Jailbait

Ever since I've saw the independent thriller film "Family" released way back in 2006, I've started to take an interest in Renee Humphrey's films. She's a talented actress, but in her earliest appearances in film, you can see how she's really grown throughout the years; here, she plays a young girl searching for her sister in a seedy part of Los Angeles. Let me tell you, out of all the films I've seen throughout the years, none have captured the grime, destitute, sleazy streets of Los Angeles so perfectly and you really get a sense of danger and uneasiness as the film goes along.

And speaking of the film, it's an enjoyable thriller, though nothing too special despite raving on the performances from the main cast. C Thomas Howell does an admirable job as a no-nonsense cop who gets tangled with the young girl and the journey is filled with twists and turns with all kinds of shady characters in seedy locales. Some questionable gaps in logic aside, it's their relationship with each other that really gets you hooked in, even if at times it becomes a bit formulaic. The final showdown between the cop and the high profile pimp is gripping, if not underwhelming, but for this nice little thriller, you can't go wrong. Worth a watch on a rainy day or to just past the time.

A B movie, but a pretty enjoyable one. Chock full of downtown L.A. cliches (hookers, thugs, junkies) and gratuitous nudity, but overall a better story and better acting than most movies of the sort. Renee Humphrey (also see "Mallrats" for her fun role as Trish) is very good, and C. Thomas Howell is much better than most reviews have said. Ah, remember those days when he starred in REAL movies? "The Outsiders", "Soul Man"? He seems to be slumming it here as much as his character. The two leads have enormous chemistry and the relationship presented here is surprisingly tender for this kind of film. As far as the supporting cast goes, the actor playing Roman is sufficiently creepy. In short: The film kept my interest even though I rolled my eyes a few times.

Police, like doctors, are not supposed to let their personal feelings get involved with the people they serve. But sometimes there are human feelings so strong that they get in the way of professional rules and regulations. "Jailbait" revolves around the conflict that Detective Lee Teffler (C. Thomas Howell) experiences as he becomes the Knight In Shining Armor to a Midwestern girl (Renee Humphrey) who comes to Hollywood looking for her sister (Krista Errickson)--an aspiring singer who has become a hooker as well as a suspect in a murder case that Detective Teffler is investigating.

Another suspect in the murder case is Teffler's boyhood friend (David Labiosa) --they used to raise hell on the streets together-- who has taken a different path from the one chosen by Teffler. Rather than becoming a policeman like Teffler, his boyhood friend has become a cold, creepy, ruthless and sadistic criminal who specializes in white slavery.

The performances in "Jailbait" are surprisingly good for a "straight to video" type movie. Although not necessarily achieving Super Stardom, this is a group of actors worth watching for their talent, and for the heart that they put into their performances.

TRIVIA FANS may be interested to know that: 1) Krista Errickson went on to a distinguished career as a journalist and film maker.

2) Leslie Harter went on to get married to (and have 2 children with) "Back To The Future" director Bob Zemeckis.

Renne Humphrey does a nice job playing the role of Kyle the sexy seventeen year old runaway (she was nineteen at the time). She later appeared in "Sex Monster" as the lesbian lover of Meryl Hemmingway in the delightful sex farce. C. Thomas Howell is a little hard to take as the detective forcing off his attraction to her.

This is one of those movies that really, honestly, and genuinely attempts to make a statement about something that, at least the writer, thought was important and needed to be said. Because of that, when you watch it, you do get the feeling that there was an honest to god attempt at something bigger. There was real emotion and heartfelt sincerity behind it.

So I'm giving it 10 out of 10 for effort. They wanted to say something about the horrors of life on the streets and on the street corners and they gave it their best shot. There is no way I can nay say that and feel comfortable. There was an attempt here, and you can tell.

But it suffers from low production values, and some of the actors saw it as a job, a paycheck, instead of something that could further their career, and the direction was... just god awful.

So, what you have here is a straight to video film with a script that honestly tries, and a director and producers that didn't cared less than the screen writers.