A Chef's Deadly Revenge - Review
Chef Lucy focuses on plating meals when her stalker leaves an origami crane and private photos at the table. Lucy's friend, Sous Chef Megan, lets Lucy stay at her place. In the past, Lucy's ex-boyfriend, Ayden, invaded her privacy and stalked her. Megan thinks Lucy is on high alert due to past trauma and tells Lucy to file a police report. Lucy remembers from experience that without concrete evidence, the police can't help.
Lucy takes a break from work to clear her mind. She sits on a park bench and sees a man, Frank, with his dog. They politely converse until Frank talks about her being late for the lunch shift. Lucy never mentioned her job, so Frank's knowledge worries her. She believes Frank is her stalker. She briskly leaves. Lucy tells Megan that Frank is her stalker. However, Frank has zero ties to Lucy. Megan worries that Lucy strings together coincidences and creates a fearful situation. Megan thinks Lucy has paranoid delusions stemming from her relationship with Ayden. Lucy focuses on work until she finds a mutilated mannequin with a note that reads, "You're in way over your head." Lucy sees this as a threat. Lucy is tired of being a stalking victim. Now, she will turn the tables and become a stalker.
This movie takes a while to get to the point or start a body count. However, it's about who can out-crazy the other. Frank is Lucy's stalker, but his infatuation isn't about romance. He is a Resentful Stalker. Lucy's good fortune unknowingly brought Frank's demise. And now he wants her to pay for a wrong she unintentionally committed. Lucy's response is to become a Revenge Stalker. She wants Frank to live in fear and lose everything. In an attempt to destroy each other, Lucy and Frank emotionally and physically hurt people around them. Cheering for anyone in this movie is complicated because everyone is unstable. The only victims in the film are Megan and Frank's wife, Emily.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
It was nice meeting you - Frank
I don't think you are freaking out for no reason - Megan
I am sick and tired of feeling like a victim - Lucy
He's always been a dreamer - Emily
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Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans - Review
Goldy and Marla set up for Elk Park Prep Academy's Medieval-themed fundraiser at Sir Alistair's castle. They stare at the weapons on the wall when Alistair approaches them, and Goldy thanks Alistair for his hospitality. Then, she leaves and checks on her daughter's fencing class. As Olive battles her opponent, Goldy takes the opportunity to talk to Olive's coach, Pierre. She knows the fencing team will wow the guests.
Later, Goldy overhears a disagreement between Alistair and Pierre. Alistair wants the fencing team to dominate and become champions. Pierre reminds Alistair the competitors are kids. Alistair wants Pierre to show the same drive as Goldy. Then, Alistair offers to elevate Goldy's career. That's not all. Alistair will make an announcement before the big feast. And he promises it will be a showstopper. Alistair's assistant, Emma, hands Alistair the phone because his physician, Dr. Tag, called again. Alistair grabs the phone, chastises Emma, threatens Pierre's job, and leaves.
Goldy and Marla watch the festivities from above as Alistair's butler, Klaus, introduces everyone who enters the parlor. First, Baron Sweetwater enters. He lost his candy business after Alistair took it in a hostile takeover. Ivan and Agatha enter. Marla says Ivan loves his wife but believes she is having an affair with Alistair. Then, Richard, Goldy's ex-husband, saunters in with a smile. Detective David arrives. But Goldy feels butterflies when she spies Tom entering with Mason.
Goldy serves food while Emma draws caricatures, and Charlie entertains as a jester. As everyone enjoys the festivities, U.S. Marshall Gerard walks in and refuses to put on a costume. To Alistair's chagrin, Kloaus walks a plain clothes Gerard through the party to speak to Tom. Gerard pulls Tom aside because Tom's father, Edmund, broke out of prison. Gerard questions Tom about Edmund's whereabouts, but Tom is clueless. Tom joins everyone for the dinner. Before Goldy serves, she waits for Klaus to announce Alistair. Then, Alistair can make his showstopping announcement. However, Goldy can't find Klaus. So, Goldy introduces Alistair. Alistair enters, groans, falls, and dies. Tom and Mason ask Richard to examine the body. Richard deduces that someone stabbed Alistair in the liver with a foil. Tom and Mason tell everyone to stay in the castle until they solve the crime. When others attempt to leave, the snowstorm keeps them in place. Can they uncover who killed Alistair and why?
