Burning Betrayal (O Lado Bom de Ser Traída) is a Brazilian erotic thriller film released on Netflix on October 25, 2023. It is directed by Diego Freitas and is based on the novel of the same name by Sue Hecker, whose literal translation means – The Good Side of Being Betrayed. Mayra Lucas and Carolina Alckmin produce it.
The ensemble cast of the film includes Giovanna Lancellotti as Babi or Barbara, Leandro Lima as Marco, Camilla de Lucas as Paty/Patricia, Bruno Montaleone as Thiago, Micael as Caio.
-Burning Betrayal Review Contains Spoilers-
Burning Betrayal Review
The film opens up with a biker couple racing each other on the long roads and the man somehow falls off the bike. Soon after we find the couple in a warehouse with their helmets off and ripping each other’s clothes off. You would think – okay we are getting into the action right from the start with no context, but it’s just a dream and soon Babi wakes up from it with her actual fiance, Caio, sneaking up on her.
However, it felt really vivid to her and even while she’s being fitted for her wedding gown, Babi can’t shake the wild dream or forget the face of the man she saw. Little did she know that when visiting her fiance and business partner’s alleged money-laundering court case trial, she would come across the same man. Moreover, he is the acting judge for the case – Marco Ladeia. Babi is evidently attracted to him but her wedding is around the corner & she takes her friends for a fun bachelorette party.
At the party, Babi opens a gift from an unknown sender containing photos of Caio’s indiscretions. Suddenly all those unexplained business trips to Rio click into place. Heartbroken, humiliated, and utterly livid, Babi discovers Caio’s had a mistress for two years. After thrashing his office and with revenge on her mind, she cuts him off completely and decides to pursue her dark desire, Marco, despite his mysterious personality.
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The story is quite predictable right from the start – an adventurous lead who has mellowed down to settle with her boyfriend of five years but realises that it has been full of lies. However, when her perfect bubble pops, she finds herself being the centre of attention and getting hit left & right by men around her, including her best friend. But her eyes are set on the man from her dream, even when everyone warns her about him.
Initially, when Caio’s cheating is revealed, one expects that after a moment of rage, Babi will devise a revenge plan. We would see her torture Caio in his own ways. But that goes out of the window soon she gets obsessed with Marco, although Babi claims that she isn’t looking for anything serious. In the meanwhile, her best friend, Thiago tries to take their relationship to the next level but she shuts it down. On top of that, weird things keep happening to her like someone secretly recording her or breaking into her house.
Babi is least bothered about everything else, as long as she is getting it on with Marco. One can ignore some logic and irregularities in the erotic part but there’s absolutely no substance in thriller as well. The alleged ‘money laundering’ case is the root of it all and there’s no hint or focus on it, except the last 10 minutes. Even the supposed erotic bits of the film are not sensual enough to fit in the genre. Despite they are doing it all, there’s something off about it.
In short, there’s not enough thriller to make you curious, nor there’s enough sensuality that would make sense or entice. The description reads that Babi sees the betrayal as an opportunity for a sexual awakening, with dangerous consequences. Alas, they fail at keeping their own word as she just jumps from one relationship to another.
If their purpose was to show how a free spirit girl accepts her wild nature then that definitely doesn’t happen. The biggest surprise/change would be Giovanna Lancellotti transformation from a bad blonde wig to her natural brunette. For a second she looks like two different people. Overall, one would add it to the list of bad films that you would watch alone when you are absolutely bored.
Rating: 2/5
Burning Betrayal is available for streaming on Netflix.
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