Laws of Deception

Laws of Deception
Directed byJoey Travolta
Written byRollin Jarrett
Produced byDavid E. Ornston
Richard Salvatore
Joey Travolta
CinematographyDan Heigh
Edited byRich Cowan
Will Wuorinen
Release date
  • 1997 (1997)
Running time
98 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Laws of Deception is an erotic suspense thriller film produced in 1997. Written by Rollin Jarrett and directed by Joey Travolta, it stars C. Thomas Howell, James Russo, Amber Smith, Nick Mancuso and Brian Austin Green.

Plot synopsis

The plot involves a young man, Evan Marino, who witnessed the murder of his mob-connected parents when he was a child. Evan (C. Thomas Howell) has grown up to become a top law student and justice has become his religion. He has but one goal, which is to become the number one criminal lawyer in Miami. A beautiful and mysterious woman Elise (Amber Smith) enters Evan's life and unbeknownst to him, has been hired by his parents’ murderer, Gino Carlucci, (James Russo) to uncover what he remembers. As the truth about his past is revealed, Evan finds himself caught in a tangled web of lies and twisted motivations, not the least of which are his own. Evan eventually discovers that his best friend Cal sleeps with his former lover after school. It turns out that Elise Talbot was hired by Gino Carlucci to watch Evan. She later marries Gino. Gino Carlucci is killed and Elise is the prime suspect. She proclaims her innocence and implicates Cal who becomes an alcoholic because of his past relationship with Elise. Cal commits suicide and Evan becomes convinced that Elise murdered Gino Carlucci so he no longer represents her in the case. As she is found guilty, the final twist reveals that Evan killed Gino Carlucci as revenge for killing his parents. The film features a brief cameo by famed director John Landis as a crooked judge.

Cast

  • C. Thomas Howell as Evan Marino
    • Dakota Brinkman as Young Evan Marino
  • Brian Austin Green as Cal Miller
  • James Russo as Gino Carlucci
  • Amber Smith as Elise Talbot
  • Robert Miano as Raymond Kelsey
  • Nick Mancuso as Sergeant Lou Mather
  • Bo Brinkman as J.W.
  • John Landis as Judge Trevino
  • Sam Travolta as Jury President
  • Rollin Jarrett as Mr. Farina
  • Krista Tesreau as Ms. Himes, Prosecutor
  • Jackie Debatin as Maria, Evan's Secretary
  • Barry Heins as Morris Harland, Attorney
  • Ray Martino as Mr. Marino
  • Michelle Mitchell as Mrs. Marino
  • David E. Ornston as Mr. Dunn
  • Paul Sampson as Tony
  • Blumer Tracy as Willie
  • Olivia Maxwell as Tammi
  • Roger Roberge II as D.J.
  • David Snedeker as Vaht
  • Christopher Janney as Mac
  • Scott Carr as Professor
  • Molly Ann Lashinsky as Cocktails
  • David Lewis as Bob, Car Rental Clerk
  • David Markey as Bob, Car Rental Agent
  • Kena Land as Hotel Prostitute
  • Tiffany Fraser as Street Prostitute
  • Bruce Mercury as Thug #1
  • Chris Howell as Thug #2
  • Nicholas Hill as Thug #3
  • David "Shark" Fralick as Thug #4

References