This movie is a full-course meal based on Sticks & Scones by Diane Mott Davidson (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). It delights with medieval costumes and dialogue. Then, whets your appetite with a devious victim. Next, the audience gets a Smörgåsbord of suspects and motives. And to round out your viewing meal, Tom's dad gives the script a kick of flavor. It's truly a feast for the eyes. Since all the suspects can't leave the house, Goldy and Tom work quickly to find the suspects. It's like living the game Clue. Goldy creates her murder board, well, tapestry, to visualize the crime. And viewers get two mysteries solved in one. This movie is a classic in the Curious Caterer series and deserves three viewings.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars
I know. Isn't it wonderful? - Goldy
Champions are born from unwavering resolve - Alistair
It really accentuates my meaty calves - Mason
Trying to woo Milady before our big date - Thomas
Not on your life - Gerard
Your days are numbered - Klaus
Too soon - Marla
It's not true - Agatha
Be careful who you trust - Baron
How do you know it's blood - Pierre
The less you know, the better - Charlie
It was actually the other way around - Emma
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Fatal Fixer Upper - Review
Vivian and Ryan look at their prospective home with their realtor, Sandy, and fall in love with it. Sandy warns them the owner, Josh, is very particular about selecting the buyer. Josh inherited the property from his parents but decided to sell it. Vivian and Ryan tell Sandy to make an offer and exit. Sandy turns and yelps when she sees Josh standing there. He demands Sandy accept Vivian and Ryan's proposal. Sandy protests because she has other clients, but Josh refuses to see them. He wants Vivian. Josh believes Vivian is the woman for him and Ryan is a formality. Josh knows the home needs repairs and offers to give Vivian a hand around the house to prove his worth. Vivian thinks he is being nice. However, Ryan sees through the act. They don't know Josh is deadly. Will they discover the truth before Vivian becomes Josh's prey?
This movie won't capture your attention. Vivian is naive, and Ryan spends more time puffing his chest than researching Josh. The plot sets up a fantastic standoff that falls flat because the conclusion is a miraculous coincidence. The audience won't care about the characters or their fixer-upper. The shining light in this film is Josh's Obsessive Love Disorder. It brings his character to a new level of crazy with a definitive reason. This movie is background noise because it doesn't require your full attention to keep up with the plot.
I give it 2 out of 5 stars
Make the deal - Josh
Oh, he did a great job - Vivian
It's fair. A little too fair. Almost like you had an ulterior motive - Ryan
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Have You Seen My Son? - Review
Catherine walks to the halfway house with her parole officer, Miriam, after the parole board granted her release from prison. Before Catherine enters, the house volunteer, Natasha, shows everyone Catherine's mugshot. Miriam introduces Catherine to Natasha as Catherine sees her old cellmate, Abbi. Abbi shows Catherine to her room. Miriam informs Catherine that she is on conditional release because she has dissociative amnesia. A jury found Catherine guilty of killing her son, but they never found his body. Catherine doesn't remember hurting him and maintains her innocence. And she wants to uncover the truth behind her missing memories.
Catherine runs and stops at the home of her ex-husband, Matthew, and his new family. He cheated during her marriage and left her alone with a colicky baby. During the trial, Matthew ended their marriage. She is furious that he abandoned and blamed her. He calls her a horrible mother. She returns to the halfway house, and someone reports she stole something. Miriam looks through Catherine's room and finds a necklace in a sock. Miriam can't charge Catherine because they don't have proof she stole it. Miriam thinks it's a sign of her disorder and warns Catherine that Catherine is on thin ice. Catherine believes someone's setting her up so she can return to prison. She vows to find out what happened to her son. And no one will stand in her way.
