Film #20 — 1/1 Film From a Black Director With a Black Lead; 7/9 Decades
By C. Ramsay
Distributed by Troma Entertainment and directed, produced, and written by James Bond III, who also stars, Def by Temptation is a small-scale production about a succubus who takes the form of a Black woman to seduce and kill Black men in New York City.
For an independent project this size, every component is well put together. Featuring an overall killer soundtrack, as well as gorgeously moody lighting and cinematography by Ernest Dickerson, frequent collaborator with Spike Lee, the atmosphere is pristine. The script is vibrant, with Bond’s writing creating a well-paced comedic tone that’s effortlessly carried through the film thanks to the acting done by himself, Kadeem Hardison, and Bill Nun. The viewer is able to learn a lot about each character after only a few lines of dialogue each, and anyone who isn’t simply a background actor therefore feels well-rounded and either relatable or identifiable in personality.
The choreography of the first seduction scene, which takes place during the opening sequence, is dripping with sensuality and doesn’t try to hide any details about the antagonist of the film. What we see is exactly what we get, with Cynthia Bond (no relation to James) being the true standout as the succubus known only as Temptress. Her physical acting is impressive, switching from sweet, seductive, and charismatic to taking on a domineering posture and completely overwhelming her scene partners in an instant. Her ability to so easily suit the personalities of her victims is impressively chameleonic.
Temptation in this film is not just for the act of sex, but for how it can be used as an escape from undesired sexuality, marriage, faith, class, and responsibility, among other things. All in all, Def by Temptation is an exploration of community, of struggle, and of these ranging temptations, using its succubus as a singular point of contention to draw everything together in a way that’s just as smooth, sexy, and full of style today as it was nearly four decades ago.
Star rating (/5): ★★★★
Recommend?: Yes