source: Deceptions

source: Deceptions

source: Deceptions

source: Deceptions

source: Deceptions

There were a few good things about this crime/thriller made for TV film but the negatives outweigh the positives unfortunately. By that I mean that this 1990 period piece is very much dated by both the lame acting and the "trying way too hard" jazzy suspenseful music score in the background permeating throughout the entire film. I actually started laughing when I saw Homicide Detective Nick Gentry exercising by punching away at a punching bag in his apartment flat then placing his bruised hand in a pitcher of ice water. Why was that funny? Well it is what he did after taking his hand out of the pitcher of ice water. The sweaty and shirtless Detective Gentry raised the pitcher of ice water and drank from it and then just as if from a scene from the 1983 film Flashdance the wet chair dance scene, he pours the water all over his head and shirtless chest. I will have to call this scene over the top and not fitting in with the story line at all. Yes, a young Nicollette Sheridan in a skimpy bikini is easy on the eyes and worth a look at this made for TV film as is actor Robert Davi's performance as Harry Hamlin's detective partner. The story line of who killed Ms. Sheridan's wealthy husband is a bit of a head scratcher but the love/hate relationship between the two lead actors, namely Hamlin and Sheridan and that annoying jazz musical score I had enough after the first 20 minutes of the film. I give the film a barely pass rating of 5 out of 10 IMDb rating.

My review was written in February 1990 after watching the film on Republic Pictures video cassette. "Deceptions" is an atmospheric, stylishly directed film noir. Headed direct-to-video, pic has strong potential for pay-tv as well, though it lacks the character depth to make it as a theatrical feature. Helmer Ruben Preuss continues to show potential in the thriller genre on the basis of this and previous pic "In Dangerous Company", but still a long way from delivering a film of "Body Heat" calibre. Harry Hamlin toplines as a cop irresistibly drawn to his main suspect, Nicolette Sheridan, who's holding the smoking gun after shooting her husband (Marshall Colt) when he pretends to be a burglar and tries to stab her in a break-in at their mansion. Both Hamlin and partner Robert Davi are puzzled as to why anyone would kill such a luscious spouse as Sheridan. Circumstantial details gradually point to the existence of an accomplice, a gilr named Marta who resembles Sheridan and supposedly was hubby's squeeze on the side. Pic resolves the whodunit with some good twists while the viewer's suspicion concerning Sheridan remains in the forefront throughout. Based on a short story by Ken Denbow published in Alfred Htichcock mystery magazine, pic shares the qualities of the late master's tv show in keeping one guessing. Casting of the idealized leads Sheridan and Hamlin provides an alluring, glamorous look, but neither gets inside the character. In Hamlin's case, Richard Taylor's script doesn't detail what makes him tick beyond the obvious attraction to Sheridan, absolutely smashing-looking in and out of a parade of swimsuits (recalling her big screen debut in Rob Reiner's "The Sure Thing"). Sleek design work, including Sheridan's whit-on-white manse, provides a cool, modern tone. Davi is solid as the no-nonsense cop who adds some fire to the laid-back proceedings. Lensing is fine and the film benefits tremendously from Gary Scott's catchy and haunting musical score in a minor key, replete with wailing saxophone.

A friend described this as la verguenza de Hollywood - the shame of Hollywood. The dialogue is worse than cliched, Hamlin's acting is awful, the action drags.

Interesting because the leads ended up getting married. Nicolette is stunning. Harry Hamlin wasn't too old yet. The story is terribly dated mysoginstic and badly written even for that time. The twists are pathetic.

this movie quickly declares itself as a did-she or didn't-she detective mystery. i am not so sure about the plot, but it is worth contemplating and it has its distinctive moments (which is not easy when there are so many similar plots out there). the movie has that shot-in-l.a. look that makes it seem cheap even if the visuals are well conceived. director reuben preuss shows obvious talent. the real surprise is that nicolette sheridan can act. she is cast as "a walking wet dream" and even if you are not immediately captivated by her luscious looks, she quickly wins the viewer's affections with an intelligent portrayal of her character. there is one scene, in a hotel room, where ms. sheridan shows great strength, and one wonders whether BEVERLY HILLS NINJA is a fair place for such a capable actress to be plying her trade. robert davi also turns in a strong performance. harry hamlin is not my idea of a leading man. but he does not grate, and he wins for his role sufficient sympathy to keep the movie going, even if the script calls for an inhuman number of emotional twists from his character. the actor's guild should put a limit on the number of turnabouts that the writers can demand of a character. if you want to claim that this movie doesn't hold a candle to BASIC INSTINCT, ask yourself what this very capable crew might have done with a bigger budget, darker sets, and a little more time to work out the story line.