AKA DEATH GAME
(1977)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-PETER S. TRAYNOR CAST- SONDRA LOCKE, COLLEEN CAMP, SEYMOUR CASSEL, BETH BRICKELL and MICHAEL KALMANSOHN. SOURCE-VIDEO GEMS VHS
One dark and stormy evening, in a rich and well off neighborhood, two girls (SONDRA LOCKE and COLLEEN CAMP) knock on George Manning’s (SEYMOUR CASSEL) front door. George a man of wealth, alone in his house after his wife leaves on a short trip to attend one of their children. Opens the door and with polite intend invites the two drench women in to dry off. Playful at first, the women wonder the great hall of George’s large house. Wondering around in owe as to all the wonderful things in each room. Then, they find the bathroom, but not just any bathroom. One with many things of delight in the girl’s eyes. A hot tub, sauna and a great place to set the seduction of George up. Unknowing this, George searches the house for the two girls, only to find them nude and waiting for him in the hot tub. They invite him in, but George pronounces his faithfulness to his wife and children, but with a normal man’s fantasy of two women together sitting in front of him, the desire is too great. That would be George’s second and most fatal mistake, the first was to let them in. Once the seduction is over with, the two girls have what they want, extortion if need be. Claiming that they are only 15, the thought of his wife and children finding out of this event, the burden becomes too heavy, or at least that is what the two girls intend. After George shows them that their plan isn’t going to work, they take two plan b, hold him captive and show him a night of terror he’ll never forget.
The rage is still circulating in through my body, the same intense anger that Sondra Locke’s character of Jackson generated. Even though it’s been hours since watching it, THE SEDUCERS really left a mark on my manhood here, I’ve witnessed many films that toiled with rape and revenge, extortion and all that stuff, but from a male on female position. This was different, this was taken from the position of a male being held captive and tortured to a point by females, psychotic ones at that. It took my two viewing of this film to actual enjoy it, the first I was sitting on the fence, but by the second time through it, I was convinced. Grant you overall this film is really a drawn out borefest, but the characters portrayed here are incredible. They are the central reasoning my eyes were glued to the screen, especially the second round. The first round, I just developed down right hatred towards Jackson, but the second time I knew the feeling was meant to be intensional. Seemingly innocent at first, once they seduce George into their trap, their who sense of being does a total 360. When George is tied up captive and tortured, it becomes like you watching a sporting event, you root for George in hopes that he will free himself. Everytime he comes close, there they are, the vixens of total evil prancing on his manhood.
There is the good and the bad with THE SEDUCERS, the good being the earlier mentioned, the strong representation of characters here. Also, director Peter S. Traynor’s ability to lead them in the right direction. And the one big element that was a positive with this whole film, the lighting, though dark at times, it works to Traynor’s advantage. Giving the viewer the total feeling of helplessness, what it was like for George to endure his trip of total insanity. Only certain colors registered, heavy greens and reds, giving the viewer the whole ambience of fear generated be these two females of fatale. Unfortunately, the good ends there and the bad takes over. An overall borefest indeed, only really does the mid-story really hold your interest. That isn’t help by the repetitive playing of the film’s main theme. The theme itself is an annoyance, let alone it being played over and over again. The film’s setup is also little to be desired for, you just want to fast forward to the action. The ending though will some what get you, it had me in owe the first time, totally not expecting it at all. Though I can still say I’m a fence sitter on this one, I’d go as far as to say, I liked it for it’s mid-story action and character generation. A generation that still has my blood boiling!
2.5 BITCH SLAPS
