They're Playing with Fire (1984) Blu Ray Sybil Danning

Has there ever been a more gorgeous sexy lady than Sybil Danning. She is absolutely awesome. Pretty staid film, but she lifts it out of the ordinary.

Probably the best print of this film you will ever see. I have a second-hand VHS version which has seen better days, although the cover is quite good. Genre veterans Sybil Danning and Andrew Prine have fun with their roles. Take your thinking caps off and and enjoy the ride!

The early ‘80s were rife with teenage wish fulfilment guff such as the screwball 'Porkys' series to lower tier entries like 'Hamburger' and 'Private Lessons' - but none managed to fuse the 'teenager popping his or her cherry' subgenre by way of an episode of 'Murder She Wrote' and 'Friday the 13th Part 2'. Even though I’m sure many tried. And if that stupidity sounds right up your alley, then wait until you get a load of the sheer awesomeness that is Ms Sybill Danning in “They’re Playing with Fire” …When teenager Jay (Eric Brown) is tasked by sultry English professor, Diane Stevens (Danning) to varnish the exterior woodwork on her yacht (insert Freudian subtext here) - they soon embark on an illicit affair. However, a quick bunk up isn’t the only thing on Diane’s mind when she recruits Jay to ‘scare’ her elderly in laws in order to put them prematurely in an old folks home and (ta da!) inherit their fortune. Problem is, things go disastrously wrong and when her husband Michael (Andrew Prine) gets in on the act alongside a savage murderer stalking the campus, this presumed sex comedy takes an altogether darker tone into weirdo slasher territory with gruesome death scenes and red herrings a go-go. Thaknkfully, Ms Danning disrobes at the drop of a hat for most of the running time so any pretence that this is a serious horror flick is quickly jettisoned. Phew.Director Howard Avedis (who went on to direct the Bill Paxton debut ‘Mortuary’) helms the movie with an assured hand - juggling the disparate elements like a pro. I guess it must be hard to make his odd and often convoluted screenplay (co-written by Marlene Schmidt) fly - but to be fair, he ALMOST pulls it off. Thankfully, he’s got a game cast with the ever awesome Andrew Prine (‘V’ fans rejoice) delivering a sterling co-lead performance alongside Sybill Danning who not only looks amazing (I’m sorry, I’m sure its very old fashioned to say so, but I’m a guy and well… she does) but also holds the main bulk of the picture together with a multi-faceted and deceptive character whom you never fully get a handle on. Sadly, main lead Eric Brown looks pretty bored throughout and never once do you believe his character - he even looks slightly miffed that he has to pretend to enjoy the amorous advances of Ms Danning, which you know - must have been really difficult for him. Poor blighter. The movie looks fine too with fan favourite Gary Graver on DP duties, ensuring the standard American teen comedy ‘look’ is milked for all its worth.Kino Lorbers’ US DVD release sports a pretty good transfer with mild grain, alongside vibrant audio. The special extra features are minimal with a recent interview with Ms Danning discussing the making of the film, which is both candid and interesting - giving clear insight into the cast, crew and her own place in popular culture. Kino also throw in the theatrical trailer which rounds off the extras. I’m still not entirely sure why I watched this movie, bar an interest in its horror elements (I know, its hard to imagine - but the teenage sex comedy subgenre has never interested me) its hardly my kinda flick - but must admit, I was glad I gave it whirl as the B-movie whodunnit slasher elements were both fun and diverting. Worth a pop if one is in the right frame of mind.