There are weirder movie titles than Sapiosexual, though that does not make it any less curious. In general, it means someone who is sexually attracted to smart people. But in practice, it is usually used by someone who likes people who seem smart yet make the “sapiosexual” feel that bit smarter. There are likely people out there who do value a partner who’s got everything together over their looks, status, etc. The movie just goes for the darker, more cynical definition.
Written, produced, directed, and starring Deborah Twiss (A Gun for Jennifer 1997, Trail Blazers 2022), the movie follows a love triangle between Hannah (Twiss), Freddie (David Edwin: Bull series, My Crazy Love 2014) and an aging, narcissistic professor called Liam (Nick Hardin: I.R.A: King of Nothing 2006, Lockout 2012). They are trapped in a web of sexual and intellectual attraction to each other that leaves Hannah and Freddie worse for wear.
Yet they have more than just brains and kinks that connect them to Liam. When they try to have an “uncoupling ceremony” to separate themselves from him officially, things get turned upside down. All three are stuck together during a thunder-induced power cut, and their triangle becomes a square when a mysterious woman called Nancy (Lora Davisson Sumner: Bodies of Work series) gets involved. Their secrets will be brought to the light in the dark, and their lives will never be the same again.
The movie was released on digital and VOD platforms on May 16, 2023, via a deal between Breaking Glass Pictures and Lucstar Productions, which is headed up by Twiss. She is practically the film’s polymath, but is her work any good?
It certainly nails the smart & sexy vibe as its lighting, shots, and soundtrack suggest things are off kilter before the viewer finds out more about the characters. There is tension in the air, but not in the sense that Liam or anyone else is going to go Patrick Bateman on everyone. It’s more insidious than that. Liam’s been using Hannah and Freddie for his own needs for years, and they’re after retribution.
The film is also chattier than the average Erotic Thriller, but the dialogue succeeds at portraying Hannah and Freddie’s different angles. The former is more of a free spirit than people would suspect, while the latter is more thoughtful and empathetic. Twiss and Edwin successfully portray their roles, earning the audience’s sympathy, making them hope they will get one-up on Hardin’s Liam.
That said, it is hard to imagine Liam as a master manipulator. He is certainly bad news, posing a threat with his more unhinged behavior and habits. It is just a little too apparent to the point where it leaves one wondering how Hannah and Freddie got stuck with him in the first place. Basically, the proverbial poker hand he is playing is too obvious, but the others are going with the flow regardless. At least until the big climax when all the secrets are revealed.
So, in short, Sapiosexual is indeed pretty good. The build-up can be shaky, and Liam’s villain role is a little too obvious. However, the dialogue is fine, the performances overall work in capturing the audience’s attention, and it has some good visual storytelling as well with its technical skills. While it is not exactly a genius film, its smarts are as solid as its sauciness. Thus, for these reasons, Cryptic Rock gives Sapiosexual 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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