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Teachers Pet Film Review by Bryn Curt James Hammond

Teachers Pet (2000) Review

Published on May 19, 2019

'Devil in the Flesh 2' is a good example of a sequel done well and director Marcus Spiegel makes sure he uses his femme fatale Jodi Lyn O’Keefe to her fullest extent!

Release date

September 8, 2000

Distributor

Allumination Filmworks

Movie

Teachers Pet

Bryn Hammmond film and music ratings.png

'Devil in the Flesh' was a negligible PG-13 erotic thriller that culled all gratuitous nudity and violence but used suggestive methods to keep the implied dark and sexual proceedings rolling. 'Devil in the Flesh 2' on the other hand throws almost everything into the mix, resulting in something which comes pretty close to violent softcore pornography but without the 'Basic Instinct' excess.

 

If you haven’t yet digested my review of 'Devil in the Flesh' starring Rose McGowan (Jawbreaker), where I pick up the sequel’s premise may confuse you, but stay with me. Devil in the Flesh 2 begins shortly after the events of the 1998 original. Debbie Strand is now under psychiatric care and after repeated sexual and verbal abuse from Nurse Bates (Wendy Worthington) she fights back and manages to escape, leaving death and destruction in her wake.

 

She eventually hitches a ride with a local oil tycoon’s daughter, Tracy Carlay (Sarah Lancaster), but once again the ride doesn’t go as Debbie planned and ends in Carlay’s unexpected death. Debbie thinks fast and steals both her victim’s identity and her car and heads off to the college that Carlay was supposed to attend. There, Debbie quickly develops another psychotic crush, this time on her dashing professor, Dr. Sam Deckner (Jsu Garcia), but high jinks strikes again and Debbie is forced to seduce her way into her new suitor’s heart by any means.

"O’Keefe was born for the role; it’s impossible not to find the blue-eyed beauty appealing and it’s even harder to imagine anyone else ever playing the character. "

However, her scheme starts to fall apart when her roommate, Laney (Jeanette Brox), unravels Debbie’s lies and discovers the truth about her past, thanks to the Internet. Knowing that she   is  in  danger  of   being exposed,

Rose McGowan and Jodi Lyn O'Keefe

Debbie makes plans to bolt out of town, but during a heated confrontation her roommate Laney ends up dead, leaving Debbie free to continue her seductive agenda to steal Dr. Sam Deckner’s heart.

 

Directed by Marcus Spiegel (Undressed), 'Devil in the Flesh 2', like its source material, has some of the faults that usually plague seduction cinema, but Spiegel impeccably strikes a cohesive balance between the sequel being a thriller and a skin flick, with some opulent cinematography by M. David Mullen (Jennifer’s Body). Returning writer Richard Brandes (Jeepers Creepers 3) flawlessly moves Debbie’s story forward, but he additionally treats the follow-up as a retooling, which works well for viewers that are unfamiliar with the first film. Returning viewers like me are treated to a few nice Easter eggs including Alex McArthur, who played the first film’s love interest Peter Rinaldi, turning up as Dr. John Sims before Debbie gives him what for.

Jodi Lyn O’Keefe (Halloween:H20) replaces Rose McGowan (Scream) as Debbie Strand and brings her own air of sexual insanity to the role. O’Keefe was born for the role; it’s impossible not to find the blue-eyed beauty appealing and it’s even harder to imagine anyone else ever playing the character. Sure, Rose McGowan ruled the roost in the original film, but now it’s O’Keefe’s turn and she more than makes up for McGowan’s absence, filling her shoes with ease.

Unlike its predecessor, which only turns nasty in the final act, 'Devil in the Flesh 2'’s kill count begins almost immediately, showing viewers just how unpredictable and deranged Debbie truly is. It’s a preposterous plot for sure, which could well have been a plot-line from 'Sunset Beach', but it’s addictive viewing due to the energetic screen presence of its psychotic lead. Sure, the script is a basic rehash of the first film and the whole movie feels like an episode of 'Beverly Hills 90210', partly due to the dialogue and situations people find themselves in, but this is compelling viewing and if O’Keefe agrees to return for a third movie I’m already there!

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