Def by Temptation

Def by Temptation, written, directed, and starring James Bond III, isn't your typical 1990s horror flick. Released at the height of the golden era of VHS and late-night cable TV, this low-budget indie film carved out a space for itself by mixing supernatural horror with social commentary and a distinctly stylish aesthetic. More than three decades later, it still holds up as a bold, atmospheric, and culturally significant film that blends genre thrills with deeper messages.

The plot follows Joel (James Bond III), a young man who has spent most of his life in the quiet shelter of a religious upbringing. After a crisis of faith and a need for self-discovery, he leaves his small town and heads to New York City to visit his childhood friend K (Kadeem Hardison), a hip and worldly actor. But what starts as a simple reunion soon takes a dark turn when Joel becomes entangled in a string of mysterious deaths linked to a seductive and deadly woman (played with eerie allure by Cynthia Bond), who turns out to be a succubus preying on men in the city.

From its opening scene, Def by Temptation establishes itself as a visually distinctive film. The cinematography, handled by Ernest Dickerson-Spike Lee's frequent collaborator-adds rich texture to the film's look. The lighting is drenched in neon, shadow, and moody contrast, creating an atmosphere that feels more like a stylish music video or a dream sequence than a traditional horror film. The use of color, especially deep reds and glowing blues, builds a sense of temptation, danger, and the surreal-perfectly aligning with the themes of seduction and sin.

The film's strength lies not only in its visuals but also in its tone. While it has moments of camp, gore, and genre fun, there's a seriousness and intention behind the horror. The succubus is not just a monster for shock value-she represents temptation in all its forms: sexual, moral, spiritual. As Joel confronts her, he's also confronting his own beliefs, insecurities, and identity. For a low-budget indie horror, Def by Temptation asks some surprisingly big questions about faith, sin, masculinity, and the influence of urban life on the soul.

The performances elevate the material beyond exploitation. James Bond III brings a quiet sincerity to Joel, effectively portraying a man torn between his faith and his curiosity about the world. Kadeem Hardison, best known for his role on A Different World, brings charisma and comic timing to the role of K, offering levity without undercutting the gravity of the plot. Cynthia Bond as the Temptress is both hypnotic and terrifying, effortlessly shifting between sensual charm and chilling menace.

One of the standout supporting performances comes from Bill Nunn (best known as Radio Raheem in Do the Right Thing), who plays Dougy, a tech-savvy psychic who becomes instrumental in uncovering the truth about the succubus. His presence adds both credibility and intensity to the film's darker turns. Also, genre fans will enjoy seeing Samuel L. Jackson in a small but powerful early role, long before he became a household name.

What's impressive is how Def by Temptation manages to incorporate religious themes without preaching. Joel's background as a minister-in-training and the spiritual overtones throughout the film bring a unique tension to the story-where most horror movies deal with external evil, this one also explores internal doubt and guilt. The climactic confrontation isn't just a battle of good versus evil; it's a moral reckoning, and the stakes feel personal.

The soundtrack is another standout element. Infused with late '80s and early '90s R&B, soul, and gospel influences, the music serves as both mood-setter and cultural signifier. It feels deeply rooted in the Black experience-particularly the tension between tradition and modernity, faith and freedom, identity and indulgence.

For a film released in 1990, Def by Temptation was ahead of its time in many ways. It put Black characters, culture, and issues front and center in a genre where they had long been sidelined or stereotyped. It also took creative risks-stylistically, narratively, and thematically-that many mainstream horror films of the time would never have dared. It's part horror, part morality play, part urban fantasy, and part cautionary tale.

Of course, the film has its flaws. The pacing can feel uneven at times, and some of the effects (especially by modern standards) come across as dated or low-budget. But rather than detracting from the film, these elements contribute to its charm. There's a rawness, an indie grit to it that makes it feel authentic, like a passion project that refused to conform to Hollywood expectations.

More importantly, Def by Temptation has earned its place as a cult classic because it did something different. It wasn't trying to be the next slasher franchise or cash in on formulaic horror tropes. Instead, it gave us a smart, stylish, and spiritual horror film with a Black cast, a unique vision, and a lot on its mind. It paved the way for more inclusive storytelling in the genre and remains a touchstone for fans who crave horror that dares to be different.

There's nothing great about Troma's "blaxploitation" horror outing about a seductive vamp preying on men in New York. Ernest Dickerson's ("Jungle Fever," "Do the Right Thing") cinematography and Samuel L. Jackson's supporting performance as a priest are just some of the assets going for this trash, but nothing more. Personally, I prefer Pam Grier's 70s films over this loser. My evaluation: * out of ****.

In New York City, there is a beautiful temptress (Cynthia Bond) who seduces men at bars then takes them to her place only to murder them and drain their blood as she's actually a vampire. Joel (James Bond III) is a student from out-of-town who just came to the city to seek the advice of his actor friend named K ( Kadeem Hardisan), he also shows Joel a good time around the big apple especially at bars then has the help of Joel and a detective to find out what's behind these bizarre murders.

Very interesting and underrated vampire blaxplotation thriller from writer-director-producer-star James Bond III. What works in this movie is a good storyline with some sex and violence around, the movie was released by the popular independent studio known as "Troma" in theaters and has gained a small cult following. The acting is very good especially the writing on the dialog, there's also some great cinematography that captures the mood and feel of this flick.

If your into vampire flicks or supernatural horror movies then i suggest you watch this one!

Also recommended: "Vamp", "Dracula" (1931), "The Hunger", "Vampire Hunter D", "Basic Instinct", "Bram Stoker's Dracula", "Near Dark", "Buffy The Vampire Slayer"( Movie and Show), "The Forsaken", "Innocent Blood", "Blackula", "Tales from The Hood", "Fright Night 1 & 2", "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust", "Blood The Last Vampire", "Blade Trilogy", "American Werewolf in London", "The Lost Boys", "Daughters of Darkness", "John Carpenter's Vampires", "From Dusk Till Dawn", "Salem's Lot" ( 1979 and 2004), "Once Bitten", "Lifeforce", "Demons", "Suspiria", "Interview with the vampire", "Queen of the Damned", "The Night Flier", "Evil Dead II", "Lair of the White Worm", and "Martin".

This movie had more of a religious theme than a horror theme. I enjoyed it and recommend it. It is low-budget but a good first effort for James Bond, III. There are a lot of know people from the 80's and 90's in the movie who, I am sure, were just there for the publicity; however, some of the actors actually did a pretty good job, including James Bond, III, who also played in Spike Lee's SchoolDaze along with Samuel L. Jackson. There are movies with bigger budgets that are nowhere near as good as this movie. The storyline and creative aspect of the movie are much better than the set and location. If this movie would have had at least a couple more million dollars in the budget, It would have been a hit and everyone would know about it.

I give this film high marks in spite of its limitations, which are primarily budgetary only. I thought the casting was perfect, particularly in Kadeem Hardison (who's career I had thought should have been, by rights, much larger), and Cynthia Bond, who's feature turn as the succubus was terrific—both terrifying and seductive at the same time. There were references to this film being firmly in the genre of "blackspoitation," but again, given the obviously low budget and other factors, I thought they did a bang up job with what they had to work with. Compared to say, "Vampire In Brooklyn," a big budget studio film starring Eddie Murphy, this little film succeeded in every important way, and in comparison fared so much better for all the reasons you watch a movie in the first place, two hours of solid entertainment. In this regard, I think the film succeeds quite well—funny, scary, hip and funky, with a strong undercurrent of the mystery of faith. I loved it.