BOUND AND GAGGED
Michael Butts | Martinsburg, WV USA | 07/19/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)
"BOUND BY LIES is one of those supposedly "erotic" thrillers that tend to go straight to DVD these days. And it's pretty shoddy compared to some others. Kristy Swanson is pretty bad as the female lead, a photographer who was once raped, and now does steamy sadomasochistic photos which we're supposed to believe is "art." When a rapist and art critic are murdered, fingers seem to point to Ms. Swanson, or to her protective landlord. Stephen Baldwin walks through another role as the detective with the troubled marriage who falls for Swanson, and tries to find the real killer. There is little mystery in the film, though, as the killer's identity is revealed fairly early on. Swanson should sue her costumer who put the rather hefty young lady in unflattering clothes that deflated any kind of sensuality; not that I'm opposed to chunky women, but more flattering clothes would have made her more attractive and since sex seems to be the lure of this film, one would have though they would have made a stronger attempt to flatter Ms. Swanson. Baldwin, who has been known to parlay his somnambulent demeanor effectively, doesn't do so in this, and ultimately BOUND BY LIES is about as erotic as a Spongebob Squarepants cartoon."