Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

The Seduction of Gina Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 30, 2023

Aiming to rough up her image a bit, Valerie Bertinelli takes the lead in 1984’s “The Seduction of Gina,” which examines the slow creep of gambling addiction facing a young woman uncertain about her surrounding and her future. It’s a cautionary tale, though one that doesn’t press down too hard when it comes to depicting the ways of submission, keeping things relatively approachable as Bertinelli does her thing, providing a performance that’s more mild irritation than absolute distress. “The Seduction of Gina” isn’t completely about financial ruin, with just enough of a domestic side to keep things dramatic for director Jerrold Freedman.

Pulled out of her life in Los Angeles, Gina (Valerie Bertinelli) joins her husband, David (Fredric Lehne), in San Francisco while he works on becoming a doctor. A college student with nothing much in her life besides pal Mary (Dinah Manoff), Gina is drawn into the world of gambling through horse racing, feeling the rush of winning. Her interests escalate while on a trip to Tahoe, learning more about casino life, working with her “luck” to beat the house. David is constantly away, leaving Gina to explore her addiction in full, and with larger bets and longer hours, greater losses occur, putting the young woman in a tight spot as she becomes desperate for money, soon entangled with Keith (Michael Brandon), a casino lawyer sexually interested in the player.

“The Seduction of Gina” has a bit of production power behind it, with cinematography handled by the great Tak Fujimoto (“The Silence of the Lambs,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”). And a few musical moods are provided by Bertinelli’s then-husband, Eddie Van Halen, who brings some synth sounds to the feature that line up with Van Halen’s work on the album “1984.” These are nice surprises in a production that’s not really out to shock, detailing the slow development of Gina’s concentration on gambling and how such recklessness seeps into her daily life. It’s an interesting journey for the character, who begins in a place of innocence and eventually falls into an abyss of poor impulse control, but “The Seduction of Gina” stays true to its television movie origins, taking it easy on the main character. She grows desperate but not out of control, and complications with Keith are more soap opera than reality, leaving the harshness of the central financial crisis to a few scenes of jittery misery.

The Seduction of Gina Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "The Seduction of Gina" delivers a nicely detailed look at the modest production achievements of the movie. Skin particulars are appealing, capturing differences in age, and clothing is fibrous, exploring casualwear and uniforms. San Francsisco exteriors are deep, allowing viewers to explore the streets. Interiors secure decorative additions and casino life. Colors are satisfactory, with more explosive period hues on clothing, offering hotter pinks and lighter purples. Casino actions favors darker colors, while signage is alert. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in decent condition, with some mild damage and speckling, and occasional shifts in quality are present.

The Seduction of Gina Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix secures a crisp synth sound, with music appealing and balanced. Dialogue exchanges are clear, preserving emotionality. Casino atmospherics are appreciable, along with street tours.

The Seduction of Gina Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Manda Reyes.

• And a Trailer (2:36, HD) is included.

The Seduction of Gina Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The writing (by Judith Parker) captures the insidious nature of gambling, focusing on the highs of winning, with this sugar rush keeping Gina invested in her monetary slide. There are some family asides that work as well, with Gina often dismissed because she's a woman, contributing to her actions, which she views as empowerment. There are potent moments of characterization that come through in "The Seduction of Gina," which is certainly engaging, and works as a defined vehicle to push Bertinelli out of her comfort zone, bruising her sunny day reputation. The degenerative reality of gambling addiction isn't represented in the movie, but it connects as an introduction to carelessness for a network television audience.