behind the storyline of Allure. Since the dictionary defines allure as "to entice or attract'' the viewer quickly assumes sex is what's selling here.

The action begins in a library where an attractive male college student is sucking on a pencil and reading a book. From behind him the shadow of a female figure approaches. In close-up, it is apparent she is an older woman, albeit well preserved.

"Oh no,'' I thought, "not another take on The Graduate/Mrs. Robinson theme.'' The stranger thrusts a flyer into the young man's hands inviting him to a "student party''. He protests he's not the fraternity type, and she assures him she's not the sorority type either.

"I guess you could say it is a gathering of the enlightened minority,'' she hints of the forthcoming event.

The flirty dialogue continues, and of course the young man finally acquiesces.

He will attend. The couple next meet in a bar, where the woman continues to work her feminine wiles on his weakening defences, and they eventually wind up in a smoky disco. Here the plot thickens, and takes on a sinister angle.

Befuddled with tablets sexily proffered by the woman, the young man is lured elsewhere, with dire consequences.

Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll -- a tried and true formula -- works for Allure, although why the naked young man ends up in a bathtub of bloodstained water dotted with ice cubes in a derelict warehouse, phoning 911 as instructed, only becomes apparent (unless you are au fait these things) when the final, written explanation appears on screen.

It cannot be easy to establish plot, characters, action and tell the complete story in 19 minutes, but Miss Barker does so with a sure hand. There is no slackening of pace, or a time when one really becomes disinterested in the outcome.

While the real reason behind the young man's plight may be something we'd prefer not to dwell on, it does no harm to be reminded that real life isn't always pretty.

NANCY ACTON REVIEW REV MOVIES MPC