"Desire and Deception" is one of those softcore films that isn't good to start with, but gets better as the film goes along, then fizzles out toward the end.
We start with Bridget Roarke (Kelli McCarty), a woman who suspects her husband, Eric, of cheating (like we haven't seen this before). She hires a P.I., Melissa Howard (played by Gina Ryder) to trail her hubby to get proof. At this point, I feel like I've watched this film or something like it a dozen times already. Come to find out, he is cheating--with a woman named Kate Collins (Holly Sampson). Upon learning of this, Bridget isn't heartbroken; she's determined to get even.
Kate is in love with Eric, or so she thinks. Her husband, Oz, is also playing the field--he's sleeping with his secretary, and it seems that she knows about it too. Their marriage is definitely one of convenience. Eric wants to break it off with her, but Kate won't let him.....until she turns up dead a bit later in the film, in Eric's bed, no less. Eric is now the primary suspect, and he spends the rest of the film trying to clear his name.
The lead detective in the case, Ray Barner (Erik Carrington) enlists Melissa for help in solving the case, since she worked for Eric's wife for a short time. They work closely--and I do mean closely--together, gathering clues. By now, it's a simple whodunit, and it's certain to be someone close to the action that nobody expects at first. In short, this was a quick and painless movie that was heavy on the sex and light on the script; what one would expect from a softcore film. However, the bland, cookie-cutter storyline did nothing for me, so I had to take points off there. This flick wasn't tapeworthy as an entire film; I was better off just taping the sex scenes and calling it a day.
Women: B+ (Kelli McCarty was decent as the leading lady, Holly Sampson was her usual best, and Gina Ryder was absolutely fabulous. I know Gina mostly does hardcore porn, but she shines in the few softcore flicks she does.)
Sex: A (Very realistic sex scenes, almost hardcore quality. Slapping, grunting and moaning was included in almost every scene. Gina's sex scene on the couch was the most realistic. Gina puts her "porno goddess" talent to good use there.)
Story: D+ (I'm sorry about this, but I can't forgive just how bad the plot and dialogue of this film was. The initial storyline, however unoriginal it might have been, I can forgive if it was executed a little better. I've cut slack on many STSWB movies over the years even though the general plot is the same, but this one was just bad.)
Overall: C+ (Although it should have gotten a B-, I'm lowering the grade by another third because of the horrible script. I loved the sex scenes, and the women were nice to look at, but the lines these characters had to say in this film were just plain awful. This film is slightly above-average by softcore standards, therefore it gets a C+.)
