Only for One Night (2016)

Only for One Night (2016) A married woman (Karrueche Tran) with the perfect life has to face betrayal when her sister drugs her husband and sleeps with him.

This is not one of the best films of its kind. I think it’s even a TV film.

The cheesy, love-dripping couple with their annoying one-liners are overdoing it. The main character’s best friend, a big, heavy, frustrated flirt, is unbearable too.

The story of the deception doesn’t arrive subtly… like the whole film. It gets off to a slow start. But it’s true that after the first half, it becomes an interesting Thriller.

I took a look at the content rating and came up with the following:

- Sexual scenes/nudity:
  Low

- Violence and horror:
  None

- Abusive or vulgar language:
  Low

- Alcohol, drugs and smoking:
  Moderate

- Scary and intense scenes:
  Moderate

Yes, there are sexual scenes, bare body parts, open shirts… but never breasts, buttocks or genitals. Alcohol and drugs play a big part in the story, though.
No exaggerated violence, no unbearable suspense. In the fights, you can clearly see that they’re stuntwomen!

You know those famous scenes where classy women fight like ragdolls, with their messy hair covering their faces? Yes, that’s what it’s all about!
Like the catfights in the Dynasty series!

A film that shows the inefficiency of the police when it comes to protecting people who have not yet suffered any real physical or material damage. Mere insanity is not enough to stop someone.

I found quite a few negative criticisms of this film:

1) I can’t believe anyone recommended this one; There’s absolutely no mystery, the dialogue is clunky and the acting is atrocious.

2) The plot is 1 notch above Tyler Perry’s worst film. You know what’s going to happen in the first half hour.

3) Horrible! Don’t waste your time!

Good!
I knew Tyler Perry was an actor, I just didn’t know he directed.
I note that review no 2 refers in particular to Tyler Perry’s Temptation (2013) or Acrimony (2018), both of which were shot down.
Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016) isn’t very appealing either. A film in which he directed and starred.

Chris Stokes is at the helm here. He is very often both writer and director. Sometimes he’s also a producer and sometimes he’s just a director.
He has tried his hand at several genres, including horror with his No Vacancy – The Helpers (2012) and Somebody Help Me 1 & 2, dance films with Battlefield America (aka Dance Battle America) and comedy with House Party 4 – Down to the last minute.
In short!
I won’t be remembering any of these films.

And this one’s a cut above Mea Culpa (2024), which really sucks.
But well below Fatal Attraction (1987), recognised as the pillar of the genre, even by those who don’t consider it a masterpiece.

Then there’s Obsessed (2009), No Good Deed (2014), When The Bough Breaks (2016) and Unforgettable (2017).

Yes, the dialogue is effectively flat, the characters unlovable, apart from the main character’s wife. The direction is good, but the film is by no means indispensable. It’s always the same characters, who are beautiful, who are rich, who have a perfect life from the outside and who arouse jealousy, even from those close to them.

My Rating