The Seduction Game
starring: CAYLA BRADY & NOAH ANDRE
When a brilliant, dirt-poor teen earns a scholarship to an elite prep school, she becomes the target of a cruel queen bee and her bad-boy pawn who's tasked with seducing and destroying her before Ivy League admissions are announced.
REVIEW
⭐⭐⭐
This was going to be a 4 star review all the way until episode 61. Because then Preston gets back together with Brynn and it makes no sense after he has seen the physical scars that she has left on Lila
It's so frustrating as this could have been brilliant - and careless continuity errors distract from the very strong core of the story
Part of the issue with the violence heaped upon vertical heroines is that there are rarely scars and she is just a victim. This changes the rules as Lila is incredibly strong, has battled her way through everything, uses her brains to document what has happened, and is always one step ahead of Brynn's schemes
This is what is needed, a much stronger female character in these overcoming abuse stories. Because only then are you starting to honor the women who watch these
It enrages me when platforms & people are dismissive of fans. You walk a mile in a fan's shoes. Vertical viewers are some of the strongest people in the world, warriors who battle through a life where odds are often stacked against them
It is about time that a vertical heroine had some of this inner strength, and @caylatbrady is the actress to do it - she is one of the most outstanding female talents currently in the space.
Which is why it worries me how often I have seen her 'lose her virginity' on screen. It actually makes a bit more sense in this story, because of how Brynn uses this to control Preston. But we do end up with the current must have vertical intimacy shots - taking pants off and ice cubes. Honestly you could do a bingo card
I don't mind intimacy if it makes sense for the story, and this almost does, but then lapses into same old vertical tropes
@noahandre_ has deservedly become one of the top of the YA male leads - he can act (not everyone can). He makes you feel in the scenes where he is trying to get through to Lila that it is real. Would love to see him break out of YA as he is an interesting actor who can do lots more
And finally @vexatiousvera who has a hideous task as Brynn. It must take a toll playing someone this awful. That's a lot to deal with, so thank you to all who have to do this.
So mixed bag here on @reelshortapp
💖 Top swoonworthy moment:
Preston is a little under developed, we don't actually learn much about him apart from what Lila tells us. And there is a lot of 'rumpy pumpy'. But our leads are good enough actors to also build an emotional connection between the two.
🦹🏼♂️ Top villain award:
Lila's parents are hideous - but it is really all about the hideous Brynn. At least some writing has gone into this to explain a bit about why she is like this, you can see her doubling down on Lila because she refuses to be cowed by her. And consequences are shown here.
😂 Comedy gold:
As a bookseller for 18 years, the fact that a modern paperback is supposed to be a first edition of Vanity Fair did make me giggle. Also a few horrible continuity errors - Lila's heart brooch appears and disappears at will. And Preston gets soaked outside, and then comes into the apartment pretty much dry.
🎺 Unsung hero:
Lila - because she does do it all on her own. That is the strongest part of this, that our heroine uses her wits and intelligence to overcome all the hideous things she has to deal with.
✍🏼 DETAILS
Director: Emily Qiu | 2026
Available on Reelshort
