[Succubus Hell Bent]
Plot:Sometimes what happens at Spring Break doesn't stay at Spring Break... it follows you home.

Cast: Gary Busey, David Keith, Lorenzo Lamas, Robert L. Mann, Kelly Hu, Natalie Denise Sperl, Jayson Blair, Shawna Marie Nelson, Tim Herzog, Ahna O'Reilly, Cameron Goodman, Rebekah Brandes, Amber Flamminio, Dean Shelton, Marcus Eley.

My Thoughts:Not too shabby.

Review:"Succubus: Hell Bent" is one of the more unique supernatural horror films to be released to dvd in awhile. The film deals with a usual rich, playboy type named Adam (Robert L. Mann) who takes daddy's jet to spring break so he and his best friend can party down, score some babes, etc etc. While at Spring Break, Adam meets a mysterious woman named Lilith (Natalie Denise Sperl), who he has a one night fling with, before ditching her the next morning and heading back home. But there's just one problem....Lilith is a succubus, a female demon who preys on human men. And to make matters worse Adam's womanizing ways have pissed her off quite heavily. So heavily in fact that she uses her hellish powers to zap herself all the way to Los Angeles, and track him down. The question is, does she plan to kill him, or just put a little scare into him and make him realize the error of his "ways"? "Succubus Hell Bent" is like a supernatural version of "Fatal Attraction" and plays out in a way similar to how that film did. And it's no surprise that this film comes from writer/director/actor Kim Bass, considering he also wrote the screenplay for "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate", another scorned-psycho-female-stalks-promiscuous-male tale of torment. With Lilith becoming a stronger presence in Adam's life more and more as the film goes on.

Natalie Denise Sperl gives an excellent performance as the sultry yet dangerous Lilith and really plays a character who lrefuses to be ignored. This woman does everything in her otherwordly power to throw monkeywrench after monkeywrench into Adam's cushy lifestyle, from framing him for murder, to appearing out of thin air wherever he is, to even chasing him down in a fighter jet. These turn of events make the film not only entertaining but funny as well. It's not only a horror pic, but a black comedy in many ways as well. I really didn't know which part was funnier, Lilith's behavior or watching Adam fall apart more and more after each encounter with Lilith. It gets to the point eventually where despite the fact that he's a spoiled, womanizing rich suburban daddy's boy, you actually being to sort of feel sorry for the guy, because this chick really has his number.

And rather than just letting go and moving on she continuously steps up her game of stalk and harass until Adam has to call in the big guns, a demon hunter named "Sentinel" played by a cameoing Gary Busey. Of course what transpires once Adam contacts Sentinel and he arrives, is even funnier than how Adam even learns of Sentinel to begin with. In the end "Succubus: Hell Bent" does have it's weaknesses, which include Kelly Hu as a hardnosed detective who questions Adam mercilessly about two murders which Lilith commited but framed Adam for, and also seems to have a vested personal stake in seeing him go down for the crimes. It's not that Kelly's a bad actress, it's just sad seeing a girl who did such films as "XMEN UNITED" cameoing in something this far down the scale.

No disrespect to writer/director Kim Bass because this was indeed a very good indie picture, but let's face it it's no "X-MEN" film quality wise. Another issue with "SHB" is the relationship between Adam and Lilith herself. A definite 53 on the 1-10 hottie scale...you have to wonder why exactly is Adam even running from this woman? Considering most guys would have no problem with being pursued by someone this good looking. Even if she is a demon from hell. In the end "SHB" sort of becomes a let down during it's final act where Adam uses a little black magic to cal up Lilith so he can destroy her once and for all, and the end result of that is alot of silly scenes strung together and some horrible dialogue. Despite that, "SHB" is a good indie horror pic which is sure to satisfy fans of cheesy cult horror films with good looking female leads.

Positives:Good performance by Denise Sperl as Lilith. Unique story, which was funny and entertaining in many areas.

Negatives:A weak climax.

Overall:A pretty good horror effort from Mr. Bass.





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