Now on Blu-ray: ‘Fatale’ is a Flimsy ‘Fatal Attraction’ Knockoff

GameStop, Inc.

Fatale Review

The modern era of blockbuster filmmaking has led studios to place their entire focus on the next massive franchise they can unleash on the public. The compulsive gambler mentality that guides so much of moviemaking these days has practically killed the midbudget thriller geared for adults. Fatale, the thriller from director Deon Taylor, tries to fill the cinematic void with its sexually charged suspense. But Fatale just isn’t sexy or sleazy enough to be truly captivating. Instead, Fatale basically lives down to its premise as nothing more than a Fatal Attraction knockoff.

Derrick Tyler (Michael Ealy) is a former athlete turned agent, running his own agency out of Los Angeles. He works with his best friend Rafe (Michael Colter) and has a beautiful wife Tracie (Damaris Lewis) with whom he shares a luxurious home. Professional and personal stress is building for Derrick, and after a fight with his wife he shuffles off to Las Vegas in order to blow off some steam. In a nightclub, Derrick meets Val (Hilary Swank) and two have a one-night stand, only Derrick lies about his name and where he lives. Upon returning to Los Angeles, Derrick feels reinvigorated, fully dedicating himself to become a better husband. That night, though, an armed intruder breaks into Derrick’s home, and nearly kills him in the ensuing struggle. When the police arrive, Derrick is shocked to meet the detective on the case, Detective Val Quinlan.

Of course, Derrick’s initial deceit slowly escalates. Derrick’s professional and personal woes escalate as Val abuses her power to exert her leverage over Derrick. All the while, details of Val’s dark past start to rise to the surface. One thing becomes increasingly clear: Derrick’s problems are just beginning.

Fatale is such a conventional Fatal Attraction knockoff that there’s nothing within the film that is the least bit surprising. It makes for a somewhat frustrating viewing experience because it always feels like Fatale is pulling its punches. It’s not sexy enough to be an erotic thriller. It’s not sleazy enough to be a guilty pleasure. Worst of all, the screenplay by David Loughery fails to do much with the film’s central power imbalance, with a corrupt cop abusing her power against a would-be lover who is also a black man. There’s a bit of lip service paid to this towards the film’s end, but it comes across as an afterthought possibly added to the film over the past summer when the country was in the midst of multiple protests against police brutality.

Two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank does her best with the middling material of Fatale. The film makes little effort to utilize the actress’ sex appeal in the femme fatale role, which just undermines the adult thriller aspects of the story. When it comes to Val’s overt descent into madness, Swank shows why she has two golden statuettes on her mantle. It’s hard to think of any other two-time Oscar winner that would be relegated to the villain in a B-movie, but Hollywood has been underutilizing Hilary Swank for nearly 15 years (though she was perfect in Logan Lucky). Opposite Swank, Michael Ealy tries his best to keep the film afloat, but the combination of a somewhat passive performance and an underwritten character prevents Derrick from leaving any kind of impression aside from that of a dopey protagonist that’s easily manipulated.

As much as I want more midbudget thrillers geared for adults, I don’t want them to be as formulaic and predictable as Fatale. It’s a modestly entertaining production that’s always so close to be being much more interesting than its actually is. Fatale is a movie that’s afraid to push. It’s afraid to push its characters into darker, more outlandish situations. It’s afraid to push the buttons of the audience, making them more and more uncomfortable. If this movie were just a little more sexier, a little more sleazier, and a little more crazier it could’ve been a rollicking good time. As it stands, the fatal flaw of Fatale is that it’s just too conventional.

Fatale
  • Overall Score
2.5

Summary

Not quite sexy enough, not quite sleazy enough, not quite crazy enough. Director Deon Taylor’s Fatale is so close to being a wild guilty pleasure but the film consistently pulls its punches, leaving it as just another Fatal Attraction knockoff.

Anytime Costumes

Leave a Reply

FanboyNation
Animation/Anime Interviews Animation/Anime News Animation/Anime Reviews Film/TV Interviews Film/TV News Film/TV Review
‘Wednesday’ Comes to Blu-ray on Tuesday from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

‘Wednesday‘ Comes to Blu-ray on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, from Warner...

Toy Lei Talks About Playing Auntie Victoria in ‘The Brothers Sun’ – Interview Rewind

Asian-American actress Toy Lei stars as Auntie Victoria in the new...

