Movie Review: ‘Bitter Desire’ – When Revenge Knocks Quietly at the Door

“Bitter Desire” is a slow-paced thriller with mild erotic undertones, directed by Simon Oliver and written by Thomas Bodine. It isn’t the type of film that tries to overwhelm you with adrenaline, but rather one that settles into a steady, simmering tension. And for the most part, it does this with intentional restraint, leaning on its characters rather than spectacle to move the story forward.

The film opens with a bang, literally. An explosion, followed by a foot chase that ends in a rough scuffle as Police Officer Steve, played by Nathan Hill, manages to stop a criminal on the run. It’s a strong start, giving you the impression that you’re stepping into a hard-hitting thriller packed with intensity and high stakes. But as the story unfolds, “Bitter Desire” reveals itself to be something quite different. That upbeat opening turns out to be the most action-driven sequence in the entire film, and what follows is a more intimate, psychological story built around desire, vulnerability, and hidden motives.

During the confrontation, Steve gets his ankle badly beaten and broken by the criminal before finally apprehending him. From here, the narrative jumps ahead two weeks. Steve is now on leave, recovering at home and trying to regain mobility in that injured ankle. As he goes about recuperating, physically, mentally, and in some ways emotionally, we get a glimpse into his domestic life with his wife, Lexi (played by Shar Dee). Their marriage feels tender but strained, weighed down not only by Steve’s frustration at being stuck at home but also by the emotional baggage of their inability to have children. That detail alone adds another unspoken layer to Steve’s vulnerability.

Everything changes when Sasha (played by Diana Benjamin) arrives at the door one day, unexpectedly taking over from Steve’s regular home-care nurse. Unbeknownst to Steve, Sasha has forced the other nurse to quit so she can insert herself into his home. Lexi is suspicious from the moment Sasha appears, and rightfully so. Sasha is the girlfriend of Andrew (played by Tass Tokatlidis), the very criminal Steve helped put away for a long time.

As predictable and straightforward as the narrative may initially appear, it still manages to hold your attention. There is a quiet curiosity about how far things will go. Steve begins to develop an attraction to Sasha, and the two often find themselves in awkward, charged situations that a married patient and his nurse should never be in. Sasha, who arrived with the sole intention of revenge, starts to waver. She questions whether she can truly carry out what she came to do. Yet her love, loyalty, and fear of Andrew keep her tethered to the plan.

If you’re familiar with Nathan Hill’s films, you already have a sense of what to expect. But even then, “Bitter Desire” still throws a few surprises your way. The narrative feels clearer, more grounded, and almost stripped of the exaggerated, draggy moments that sometimes plague low-budget thrillers. One could argue that a few characters feel unnecessary for the story being told, but the film keeps its focus tight. It’s obvious that it was made on a lean budget, yet the filmmakers used that budget efficiently. There aren’t many locations, but each one feels intentional and adds enough weight to the story.

The acting, overall, works well for what the film is trying to achieve. Nathan Hill is no stranger to roles like this, and he handles Steve almost methodically. He presents him as an officer itching to get back to work, craving action, but also emotionally restrained, especially when speaking about his and his wife’s struggles with fertility. Diana Benjamin delivers strongly as the sultry, conflicted Sasha. Beyond her striking screen presence, she captures the sinister yet vulnerable side of the character. Her prison visit to Andrew, filled with fear, hesitation, and doubt, shows that beneath her confidence lies a woman torn between love and survival. Shar Dee also gives a convincing performance as Lexi, embodying everything expected of a wife whose instincts are screaming that something is off.

Technically, the film keeps things simple and clean. Nothing extravagant, nothing overdone. The visuals are light and colourful, and the filmmakers resist the urge to force a heavy cinematic sheen onto the film; and honestly, that works in its favour. The framing choices contribute to the film’s quiet, creeping tension, giving it the subtle thrill it needs.

Despite being labelled an erotic thriller, “Bitter Desire” is surprisingly conservative in that department. The story builds opportunities for more sensual or erotic tension, but the film remains too safe, as a matter of fact, far too safe. With a runtime of only 70 minutes, the climax also feels a bit too convenient, wrapping things up faster than expected and not fully exploring the emotional and psychological weight the story had been building toward.

I would score “Bitter Desire” a 6.5/10. Without a doubt, this is one of those films you can watch casually to while away time without giving it your full attention. It doesn’t demand too much from you, and it doesn’t pull your mind into deep contemplation. But it does offer enough intrigue, charm, and character-driven suspense to make the experience worthwhile.