Probably the most unusual of the Tanya Roberts "erotic thrillers," "Deep Down" is more a quirky character study and portrait of desperation and deception in low-income housing than anything usually found in your standard-issue, made- for-video potboiler. Essentially an electronic "Rear Window" set in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley, it's certainly a far cry from the cheapo crap ("Sins of Desire," "Night Eyes") for which the fallen Charlie's Angel is known, and occasionally seems to actually be saying something about voyeurism and violence.
From the unnecessary flashbacks and strained sexuality, the "erotic" aspect, in fact, seems almost to have been tacked on. It's as if soft-core queen Roberts and/or shady exploitation producers got their paws on a decent, Hitchcockian- type mystery/thriller story, and decided to turn it into a typically sleezy "Sins of Desire"-type trash entertainment.
If that's what happened here, it's too bad. Because even though this film may not be great, the basic concept certainly had potential -- most notably in the electronic voyeurism angle. Also interesting is the odd relationship between the wannabe musician who falls for Roberts (Chris Young), and his roommate-from- hell (overactor Kristoffer Tabori).
Other casting decisions aren't as successful. Aging '70s actor George Segal is completely miscast as the heavy -- a violent, gun-obsessed older guy married to Roberts; other parts are filled out by veteran actors who have seen better days and better films.
Roberts does her usual raspy-voiced attempt at acting (though is more neurotic and affected than usual) playing the supposedly sultry femme fatale who lives next door -- but (disastrously) sports a dikey, peroxide-blonde hairdo, and is utterly devoid of sexuality or sympathy of any kind.
Music is of the lame, synthesized "Body Heat" variety, while the flat lighting and uninspired camerawork give no sense of the claustrophobic, low-rent apartment environment, or the sweltering summer heat that is spoken of but never felt.
A few potentially dramatic scenes seem to have been sabotaged by bad editing. Nonexistent production values lend the movie the unmistakable look of an ultra- low budget, straight-to-video-hell cheapie.
The story itself contains some interesting twists and turns -- but the real mystery is why a 20-something dude would be attracted to a 40+ spinster like Roberts in the first place. Perhaps if someone sexy or voluptuous -- even another B- actress like Shannon Tweed -- had played the part, the film might have worked; at least the premise would have made sense. Still, worth a look if it ever pops up again on Cinemax.
