Succubus

The Plot: A new father struggling with fatigue, emotional insecurities, and a failing marriage joins a dating app, only to swipe right on what may be an inhuman presence.

This is perhaps the WORST movie made in 2024. Perhaps in the past ten full years. There is nothing to recommend it so I am shocked by the "ten" ratings saying this is a classic.

It's downright horrible on every level.

The direction is less than mediocre. The dude who directed this trash should never work again. The pace is literally slower than pouring honey in a glass.

You will find yourself saying -- can we get to the point already?

Plus, the script is way sub-par and the acting is mediocre at best.

In this 2024 erotic-horror-thriller, we follow a man who joins a dating app after his marriage falls apart. His life is a complete mess, and he keeps finding himself in awkward situations, ultimately swiping right on a dating app on the wrong woman. The movie starts off clever and fun, introducing us to the main character, Chris (Brendan Bradley), his estranged wife Sharon (Olivia Grace Applegate), and his best friend Eddie (Derek Smith), who is kind of a douche. Chris is still in contact with Sharon even though they are separated, and she's currently at a bachelorette party. Instead of enjoying the evening, she keeps checking the baby monitor, only to witness some really weird things.

There is also Chris's mom, who is constantly worried about him, played by Rosanna Arquette, the exposition-heavy Ron Perlman, and Adra (Rachel Cook), the mysterious woman from the dating app. Chris is home alone with the baby and keeps video calling with the different character's which added some dynamic interactions and gives the audience the chance to get to know the different characters.

The acting was convincing, especially from Brendan Bradley and Olivia Grace Applegate, who delivered great performances as Chris and Sharon. Rachel Cook looked stunning and portrayed her role really well too. The concept was a little cheesy but undeniably fun, and the movie had some interesting ideas. However, the execution lacked in several areas, and the pacing felt uneven.

The story began intriguingly, but as it progressed, it became awkward and weird at times. It felt like the filmmakers ran out of ideas halfway through and needed filler material to extend the runtime. At one point, you think the movie is over, only to discover there are 15 minutes left, during which they throw in a final twist. While I liked the ending, it felt out of place and added to the movie's uneven tone.

On the plus side, the movie featured some nice special effects and a dreamy atmosphere that were enjoyable. The comedic aspects were unexpected but well-executed, with plenty of awkward moments stemming from the seductive Adra and the clumsy Chris.

Overall, the movie was fine but could have been much more enjoyable with some adjustments to the story and post-production. [5,2/10]

I didn't have high expectations but the movie turned out to be quite good. It kept me on the edge of my seat and wasn't bored at all.

The actors were all good. Rachel Cook's performance was great. I was really surprised by it because after watching her previous movie (Kill Shot) I wasn't sure if she had much acting skills. But she was awesome in this one.

While the majority of the film was great, it completely fell apart in the final act. What an anticlimactic conclusion to an otherwise great little horror story.

Because of the stereotypical horror cliffhanger I would love to see a sequel especially if it doesn't pick up 6 months later but 20 years later or something like that. I think there is a lot of potential there.

(And just a sidenote: Was the full.frontal male nudity really necessary?)

Chris is in a strained marriage. His friend Eddie is divorced. The two of them chance upon an online dating site where they become helplessly enamored of an irresistibly seductive young woman who nurtures their deepest desires.

Unfortunately, appearances are terribly deceiving....

A professor knows the gruesome truth and tries desperately to intervene before it's too late.

Let's stipulate that this movie would go nowhere without a spectacularly beautiful siren to addle the minds of its principal characters. Her acting isn't exactly Shakespearean, but, really, who cares? The rest of the cast steps up reasonably well to backstop the homewrecker; hence, the movie's still an entertaining take on demonically induced, all too palpable mirages and their effect on stressed out family men.

All that's missing is a public service announcement.

I liked this movie quite a bit. I know nothing about dating apps - but the use if a dating app and the uses of chat and the computer/social media in general was very effective. My guess is that no dating app has women as young and attractive as most of those in whatever app Chris was using. And probably that not many women that young and attractive are very interested in going out with a father in the middle of a separation with a very young child, but what do I know?

If you get past that - and suspend belief that said father would not be suspicious about a woman who looked like Rachel Cook oozing over him - the movie is very much fun. Ron Perlman is not going to win an Academy Award for his performance, but the character was fun - I spent a lot of the movies trying to figure out whose side he was really on.

The succubus mythology was interesting and the final ending both surprising and foreshadowed.

An altogether competent bit of fun.