Original Sin [Blu-ray] Reviews

The notion of the femme fatale, that predatory female whose sexual allure is so mesmerizing that she can make any man do her bidding at any time, has always seemed rather ludicrous. Yes, it’s a helpful plot device in romance novels and in antiquated plays, and the movies have made full use of such a clichéd character all the way back to Theda Bara in the silent era. Mae West had fun playing such a role for comedy (the only way it’s ever worked within the realms of reality), but it’s a bit disheartening to find such a hoary old relic of a character still being dredged up for serious-minded plot purposes in Michael Cristofer’s Original Sin. While the writer-director’s set-up for his melodrama could excuse using such a character for its expository purposes, basing an entire film scenario around such a ridiculous pulp contrivance dooms the movie from any chance of being successful. This promising story of love most foul runs aground the longer the film plays, and no amount of explicit sex scenes or shocking plot twists can ever manage to make it palatable.

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