Temptation Of Eve, The

Acting was good. Film quality was good. Storyline was so close. It needed the "give in" ending. Why do I want to watch something I'd do in my own life? I want the ending I wouldn't pick. I want the fantasy.

Dr. Chauntelle does not use a rating system. Five stars is a default setting only.

Well, it appears we've reached that point - you know, that point when someone's efforts are so good that you wonder "Where could they possibly go from here? Clearly only down..." but then you get to their next project and you're completely taken aback by how re-amazed you are, just in a totally new direction.

Yeah... New Sensations' The Temptation of Eve (2013) is like that.

If you're interested in an extremely well-done exploration of a series of temptations and struggles that many have experienced before, stop reading now and go watch this film. You will not be disappointed.

But if you want me to spoil it a little bit for you, read on...

Eve is in a real life relationship with Danny, and real life is hard. And though they seem well-matched, the rest of the world is throwing them major curveballs.

Eve used to know Brandon, but she slipped up (slipped up?) once and fell for the game she knew he played with everyone else. And though she thought she was impervious to his tricks, turns out she wasn't.

And now these three are all together, under the same roof.

I won't tell you what happens, but Eve has a series of decisions to make - both about what she wants and about what others' intentions might be. This is one of The Temptation of Eve's truly incredible dimensions - we get to see Eve struggle with her desires and with attempting to puzzle out the desires of others. The tensions built around love, lust, and (potential) consequence are compelling and intense.

Remy LaCroix is luminous and perfect as Eve. Her acting is heartfelt and convincing, and her sex performances are a key dimension in her character's development. Seriously - Remy acts with sex in this film. It is so impressive to watch.

Bookending Remy's performance are two equally impressive efforts from Xander Corvus and Tommy Pistol.

Xander's Brandon is absolutely . Both alluring and hot, while also kinda repulsive, he embodies temptation. And throughout the entire film, you never know if he's being sincere... or if he truly is poison. (I have a guess though)

For good as well as for meh, Danny is the antithesis of temptation; and Tommy Pistol's performance as Danny is necessarily subtle, but also brave.

To me, this seems like a difficult thing - difficult to pull off as an actor and difficult to pull off as a human. Who wants to be convincing as the opposite of tempting? Tommy creates a character, however, that is just as compelling as Brandon... which then makes Eve's decisions that much more difficult.

Here's the synopsis:

Thrust into an uncomfortable circumstance, Eve (Remy LaCroix) finds herself living under the same roof as Brandon (the man she shared the most intense sexual connection of her life with) and Danny (her current love whom she shares the most intimate emotional connection of her life). Her own curiosity about the man she lusted for long ago, coupled with his desperate attempts at manipulating her back into another affair, leaves Eve straddling the line between right and wrong. Will Eve succumb to Brandon's games? Or will she stay loyal to Danny, the man who continues to be her grounding in the unpredictable, unstable world Brandon has begun to weave for both of them.

The nuance present in The Temptation of Eve is a true testament to the skill of the performers and to the skill of writer/director Jacky St. James. Whatsmore, I would be remiss if I did not mention Eddie Powell, whose eyes and creative camera work are all over this film. (that hula hoop shot was awesome!!) The team behind the scenes is just as great as the performers.

So yeah, The Temptation of Eve - truly inspired. There is MUCH more that I'd like to discuss, however I refuse to reveal the ending. Suffice it to say that this film made me think, both philosophically and in terms of personal reflection. It's been days now since I first watched it, and it's still very much on my mind.

Recommended for: this is definitely not a jerk off film - the sex is hot, but it's also subtle - a key dimension of the wider narrative. If the story sounds interesting to you, I highly recommend this film. It is so well-rendered though that you must be prepared for it to impact you.