The Right Temptation

The Right Temptation

Year: 2000

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Lyndon Chubbuck

MysteryThrillerRomance

She’s A Private Investigator Who’s Found The Wrong Man But… A detective falls for the man she’s supposed to be investigating; dire complications follow.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Right Temptation (2000)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Right Temptation (2000). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 1990s

The story sits in a late-1990s urban milieu, where private investigators mix with wealthy clients and high-stakes business. The era is defined by stylized fashion, tech limits, and a pre-digital thriller mood that frames suspicion and deception.

Location

Racket Ball Club, Derian's Detective Agency, Michael's Office, Derian's Home

The film unfolds in an urban, glossy world centered on a private detective operation and elite social circles. Key locations include a high-end racket-ball club, the detective agency, Michael's upscale office, and Derian's apartment where a home invasion occurs. These spaces reflect a tense mix of danger, glamour, and duplicity that drives the plot.

🌆 Urban setting 🕵️ Private investigation 💼 Wealth and power

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:36

Main Characters – The Right Temptation (2000)

Meet the key characters of The Right Temptation (2000), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Derian McCall (played by Rebecca De Mornay)

A former vice cop who leaves her badge to run a detective agency. She is pragmatic, fearless, and morally complex, using wit and grit to pursue the truth. Her line between professional distance and personal risk becomes blurred as the case deepens.

🕵️‍♀️ Ex-cop 💼 Private investigator 💪 Determined

Anthea Farrow-Smith (played by Dana Delany)

A wealthy, anxious wife who frames her investigation as protecting her life. She is manipulative, charming, and capable of cold calculations to keep control over her situation. Her demands drive Derian's actions and ignite the central conspiracy.

🎭 Socialite 🗝️ Manipulative 💬 Deceptive

Michael Farrow-Smith (played by Kiefer Sutherland)

A high-rolling investor whose marriage appears empty yet whose activities cling to danger. He is reserved, guarded, and capable of violence or calculated moves to protect secrets. His relationship with Derian becomes a pivot of trust and betrayal.

💼 Wealth 👔 Ambitious 🗡️ Dangerous

Travis (photographer) (played by Robert Jayne)

A photographer who documents Anthea's meetings and becomes a key source of clues. His sudden death escalates the tension and pushes Derian to re-evaluate the information she has. He embodies the noir element of a junior informant caught in larger games.

📷 Photographer 🗞️ Informant ⚠️ Victim

Falco (played by Michael Ralph)

A figure who appears in jail and provides crucial awareness that helps Derian solve the case. He acts as a catalyst for uncovering the truth behind the murder and the intruder. His role anchors the detective's path to the final reveal.

🧩 Informant 💡 Clue-giver 🕯️ Cautionary ally

Detective (played by Chris Persky)

A fellow law officer involved in the investigation into Michael's murder. Keeps pressure on Derian and anchors the procedural aspect of the plot. Represents the institutional perspective in the unraveling mystery.

🧭 Authority 👮 Law officer 🔎 Investigator

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:36

Major Themes – The Right Temptation (2000)

Explore the central themes of The Right Temptation (2000), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Infidelity

A plan to expose an alleged affair drags Derian into a web of lies, testing trust and loyalty. The pursuit of truth becomes entangled with romance and manipulation. The film uses romantic deceit to reveal darker motives beneath glossy surface.

💀 Murder Plot

A staged murder, a mysterious intruder, and a deadly confrontation push characters toward danger and betrayal. Clues surface through a photographer's photos and a killer's calculated moves. The climax hinges on a double-cross that endangers everyone involved.

🕵️ Noir Trust

Trust is a rare currency as protagonists navigate shifty loyalties and hidden agendas. Derian's detective instincts are put to the test against a web of deceit. The mood echoes traditional noir, with revelations emerging from careful observation.

💼 Power & Wealth

Wealth and ambition underpin the danger, with a glamorous social world masking criminal deals. The case exposes how money can corrupt motives and warp relationships. The pursuit of control drives the characters to take extreme risks.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:36

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The Right Temptation Summary

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The Right Temptation Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Right Temptation

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