Marcus Massey Talks ‘Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2’ – Interview

Marcus Massey Shares his Wisdom as Owl in ‘Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and...

Event News Event Reviews
‘MJ the Musical’ Chronicles the Life of the ‘King of Pop’ Running at Segerstrom – Review

‘MJ the Musical‘ is the Ultimate Stage Adaptation, Chronicling the life...

Aiden Sinclair and Michael Rangel Talks ’57 Ghosts’ Aboard the Queen Mary Séance

Aiden Sinclair and Apparitionist, Michael Rangel Discuss their new Theatrical Séance...

Luke and Madison Rhoades Open ‘Slashers Axe Throwing’ – Interview

Luke and Madison Rhoades Open Orange County’s first ever horror themed...

Automotives Football MMA, Kick Boxing & Boxing Professional Wrestling
Olympic Runner Colleen Quigley ‘On The Road to Paris’

Team USA Olympic Runner, Colleen Quigley is On The Road to...

Paralympian Swimmer Ahalya Lettenberger On The Road to Paris

Team USA Paralympian Swimmer, Ahalya Lettenberger is On The Road to...

Ultimate Women of Wrestling Comes to the Globe Theatre – Interview

Ultimate Women of Wrestling Comes to the Globe Theatre on Sunday,...

Adult Continuity Comics on the Can Cultural Junk Drawer Future Comic Rock Stars Is That Racist? Revisiting the Reviled THAT'S NOT ROTTEN! The B-Reel The Cantina Scene This Week in Crowdfunding What the HELL Did I just...?
Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse – SID SPEAKS!

"We Demons! Let's go CRUNK on this punk-ass world!"

Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse: Escalation

When you said "Destroy" Kurt grabbed his mini-gun an AK-47 and...

Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse, the continuing saga!

If cautious means being careful when I break a foot off...

Music Interviews Music News Music Reviews
Joe Kwaczala Talks About His new Comedy Album ‘Funny Songs & Sketches’ – Interview

Joe Kwaczala Talks About His new Comedy Album ‘Funny Songs &...

Songwriter and Poet, Tamara Mechael Talks About Her Career in the Arts

First Generation Assyrian-Chaldean, Songwriter and Poet, Tamara Mechael Talks About Her...

Louden Swain Headlining Los Angeles Show at The Echo

Press Release – Louden Swain are headlining Los Angeles show at...

Enabled Gaming Gaming News Gaming Reviews
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Gameplay Trailer

The first Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League gameplay trailer was revealed during...

Wonder Woman Game
Wonder Woman Game Announced By DC and WB Games

Wonder Woman game will feature the iconic hero in a 3rd...

MultiVersus
MultiVersus brings Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny, and More

MultiVersus is bringing Shaggy, Harley Quinn, Jake, Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny,...

Comic Creator Interviews Comic/Graphic Novel News Comic/Graphic Novel Reviews Manga News Manga Reviews Novel/Novella Author Interviews Novel/Novella News Novel/Novella Reviews
Gary Morgenstein Talks ‘A Dugout to Peace’ the Final Installment of his Trilogy

Gary Morgenstein Talks About ‘A Dugout to Peace‘ the final installment...

Chris Clews Is ‘Raised on the 80s’ and Shares Those Life Lessons

Chris Clews was ‘Raised on the 80s‘ and Shares Those Life...

Roye Okupe Brings Authentic African Representation to HBO Max and Cartoon Network

Nigerian-American, Roye Okupe brings authentic African representation to HBO Max and...

Apparel/Personal Maintenance News Apparel/Personal Maintenance Reviews Entertainment Product News Entertainment Product Reviews Food/Beverage Reviews Hardware News Hardware Reviews Mystery Box News Mystery Box Reviews
Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand Demo

The new ‘Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand‘ is ready to ship...

Chef Jen Peters and Matthew Clayton Bring us the ‘Good Flour’

Canadian Super Chef Jen Peters and Matthew Clayton Bring us the...

Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide
Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide

The Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide is now available to help...

Gaming Uncensored Toon-In-Talk
Episode 38: Hamid Rahmanian

Join Whitney Grace as she speaks with artist Hamid Rahmanian, who...

No Preview
Toon-In Talk Episode 37: Niki Smith

Whitney Grace interviews graphic novel writer and artist Niki Smith about...

Toon-In Talk Episode 36: Rob Paulsen

Rob Paulsen takes some time from his busy voice acting schedule...