The DVD cover of RESTRAINT is impressively generic in that basic, lowest-common-denominator way that Lionsgate has somehow perfected—a trio of attractive but unfamiliar actors, an exposed midriff, and the laughably lazy tagline: “Seclusion. Seduction. Survival.”

But don’t judge an Australian B-movie by its cover: RESTRAINT is a surprisingly taut little thriller. Andrew (Stephen Moyer) and Dale (Teresa Palmer; THE GRUDGE 2) are lovers on the run from the law. Andrew has killed a couple of dudes, and frankly, he’s kind of a belligerent asshole, the kind of dickhead who waggles his tongue suggestively at random middle-aged ladies, and likes to have his hand wrapped around Dale’s throat during the course of common conversation. They take refuge at an extremely photogenic mansion occupied by Ron (Travis Fimmel), an agoraphobic man whose wife has recently left him for another man overseas. Andrew and Dale want Ron to drive them to an ATM for a bunch of quick cash, but Ron is reluctant what with the agoraphobia and all, so he comes up with an alternate plan: the pretty Dale can dye her hair and pretend she’s Ron’s bitchy ex-fiancé, withdraw a bunch of money from his trust account, and wussy Ron won’t even have to leave the confines of his enormous mansion.

A psychological, pseudo-sexual cat-and-mouse game ensues—think DEAD CALM or THE DARK HOURS—with most of the action taking place inside the mansion. Of course a crime-thriller with strong sexual undertones can’t be successful if you cast some dog like Maggie Gyllenhaal as the female lead, but luckily, Teresa Palmer serves as an extremely palatable centerpiece to the male tensions that ensue. She’s comes across like Kristen Stewart (TWILIGHT), but 5 years older, twice as sexy, and she’s (gloriously) not afraid to show a little skin. Stephen Moyer fully embodies his well-written role as the short-tempered, casually misogynistic boyfriend, a guy trying desperately to roll with the low self-esteem that forces him to be so controlling and cruel. Travis Fimmel’s role as the soft-spoken agoraphobic is more understated, but the drama between the three leads is always compelling and totally believable. Although it suffers from a handful of plot implausibilities during the final 20 minutes, RESTRAINT is a solid B-movie effort that’s worth watching late on a Friday night after too many Dr. Peppers.