DEF BY TEMPTATION -- Presented by The Black Nerds!
35th Anniversary Screening!
Sink your teeth into a weekend of bloodsucking cinema! From June 6th - June 8th, The Revue Cinema presents Revue's Fang-tastic Weekend, a celebration of vampire classics and cult favorites. This is a vampire film marathon you won't want to miss!
Each screening is hosted by one of our beloved series, bringing a unique and interactive experience to every show.
Tickets vary per event, or you can save money and indulge in the full weekend with a festival pass for $90.
Join us for three nights of terror, thrills, and fang-tastic fun at The Revue!
Drenched in the hazy glow of the late-night city and outfitted with the rhythms of early ‘90s R&B and New Jack Swing, Def by Temptation (1990) is a supernatural horror film that’s as stylish as it is sinister. A film as seductive as its villain, Def by Temptation is a dark and intoxicating tale of desire, faith, and the dangers lurking in the neon-lit shadows.
The film follows Joel (James Bond III), a sheltered seminary student who leaves his quiet Southern life behind to visit his childhood friend K (Kadeem Hardison) in New York City. But the moment Joel steps into Brooklyn’s smoky bars and sultry nightclubs, he’s pulled into a world far more dangerous than he ever imagined. A mysterious woman—known only as the Vampire Temptress—is preying on men, luring them in with a hypnotic gaze, a whispered promise, and a fate far worse than death. As Joel struggles between his faith and his desires, K—a smooth-talking, street-smart actor—tries to steer his friend away from the danger closing in. But can anyone resist temptation forever?
At the heart of Def by Temptation is Cynthia Bond as the Vampire Temptress, a villainess both mesmerizing and menacing. She is the embodiment of forbidden desire—an entity that is equal parts seduction and destruction. She doesn’t just lure men in; she consumes them, both physically and spiritually. Her presence is so intoxicating, so undeniable, that even the most devout can’t help but be drawn to her.
Surrounding this unforgettable performance is an all-star cast of Black cinema icons. Kadeem Hardison (A Different World, Vampire in Brooklyn) brings his signature charm and effortless cool as K, whose sneakers on screen deserve their own IMDB credit. Samuel L. Jackson, in one of his early film roles, lends his undeniable presence as Joel’s preacher father, Minister Garth. And Bill Nunn (Do the Right Thing, New Jack City) adds his unmistakable gravitas to this eerie tale of sin and salvation.
Beyond its chilling horror elements, Def by Temptation bridges the aesthetics of Blaxploitation horror with the energy of a new decade. The film’s cinematography bathes its characters in deep blues, purples, and reds—an atmosphere of both seduction and danger. The soundtrack is pure new jack swing and R&B, a perfect backdrop to the film’s hazy, late-night atmosphere. The fashion, the dialogue, and the undeniable coolness of its cast all mark this as a film that could only come out of Black cinema in the early ‘90s.
But beneath its stylish surface lies something deeper. Def by Temptation is a film about faith—about the battle between the sacred and the profane, between righteousness and temptation. It asks: how do you fight something that you so desperately want to give in to?
Join The Black Nerds this FANG-TASTIC WEEKEND at The Revue Cinema and fight the temptation to enjoy this cult classic Def By Temptation! (FADUMA GURE)
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