This movie is a slow burn, but it's worth the wait. As Catherine peels the layers of her former life, she finds sick and evil people at every turn. Catherine is a bulldozer who doesn't take crap from anyone. Her time in jail removed her fear and hardened her heart. Now, she does make mistakes and almost gets Abbi arrested. Catherine quickly readjusts, admits faults, and heeds warnings. She refuses to accept an easy answer and won't let anyone gaslight her. She is a force of nature. You will laugh, cheer, and jump for joy for this mama bear.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
I'm not a monster - Catherine
Just one time. One of us has to win - Abbi
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Falling in Love in Niagara - Review
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.
- Maya Angelou
Madeline eats breakfast as her fiancé, Jason, charges in, looking for his lucky socks. He has a sales presentation that morning. Each time he wears the socks, he gets the business. Madeline admits she threw them out because they were holey. He is upset. Before Jason leaves, Madeline asks what Jason wants to do for their honeymoon in Niagara Falls in 5 weeks. He mentions golf, but it's not the honeymoon Madeline had in mind. Madeline intends to recreate everything her grandparents did the day they met. Jason tells Madeline to do whatever she likes and leaves. Madeline calls the tour company, Hanley Tours Niagara, and plans every detail to the last minute.
Mike loves creating adventure tours but loathes the romantic ones. He asks his business partner, Emily, to cover it. However, her brother's best friend, Phil, and Phil's wife, Beth, are coming to town for their wedding. And Emily promised her brother, Keegan, to show them around. Mike answers Madeline's call and pretends to take notes. When they meet, he will wing her requests and do the stereotypical couple activities. Emily reminds Mike to be punctual because they need the business or lose their company.
Madeline and Jason meet for dinner, and she already ordered for him. Jason didn't get the job and decided to call off the engagement. He can't live under Madeline's structured life and wishes she had a sense of adventure. Madeline sits dumbfounded as Jason exits. Madeline eats junk food on the couch for four weeks. Her sister, Harley, visits. Since Madeline's honeymoon was non-refundable, Harley turned it into a sister-moon. She wants Madeline to go to Niagara with her and be adventurous. The word 'adventure' wakes Madeline's spirit. She will go on the trip, take pictures of her adventures, and post them to attract Jason's attention.
Madeline and Harley arrive in Niagara and settle into their room. Madeline explores the grounds and sees a man, Mike, singing and playing the guitar. She assumes he needs spare change and throws coins into his full coffee cup. The drink splashes on him, and he yells at her for assuming he needs spare change. She shouts back because he isn't grateful. And Mike huffs and storms off.
Madeline and Harley go to Hanley Tours Niagara and meet Emily. Emily assures them their guide will arrive soon and promises a great tour. Mike and Madeline's eyes meet, and they instantly want someone else. Emily reminds Mike that they don't have another guide but offers to attend the first day of their tour. She vows Mike will be on his best behavior.
On the second day, Mike makes a scheduling mistake, and Madeline panics because she can't recreate her grandparents' experience. Mike promises to fix the issues and never repeat them. He makes a plan with designated free time and gives her an itinerary in the morning. Madeline breathes a sigh of relief. He uses their free time to white water raft, zip line, and ride a Ferris wheel. He helps her make posts to lure Jason, but can he keep it up as he falls in love with her?
Madeline's tightly wound, but the script gives her a heartfelt reason to crave order. It seems like it ruined her relationship on the surface, but the plot doesn't reveal Jason's issues until the end. Also, Mike wasn't always disorganized. His ex-girlfriend broke up with him, and he lost his passion for the business and playing guitar. They are dealing with broken hearts. And help each other grow and heal. This love story promotes positive influence in relationships and Niagara Falls.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
Wow, that came fast - Jason
I'm not emotional - Mike
Don't judge me. I'm sad - Madeline
Where is your sense of adventure - Harley
He will be on his best behavior for the rest of the week - Emily
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