Hey gang, Valkor here. Working on TOV, MediaView has always been my favorite hangout spot. The variety of films I get to review and the people I’ve met along the way have always been a treat. And even after more than a decade of working on the site, this is still my go-to spot. This next round, we’re looking at a TOV favorite, Nathan Hill; he’s allowed us to check out his latest and 10th film in his repertoire–Lady Terror. By the name, I was expecting something more “horrific”. However, what we got was worthy enough for a Choice Award. Oh, and expect some mad spoilers below.
Lady Terror centers on a lawyer named Jake Large (Nathan Hill), who, in this film, is about to be put through the wringer and then some. While out and about, Jake goes to the assistance of Candice (Phillyda Murphy), who is in a parking lot struggling with an ailment (later on, we learn it was a miscarriage). And when she’s at her most vulnerable, an opportunistic thief moves in on her goods. Thankfully, Jake is there to lend a hand, which soon sparks a relationship between the two. I should also mention that Jake is also in an engagement. However, things aren’t going so well to where they both reveal, without a care, that they are seeing someone else. And this closes the book on that aspect of Jake’s life. Later in the film, Jake has time to reflect on what he had with his fiancee Celine (Tritia DeViSha). Thankfully, that moment is fleeting and we dive into the meat of this story. While things are going well with Candice, nothing gold can stay.
Candice coerces Jake into a scheme to kill her stepfather Anton so that she can receive a sizable sum of money. And he does so with zero hesitation! And now that that one hurdle is out of the way, Candice only needs to get Jake out of the picture. She has her friend/girlfriend sleep with Jake, making him out to be the bad guy in all of this. But lucky for Jake, he has an ace-in-the-hole as his assistant Ayla (Simay Argento), has had his back from the jump (without him knowing). She not only uncovered Candice’s plans, but she also got Candice’s suitcase filled with gold, giving it to Jake, where he’ll be able to start anew someplace else to get a fresh start.
I'm not a fan of the film's ending as it doesn't come to a satisfying finish. And there are some gaps that need to be filled. However, I later recognized that it left the door open for a second part. And I'm down for more Lady Terror, as I’d love to see Jake and Candice go head to head once again; is Jake going to meet some type of punishment for killing Anton? And is Candice going to hunt down Jake when she learns he has her gold? And what of Ayla and her P.I. biz? How will she figure into all this? Come on, Hill! Give up the goods! But until we learn more about a Lady Terror 2, let’s dive into the TOV Breakdown!
The Good:
A splash of intrigue, some action, and a lot of sensuality combine in Lady Terror to create a dramatic and enjoyable feast of a movie. The story is pretty straightforward, with no crazy twists along the way. There may be a hiccup here and there, but it’s nothing too distracting. The film, overall, has that Nathan Hill feel to it, where it’s dark and foreboding; You can expect that the main character's circumstances won't be good from the start. Also, there’s never a shortage of sex in a Nathan Hill film. And Lady Terror has plenty of eye candy throughout (Phillyda Murphy has my heart)! Despite some shaky acting, everyone delivers an incredible performance. Nathan Hill shines as Jake. But the role that he plays isn’t unfamiliar territory. His Jake feels like a mix of Jasper (from Jasper) and Jaffy (Colour Blind). Wait a minute... Jake, Jaffy, Jasper? Are these three characters/films connected? Next, Phillyda Murphy’s Candice is a sweet mix of seductive yet scandalous. And while this may be her first outing, I hope this isn’t the last we'll see of her. In the end, Lady Terror appears to be another success for Nathan Hill, even though this viewing gives the impression that the film is still in the editing process.
The Bad:
The ending leaves me with so many questions–so many questions! As I've already said, if they did this to leave room for a sequel, I don't mind. If the ending is being reworked for a better outcome, then I want to see that ending! If the film is supposed to end the way it does, well... it isn’t the dessert I was hoping for, but it’s still edible.
The Ugly:
When Jake Slides into bed next to Celine and she wakes up and walks off in disgust. Whew geezus! I felt for Jake at that moment. Like, that hit me hard and then some. Damn!
Lady Terror is Nathan Hill’s tenth film in his ever-growing filmography (and I hope there are more) and it's a asolid film at that. It’s not readily available on any streaming service or physical media. But when it is available, it’s certainly worth checking out as there's plenty of drama and entertainment worth checking out. I recommend it! So, out of TOV 5 stars, I’m giving Lady Terror a 4... for now.
