It’s funny how certain movies just vanish. You ever find yourself scrolling through an actor's IMDb page and see a title that makes you go, "Wait, when did they do that?" For Kiefer Sutherland and Rebecca De Mornay, that movie is The Right Temptation. Released in 2000, right before Sutherland’s career-defining pivot to 24, this film feels like a strange time capsule of the post-90s erotic thriller craze. It didn't set the world on fire. It didn't win Oscars. But if you're into those "who’s-double-crossing-who" puzzles, it’s actually a fascinating watch for a rainy Tuesday night.
The plot isn't your standard detective fare. Rebecca De Mornay plays Derian McCall, a former cop who’s basically struggling to make it as a private investigator. She gets hired by Anthea Farrow-Smith (played by Dana Delany) to follow her husband, Michael (Sutherland), because she suspects he’s cheating. Simple, right? Except Anthea doesn't just want photos; she wants Derian to actively try to seduce him as a "test."
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It's a trap. Obviously.
The Weird, Gritty Appeal of The Right Temptation
Honestly, the chemistry is what keeps this thing afloat. You’ve got De Mornay, who was basically the queen of the "dangerous woman" archetype in the 90s after The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, playing against Sutherland, who was in that weird career lull before Jack Bauer made him a household name again. He’s playing a real estate mogul here—shady, charming, and just vulnerable enough that you almost believe he’s the victim.
Almost.
Director Lyndon Chubbuck doesn't have a massive filmography, but he manages to capture a specific kind of moody, low-budget noir aesthetic that actually works for the story. It feels claustrophobic. The stakes feel personal. When Derian starts falling for the guy she’s supposed to be "testing," the movie moves away from being a procedural and turns into a character study about loneliness and bad decisions. We’ve all been there—making a choice we know is a disaster because the alternative is just too boring.
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What’s interesting about The Right Temptation is how it handles the "femme fatale" trope. Usually, it's the woman lures the man to his doom. Here, Derian is the protagonist, but she’s also the one being manipulated from multiple angles. She's smart, but her own desire to be seen and wanted makes her blind to the obvious red flags. It’s a very human mistake.
Why Nobody Talks About It (And Why They Should)
Look, I’m not saying this is Chinatown. It’s not. But in an era where every movie is a $200 million superhero epic, there’s something refreshing about a small-scale thriller where the biggest explosion is a verbal argument in a dimly lit office. It’s a "B-movie" in the best sense of the word.
- The Cast: Seriously, having Sutherland, De Mornay, and Delany in one room is a powerhouse trio for a direct-to-video/limited release.
- The Twist: Without spoiling it, the final act flips the script in a way that makes you want to re-watch the first twenty minutes to see what you missed.
- The Aesthetic: It captures that weird transition period between the 90s and the 2000s—lots of chunky tech, questionable fashion, and a genuine earnestness that modern "ironic" thrillers lack.
Critics at the time were... well, they weren't kind. The Apollo Movie Guide and other contemporary reviewers basically dismissed it as a cliché-ridden noir. But I think they missed the point. The Right Temptation isn't trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s trying to be a solid, entertaining noir that uses its actors' baggage to its advantage. You see Rebecca De Mornay and you expect a certain level of coldness, but she plays Derian with a surprising amount of warmth and desperation.
Comparing it to Other Kiefer Sutherland Roles
If you only know Kiefer from 24 or Designated Survivor, seeing him in The Right Temptation is a trip. He’s not shouting "Dammit, Chloe!" or running through Los Angeles with a handgun. He’s subtle. He’s using his voice—that gravelly, iconic whisper—to seduce rather than command. It reminds me a bit of his work in Dark City, where he was playing against type.
Michael Farrow-Smith is a guy who lives in the gray areas. He’s not a mustache-twirling villain, which makes the central conflict much more effective. If he were just a jerk, the movie wouldn't work. You need to believe that a smart woman like Derian would actually risk her career and her safety for him.
Real-World Context: The Death of the Mid-Budget Thriller
It’s kind of sad that movies like this don't really get made for theaters anymore. Nowadays, a script like this would either be a 6-episode Netflix miniseries padded with unnecessary subplots or a "prestige" HBO movie. Back in 2000, you could just have a 90-minute thriller that stayed focused on three people and a lie.
The production value of The Right Temptation shows its age, sure. The lighting can be a bit flat in spots. But the script by Henry Clement (who mostly wrote for TV) has a tight internal logic. It respects the audience enough not to over-explain every single motive until the very end.
One thing that sticks out is the portrayal of the PI business. It’s not glamorous. Derian’s office isn't some high-tech hub; it’s a place where you wait for the phone to ring and hope the next client isn't a lunatic. That groundedness makes the heightened "honey trap" plot feel more jarring and dangerous.
What Modern Viewers Might Struggle With
- Pacing: It’s a slow burn. If you’re used to TikTok-speed editing, the first thirty minutes might feel like they’re dragging their feet.
- The Soundtrack: Very "late-night cable." It’s fine, but it definitely dates the film.
- The Gender Politics: It’s a movie from 2000. Some of the dynamics between the husband, the wife, and the "other woman" feel a bit dated, though the film does try to give Derian more agency than your typical noir protagonist.
But honestly? Those are minor gripes. If you like movies like Body Heat or The Last Seduction, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here. It’s a "comfort watch" for people who love watching beautiful people lie to each other in expensive houses.
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How to Find and Watch The Right Temptation
Because it wasn't a massive blockbuster, finding it can be a bit of a scavenger hunt. It’s often buried in the "Recommended" sections of streaming services like Tubi, Pluto TV, or the deeper corners of Amazon Prime. It’s the kind of movie that thrives in the world of free-with-ads streaming.
If you do track it down, pay attention to the dialogue in the scenes where Michael and Derian first meet. The writers did a great job of making the flirting feel like a chess match. Every line has a double meaning. It’s a reminder that before we had apps and "sliding into DMs," movie characters had to actually talk to each other to build tension.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans of 90s/00s Noir
If you're planning to dive into The Right Temptation or similar films, here’s how to get the most out of the experience:
- Double Feature It: Pair this with The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. It’s a meta experience to see Rebecca De Mornay play the "victim" of a scheme after being the one who orchestrated the chaos in her most famous role.
- Look for the Details: Watch the background characters. There are several moments where the "mystery" is actually being solved in the periphery of the frame, but the characters are too distracted by their own drama to notice.
- Check Out the Soundtrack: While it’s dated, the score actually does some heavy lifting in creating the noir atmosphere. It’s worth a listen if you’re a fan of that specific era of synth-jazz.
- Research the Cast’s "Lost" Films: Both Sutherland and De Mornay have a string of these types of thrillers from the late 90s. Exploring them gives you a great look at how the industry shifted before the "Golden Age of Television" took over.
Ultimately, The Right Temptation is a solid reminder that a movie doesn't have to be a masterpiece to be worth your time. Sometimes, you just want a well-acted, twisty story that finishes in under two hours. In that regard, it absolutely delivers.