Deadly Obsessions is a shot-on-film erotic thriller that, unfortunately, is rarely erotic or thrilling.  The film, written and directed by Karl Bauer, is overly written and visually uninspired.  The quality actors make the best of a sloppy script, but the story, which starts out with promise in Act One, turns into never-ending exposition in Acts Two and Three, where, at one point, two characters talk about the plot for fifteen straight minutes.

The story revolves around a married couple, played by Nick Capous and Irene Glezos, who’s marriage has slowly disintegrated over time and they are each filling their emotional voids in the arms of other people.  Lust and anger soon turn into murder and blackmail as the complicated plot unfolds.

Bauer’s goal was quite ambitious, but the execution here leaves a lot to be desired.  The plot twists are not surprising and the story could have used a lot of tightening, as there are quite a few logic holes.  The biggest hurdle, however, is the pages and pages of dialogue which halt any momentum the plot has created.  One well designed shot can convey 1000 words and I hope, in future projects, Bauer works to convert excessive dialogue into visually dynamic work.

It is inspiring for Bauer to put the work, money and effort in shooting his story on film and his talent pool of actors are of high quality, but all of the talent and commitment did not end up effectively on the screen.

One and a Half Stars.