Complicité fatale

I have to give Erica Eleniac credit: she really is trying hard to shed her early career as 'eye candy' and take on more challenging and serious roles. Hollywood being what it is, she still spends a lot of time in this movie scantilly clad...but also delivers a performance of real depth as a party girl who married for money only to find herself trapped in a loveless marriage. When she starts to plot to have her husband killed, things start to go terribly wrong. The movie uses an unusual framing devise in having the action related in a series of flashbacks from the dead woman's diary as it is being read by her younger sister (also Eleniak). Paul Winfield also delivers a solid performance as an aging cop, somewhat similar to that of Gene Hackman's aging cop in the movie 'Falling Down'. While not exactly a masterpiece, and utilizing plot devises that have cropped up many times in other movies, the quality of the cast and the dead-on solid performance by Eleniak combine to lift this film over its B-movie cliches!Recomended

Mystery. An engaging, interesting storyline is killed by a ridiculous ending.

The story of a beautiful blond who does away with the image of a dumb blond by building a bomb to kill her husband. She had everything until they found out that wife #1 killed herself and a few days later, their handicapped daughter shows up to live with them. Her husband makes her a maid for this child. Enter the guy's best friend, played by Jerry Kroll, who is a definite look alike to Eddie Fisher. The two plot to kill Jim (#1) for an insurance policy. Turns out they can't do anything until she dies since the policy can only kick in then and it will be for the surviving child.

In the meantime, suspicions are aroused when Kroll weds our blond shortly after Jim's death.

The late Paul Winfield plays a widowed detective who is on the trail of the two.

Again, the ending is ridiculous as everyone comes together suggesting that everyone was in this for the money. Ridiculous.

This would be a watchable Hollywood mediocre if it had a good editing. It relies on the typical American thriller plot - "who is going to outsmart everyone". Acting is below average, but with shining appearance of the detective who is the best actor in the film and he is mostly responsible if the tension in the film rises. Film was completely suffocated by blank video and sound shots and most of it looks like raw film material. All in all, if you don't mind watching a movie that looks like a student film project, this is a film to watch. I guess that would be enough to say on this film, everything else could really spoil the tension that is probably low enough.

We're talking about a low budget film, and it's understandable that there are some weaknesses (no spoilers: one sudden explosives expert and one meaningless alcoholic); but in general the story keeps you interested, most of the characters are likable and there are some original situations.

I really like films that surprise you with some people that are not who they want you to believe and then twist and turn the plot ... I applaud this one on that.

If you know what I mean, try to see also "Nueve Reinas" (Nine Queens) a film from Argentina.

I like Second to Die for mindless entertainment, and despite criticism to the opposite, I think Eleniak is a good actress. But mostly, agreeing with other review, I can watch the movie again and again just to see Paul Winfield as a cute, comical detective, always polite while he has everyone's number. Truly, Winfield was an underrated actor. How tragic that he died so soon.