Irresistible

Story Line: Disturbed by her mother's death, a children's book illustrator (Sarandon) believes someone is threatening herself and her two daughters. Her husband (Neill) attempts to placate her, but she becomes certain the culprit is his attractive young co-worker (Blunt).

Bottom Line: Sarandon is not the long-suffering Ingrid Bergman, but she does undergo the Gaslight treatment in this derivative Australian thriller. Thanks to her committed performance and a formulaic script by director Turner, the characters in Irresistible might believe Sarandon's character is cracking up, but it's never in doubt that external forces are intent on driving our heroine around the bend. The ever-reliable Neill and pretty newcomer Blunt play their roles with just the right note of straight-faced disbelief, raising the film above the level of Lifetime network's standard woman-in-peril movie. The surprise ending cooked up by Turner is nothing out of the ordinary, so Sarandon's presence remains the primary reason renters will be drawn to this "other woman … from hell" DVD premiere suspenser.

Color, NR (mature themes), 109 min., DVD $26.98, VHS rental
DVD: no extras
Street: April 18, Prebook: March 28
First Run: DVD premiere
Cast: Susan Sarandon (Noel), Sam Neill (Wimbledon), Emily Blunt (My Summer of Love), Bud Tingwell (Ned Kelly), William McInnes (TV's Kath & Kim)
Director: Ann Turner
FIRST LOOK

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