By now, you should know what you're getting when you start a Lifetime movie. Seduced fits the bill in many ways, but I was pleasantly surprised by the production value of a number of scenes. The plot progresses exactly as you expect it to and, as per tradition with this genre, leaves you scratching your head over a major twist with about five minutes to clean up the crazy. It's just as fun as it is frustrating and most of all, it is familiar. You either are on board from the jump, or you should wait until you're in the mood.
What sets Seduced apart are a handful of beautifully shot and curated scenes between the two lead actors. The standout is a highly stylized and romantic beach scene that could have been pulled from footage of a perfume commercial or an art house short. Cinematographer Chris Ekstein perfectly captured the chemistry between the actors, and managed to deliver the film's most visually appetizing moments. In what could have been a very campy, common couple of minutes, Ekstein elevates the genre and gives us something unexpectedly beautiful. The romantic scenes are the film's strong point due to his eye; the bookstore and bathtub dates standout on a visual level.
For fans of Lifetime movies (I am one myself), Seduced gives you what you came for in a package that will pleasantly surprise you from a production standpoint. Definitely worth the watch!
