylor directed and Avent co-produced.
"Fatale" isn't a mere warmed-over version of "Fatal Attraction," but rather an erotic and wicked little movie filled with several juicy twists that will keep you guessing throughout. Not to mention it features a surprising and powerful star turn from Hilary Swank (TV's "Away" and "BoJack Horseman").
The film reunites Taylor with screenwriter David Loughery, ("The Intruder") and one of Taylor's favorite actors to work with, Michael Ealy who also starred in "The Intruder."
In "Fatale," Ealy plays Derrick Tyler, a former college hoops star turned successful Los Angeles advertising exec/sports agent who along with his business partner Rafe Grimes (a terrific Mike Colter, TV's "Evil" and "Social Distance") sign only top-notch athletes.
Being the best in the business often comes with a price. The long hours and everything that Derrick's job entails keeps him from spending time with his lovely wife Traci (an excellent Damaris Lewis, "Black KkKlansman" and TV's "See").
Traci seems to be OK with their hectic lifestyle. Then again, looks can be deceiving. I mean really deceiving.
When Derrick is invited to a bachelor party in Las Vegas and meets an attractive and flirtatious woman named Valerie Quinlan (Swank), they hook up and the next morning Derrick is ready to head home. However, Val wants to take him for a few more spins. Derrick clearly is no longer interested in Val and when he dismisses her, she shows her true colors.
Of course, Derrick figures what happens in Vegas will stay in Vegas, but he soon discovers that's not the case.
One night while at home in bed with Traci, their house is burglarized. The next day, a detective comes over to investigate the break in and it’s none other than Val. Yeah, she's a police detective and a devious, conniving, and revengeful one at that. She is sure making Derrick squirm now especially when she starts asking Traci some pointed questions.
Oh, what a tangled web Derrick is in now. How can he break from this and save his marriage, career, and reputation? He turns to Rafe for some guidance, which is a really, really bad idea. The more he tries to end this nightmare, the bigger it becomes.
Taylor pours on the drama at every turn and serves up some crazy twists involving Swank, Colter, and Lewis.
Ealy sells his nice guy character well and it kind of hurts to see his world come crashing down around him all for a one-night stand with this psycho femme fatale.
“Fatale,” is another solid offering from Taylor/Avent and if you’re a fan of this genre like I am, it’s a must-see.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 1530 AM and 93.1 FM.
Check Out This Trailer For
"FATALE"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics' Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
