Fatal Affair (A Review)

I’d been looking forward to this movie for over a month when from Nia Long’s Instagram she started publicizing it. So, of course, I watched it the day it came out July 16, 2020! 

From the previews and trailer I believed it was going to be a true quote, unquote, entanglement since that’s our new 2020 word from Jada Pinkett-Smith concerning affairs. You know; hot and steamy love scenes, unavoidable indiscretions that only a married woman would have to commit while having an affair to prevent her husband finding out. But this was quite different. 

Intent. 

Was Ellie wrong for going for drinks and a night club with a former classmate, I think so. I wouldn’t go out with another man without my husband either being there or knowing and I certainly wouldn’t have him thinking I was going with my good girlfriend and mask the truth by saying, “she said hi :)”

Would I grind on another man on the dance floor or intertwine our fingers together and stare into his eyes?

Absolutely not! 

I respect the sanctity of marriage, even when others don’t. So for me. It’s always going to be a no as long as I’m legally married. Or anyone is legally married, for that matter. 

You already know if I wouldn’t do the above mentioned; I’m mos def not allowing a man to kiss me or fondle me in a public restroom. Can I just add, umm gross?! But nevertheless; in this film it happened and Ellie came to her senses before the actual act of sex happened. She realized she got caught up in the moment and further told David she made a mistake and wanted no parts of what he possibly was offering. 

No means no, right! 

Not for David! In his mind he was now in a relationship with a woman ending her marriage and she felt the same way for him that he felt for her! 

Let me pause here and say I enjoyed the professional positions of the lead characters: attorney, hacker, architect, student...

Why are psychos in the movies hackers?! The Perfect Guy, Fatal Affair, etc 

I must say; there were a few things I know for a fact I wouldn’t have let David get away with throughout the course of his insanity. 

1. How did Ellie forget, or let it slip, that David was a hacker? 

I wouldn’t have trusted ANYTHING about him, not one thing as far as my privacy goes with my technology. I’m already an untrusting person, so knowing what he did for a living would have been in the forefront of my suspicious mind. I wouldn’t have conceived the night club camera footage though, but phones, emails, texts...100% yes I would’ve suspected that he’d get access to those.

2. Why do women and men try and keep secrets from their life-long partners? 

I’m not talking about your boyfriend or girlfriend, I’m talking about someone you’ve spent 20 years building a life with. Even if not 20 years, the partner you’ve promised to love, honor and cherish until death. I know why...I don’t even know why I asked. Some men and women get married for the wrong reasons and with ulterior motives...they are untrustworthy so they don’t trust. (sad) However, in Ellie’s case; I believe she felt she was “protecting” her husband from any hurt she could have caused him by sharing intimacy with another man.

That’s too great a burden to bear! 

Too GREAT! Child please! 

As soon as David walked in with my friend Courtney under the guise that they are dating...knowing full well what he’s disclosed to me the day or so before; I would’ve shut his front down by spilling the beans. “David! Hey, when did you all meet?! Honey, Courtney, we went to college together, and caught up recently when he did work for my firm this past case just before I left!” That would’ve solved any intentions he had plotted in his peabrain! But nope, not Ellie, she played into his stupid game. I’ll blame cinematic story lines on that. I would hope, in love and war; you always choose honesty and integrity and if you don’t; just remember Ellie...don’t be like Ellie!

3. Why didn’t she call the police? 

I’ll tell you why! Guilt. When you do wrong you always worry about the consequences of your actions and how it’ll affect you. But through all that googling, following, threatening, asking around, and anonymous numbers coming through; I would’ve BEEN got a restraining order and at least placed some sort of documentation out on him so that the authorities were aware of his capabilities. Especially once she saw he had access to her home! Protection is key. Or my husband would’ve known!

4. Why didn’t she suspect something when she pulled up to her office with all those lights out. Lamps and such and no sound coming from the building? 

I don’t know about you all but if I walk into a room/office where I’m supposed to be meeting you, first; it better be well lit so I can see. Next, I’m calling your phone, not reading text messages so we can get the show on the road. Blame my impatience! 

5. Why do people hit, stab, push someone and not keep going until they are down and out?!

She kept hitting him and then running allowing David chance after chance to come back after them. He has attempted murder on my friend, faked his own death, killed my assistant, I suspect he murdered his wife, ummmm yea...there’s no limit to what he will do so he gets zero amount of mercy or benefit of the doubt from me while I’m protecting my family! Mama Bear don’t play! I’m not hitting you to slow you down. If I can muster strength to get you down, I gotta make sure you staying down. No repeats. No second chances. You picked the right one on the right day!

All in all the movie was alright. Something to pass the time. Acting was sort of sub par; I don’t know whether to blame the script, pacing, filming, screen shots, editing, or actors. I did have about three jumpy moments. Omar Epps mos def still has a mean stare down. He took me back to his Juice days honey; staring down Tupac using that eye brow. It was also a pleasant surprise to see Nia Long in a maternal role, playing in her age bracket because I believe she has a college age, if not older son, and of course it’s always welcomed to see everybody keeping their clothes on. I enjoyed the movie. Wasn’t overly impressed but I’m on quarantine so my expectations aren’t high. 

What did you think?