Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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“Safe Word” may have the occasional spicy BDSM moment, but it, unfortunately, plays up the stereotypes that those into kink are mentally ill.
| Director(s) | Sara Seligman |
| Screenplay By | Dana Verde, Sara Seligman |
| Date Released (Tubi) | April 5, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Duration | 1 Hour 23 Minutes |
| Content Rating | TV-MA |
| Noted Cast | |
| Colette | Moriah Brown |
| Ethan | Gavin Houston |
| Lainey | Kajuana S. Marie |
| Carol | Deetta West |
| Ann | Monique Mosee |
| Fiona | Kelsi Lee |
| Stephanie | Shaquita Smith |
This content contains pertinent spoilers.
Film Summary
Collette and Ethan are in love and freaky, and Colette’s mom Carol and best friend, Lainey, love seeing it. But, what they don’t know is Ethan isn’t the prince charming he seems to be. He has a dark past alongside mysterious and powerful associates like a woman named Ann. Which leaves us to wonder, as Colette becomes dick-matized and experiences the worst Ethan has to offer, will she stick beside him or try to find a way to get the hell away from him? Even if it requires murder!
Things To Note
Why Is “Safe Word” Rated
- Dialog: Minor use of expletives
- Violence: Domestic Violence, someone getting beat with a weapon, gun violence
- Sexual Content: no nudity, but sex scenes and BDSM moments
- Miscellaneous: drinking
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Colette
Like best friend Lainey, Colette is a real estate agent. One who has struggled with her mental health in the past but has been doing better.
- You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Kiki Travis in “Power Book II: Ghost,” Honore in “Turnt,” an unknown role in Tyler Perry’s “Six Triple Eight,” and Willa Stokes in “Raising Dion.”
Ethan
Ethan is a lawyer, part owner of a law firm, and he has a taste for being a dom.
- You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Osiris in “Dance For Me,” Jeffrey Harrington in “The Haves and the Have Nots,” and Remy Boudreau in “Guiding Light.”
Lainey
Lainey is Colette’s best friend with whom she has constant conversations and plans to open a real estate firm.
- You May Also Know The Actor From Being: London Everest in “Christmas Party Crashers,” and Dani Williams in “Kingdom Business”
Carol
Carol is Colette’s mother.
- You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Sister Ida in “Kirk Franklin’s A Gospel Christmas”
Ann
Ann is Ethan’s older sibling/ maternal figure, who has a commanding presence and many high-level connections.
- You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Joanne in “Love, Victor”
Fiona
Fiona is Ethan’s ex who he had a terrible breakup with.
- You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Chanel in “Christmas at the Frat House”
Stephanie
Stephanie is one of Ann’s minions.
- You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Glowryah in “The Forfeiture Clause”
Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Highlights
Ann Brings A Certain Level Of Intrigue
Ann is a character who is all personality and stature but no real details. Generally, this would cause a topic like this to be on the fence, but the way Monique Mosee plays her? She drives your interest in a way that, if there was a sequel, you’d hope it would be committed to getting to know Ann.
At first, you assume she is an older sister or mother, but that isn’t confirmed. She is Ethan’s business partner, but he seems to be a minion to something much bigger. And while you’re sometimes pushed to think this is an Illuminati storyline, from what it appears, it isn’t. But something sinister is going on, and Ann teases you into wanting to know more.
The Exploration of Kink
By no means is “Safe Word” the BDSM movie Black folk into more explorative sex have been waiting on. However, there is no denying it has its moments. From talking about rope techniques, no real shame involved in exploring one’s sexuality, as long as there is consent, it may not be what many may want, but it does present some improvements over the usual narratives.
Low Points
Ethan
Ethan is a more melanated version of the crazy light-skinned trope you are used to seeing. He is controlling, insecure, a master at gaslighting, and not even in a way that makes you love to hate him. He’s just annoying.
On The Fence
It Leaves Room For A Sequel
The ending of “Safe Word” will leave you feeling like something is missing. That the ending was cut short, or maybe you watched a movie-length pilot. Alas, that isn’t the case, and we’re left with Ann pushing you to wonder why you aren’t given more, as it seems the film is finally ready to tap into who she is.
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