---

Obsessed

**

Stars: Beyoncé Knowles, Idris Elba, Ali Larter

Director: Steve Shill

Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 108 minutes

Drama/thriller

Beyonce Knowles can sing her socks off - but the Bootylicious babe really needs a few acting lessons.

More wooden than a pine bookcase, she stumbles through this 'thriller' - and I use the term loosely - spouting cringeworthy dialogue.

But Knowles is just one of many weak links in this movie's chain.

Penned by David Loughery, writer of last year's lacklustre thriller Lakeview Terrace,

Obsessed is a disappointing imitation of Fatal Attraction that lacks the tension, sexual chemistry or moral ambiguity of the original.

No bunnies are boiled either.

Beyonce is Sharon Charles, wife of successful executive Derek, played by The Wire star Idris Elba.

They have a blissfully happy marriage until sexy new office temp Lisa (Heroes' Ali Larter) starts stalking him.

Her pursuit ends in the inevitable violent finale - an often cringeworthy rather than climactic catfight between her and Knowles.

Heroes star Ali Larter does a great job as the psychotic seductress who won't take no for an answer.

Deluded and deranged, you don't know whether to pity or hate her.

Knowles has little to do for the first two-thirds of the movie until she switches from mousy mom to ballsy babe and starts fighting for her man. But you don't know or care about her two-dimensional character.

Unlike Fatal Attraction, her hubby never gives into temptation so all moral ambiguity is removed - he is entirely tortured and innocent, not being punished being a love rat.

His biggest crime is not admitting the harassment to his wife.

Obsessed is as sexless as it is tension-free and there is no chemistry between Idris and Larter or him and Knowles.

There is no back story to justify Lisa's behaviour and she never seems overly dangerous.

Overall, the movie is a safe and dull melodrama that is more daytime soap than sexual thriller.

Fans of Knowles may enjoy seeing her kick Larter's butt but everyone else would be better off watching Glenn Close and Michael Douglas in Fatal Attraction.

Watch if you liked: Fatal Attraction, Disclosure.

[[In-content Ad]]

---