Def by Temptation

R

Released Mar 23, 1990

1 hr. 35 min.

Horror

List

75%

16 Reviews

Tomatometer

41%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Joel (James Bond III), a quiet divinity student from North Carolina, starts to question his faith. So he heads to New York to visit his friend K (Kadeem Hardison), a struggling actor, who takes him out bar-hopping. They meet a gorgeous seductress (Cynthia Bond) who turns out to be a succubus, a demon spirit luring black lotharios to their deaths. When she sets her eyes on Joel, K turns to the help of Dougie (Bill Nunn), a drunken cop who specializes in supernatural investigations.

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Scott S

This movie is one that, on the surface, would never give it a watch. However, I am glad I did. Even though there are some elements that are cheezy, it is a smart horror film that attacks a lot of themes from faith to politics.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/11/23

Full Review

damian l

It was scary and sexy

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Suffers a little from a low budget and moments that don't make sense. It still has a decent plot and great cast.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/20/22

Full Review

R P

Def by Temptation was a fun ride but not for everybody. (Read: foreverfinalgirl.com/def-by-temptation/)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/07/21

Full Review

Matthew D

Notable as being of two Troma movies with an all black cast (the other being 'Bugged'), this is a fine blend of horror and comedy that is surprisingly stylish and well acted for such a low-budget movie, providing, as Troma often does, that low funds doesn't have to mean low ambition.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/16/20

Full Review

Audience Member

RUBBISH ! I note that IMDb member "babygraceblue" rated this film 10/10, titling his/her review "Def By Temptation: High Caliber Horror". Hmmm... yet another very suspicious rating, and when I checked the member's record, I find he/she has reviewed only TWO movies in 17 years! So is the person a cast or crew member, or a friend or relative? That sort of review is plain ridiculous and does a disservice to the IMDb, imho. This "blaxploitation" movie is not worthy of being called a movie ~ do the people playing the characters actually consider themselves actors? Really? They come across as hideous caricatures. Another lamentably bad joke. Melba Moore's "guest appearance" was probably the highlight of this motion picture. The sex scenes are asinine and embarrassing, disgusting, in awful taste, made me cringe. This picture is a painful, amateurish attempt at movie-making, pitiful and despicable. I honestly cannot think of one good point about this dreadful flick. Was it supposed to be a horror film? Well, it sure was horrible! AVOID it at all costs. I've seen, rated and reviewed thousands of movies over decades (horror is one of my favourite genres), and recommend running away from this horrible thing unless you want to punish yourself for some reason. 1/10.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

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James Bond III

Director

James Bond III

Joel

Kadeem Hardison

'K'

Cynthia Bond

Temptress

Bill Nunn

Dougy

Minnie Gentry

Grandma

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Tim Pulleine

Guardian

After a tolerably promising start the strain involved in parodying material that is to begin with essentially parodic increasingly betrays strain.

Mar 13, 2021

Full Review

Steve Simels

Entertainment Weekly

Def by Temptation is a relatively classy affair, redeemed by good performances.

Rated: C+

Oct 26, 2020

Full Review

Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

"Def by Temptation" is vital and funny, but is also reflective in ways not typical of genre fare.

Oct 26, 2020

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Don't let the Troma label fool you: Def By Temptation has a lot more on its mind than just shock value.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jun 21, 2022

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

The low budget hampers some of the storytelling, but there's plenty to like in James Bond III's succubus film. Kadeem Hardison is a stand-out, but it's the neon-soaked cinematography from future director Ernest R. Dickerson that truly shines

Jun 17, 2022

Full Review

Randall King

Winnipeg Free Press

Cinematographer Ernest R. Dickerson would go on to be a notable horror director himself ...

Mar 17, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Joel (James Bond III), a quiet divinity student from North Carolina, starts to question his faith. So he heads to New York to visit his friend K (Kadeem Hardison), a struggling actor, who takes him out bar-hopping. They meet a gorgeous seductress (Cynthia Bond) who turns out to be a succubus, a demon spirit luring black lotharios to their deaths. When she sets her eyes on Joel, K turns to the help of Dougie (Bill Nunn), a drunken cop who specializes in supernatural investigations.

Director: James Bond III
Executive Producer: Nelson George, Kevin Harewood, Charles Huggins
Distributor: Troma Films, Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Bonded Filmworks, Orpheus Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 23, 1990, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2016

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