I thought that with Liefling the South African film industry had hit rock bottom. I was so completely wrong. Eternity, which the creators call a ‘romantic thriller’, feels like a late night e-tv movie. Without the soft porn.

The bad Photoshop job on the poster and the synopsis starting with “Billy is a sensitive, handsome young vampire…” should have been a heads up.

The acting by the two newcomers, Rikki Brest and Andre Frauenstein, is cringe worthy. They were obviously cast for their looks. (At least Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattison from the equally lame Twilight series can act.) But then even local stalwarts like Ian Roberts, Brumilda van Rensburg, Hlomla Dandala and David James, who have proven their acting talent, seem like people randomly cast off the street. I chalk it up to bad directing.

The script is laughable. So is the hair brain plot. The only redeeming factor is the beautiful cinematography.

The product placement is off the wall. Esquire Technologies, a South African IT company, is the main sponsor of the film and their branding is all over the place, on billboards, on mp3 players, etc, etc. Go watch Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance or Telephone video to see how product placement should be done.

I hope no one outside of South Africa sees this film.

Score: 0 out of 5

Director: CHRISTOPHER-LEE DOS SANTOS

Starring: Ian Roberts, Brumilda van Rensburg, Hlomla Dandala and David James

Introducing: Rikki Brest and Andre Frauenstein