If BEYOND DESIRE is the first volley in an independent film movement in South Beach, Florida, then Hollywood studios need lose no sleep. As a chamber-of-commerce piece promoting tourism, BEYOND DESIRE looks good; as a contempo-noir murder mystery, the film is amateur-night material,
clogged with red herrings and tone-deaf dialogue.
In South Beach, Florida, someone kills District Attorney Bailey (Marshall Avener) as he relaxes in a bathtub after kinky sex. At first convinced the slaying is a mob hit ordered by the DA office's target, Frank D'Angelo (Ed Reardon), detectives Greg Hagen (Frank Marty) and Vic Delgado (Brandon
Adams) embark on a labyrinthine investigation that snakes through the mob-related escort service which Bailey frequented, and also through the home of Bailey's widow, Joan (Laura Russo). Despite his own feelings for his estranged wife, Hagen falls hard for one of the escort service's "models,"
Danielle Ashley (Therese-Marie Gutierrez). After Hagen's police informant is garroted Mafia-style, Hagen learns that former prostitute Danielle has had bail posted on several occasions by D'Angelo; furthermore, D'Angelo's last pending case was personally dismissed by late DA Bailey.
A search of Bailey's pleasure boat reveals incriminating photos and documents showing that Bailey blackmailed Danielle into an ongoing sexual liaison, despite her efforts to become a legit model. Yet, after another customer is snuffed by a hooker, Hagen shifts his suspicions to Danielle's
co-worker, Aimee (Laura Diane Bradley). Apparently, Aimee was coerced by D'Angelo into becoming his hit lady in exchange for his covering up her murder of her abusive spouse. When Aimee tires of being an assassin, she confronts D'Angelo, who wrestles away her gun and shoots her; when Hagen arrives
on the scene, he shoots D'Angelo fatally. Eager to believe Danielle, Hagen closes the case officially. However, a coda shows that Hagen's lingering doubts are well-founded; a flashback pictures Danielle icing Bailey in order to stop his erotic enslavement of her. Hagen does not arrest her; this
crime is also pinned on Aimee.
Acted on the level of community theater, BEYOND DESIRE never summons up any energy despite its various plot strands involving femme fatale call girls and the Mob. Too many picturesque shots of scenery clog up the film's arteries. Even after the story line's wrap-up, the film continues on with a
lengthy montage devoted to Danielle. The real reason for this finale isn't to introduce the rather flimsy last-minute revelation of Danielle's guilt, but instead to pad the movie out to feature length.
One can commend BEYOND DESIRE for respecting the spirit of film noir and for the tantalizing suggestiveness of Russo's scenes as Bailey's remorseless lesbian widow. For the most part, however, this flick is marred by a lack of directorial authority and scriptwriting precision. Everyone in front of
and behind the camera needs more seasoning. (Graphic violence, extreme profanity, extensive nudity, sexual situations, substance abuse.) leave a comment