The Last Seduction is another in the nineties' neo-noir genre, where the characters reminiscent of the anti-heroes and villains of the forties' film noir genre, with all their buried passions, are transported into a narrative study of ultimate psychological pain. Few neo-noir films have become mainstream hits, but they have a strong cult following. What makes them so enticing? In The Last Seduction, perhaps it is to marvel at how shockingly heartless, how thoroughly evil and cruel the main character is. Personally, I don't get it.

The Last Seduction is better than most in the genre, thanks to the creative and well-paced unfolding of the plot and character development. It also has a well-written script that reveals just enough of the evil lurking beneath the surface but not too much. After it's over, when the plot details are revealed but the corruptness of character required to propell them can only be imagined, one is forced to think over the story all over again -- with more of the facts, each scene takes on a slightly different slant. I admire films that can do this -- it's very difficult to pull off, as it requires an unpredictable storyline and very precise execution that reveals just the right amount between the lines.

At the same time, for what purpose was this film made? Lesser films of the same sort entertain by titillating the audience by portraying an alluringly audacious evil. They cater to the basest of human instincts and exploit the grains of sadism within us all. The Last Seduction is clearly two or three cuts above these films, as it actually provides something to think about -- but I can't say that the instincts the film appeals to are any more refined. Some critics argue that this does not matter. Others, such as myself, wish more would understand that a beautifully crafted nuclear weapon is still a nuclear weapon.

The Last Seduction? Well it isn't quite a nuclear weapon, so, because of its creative and technical accomplishments, I recommend it to the specific audiences that can stomach -- and would find it ultimately rewarding to stomach -- its harsh brutality.