A Deadly Threat to My Family - Review
Reporters flank Serena as she exits the courthouse with her brother, Ryan. They interrogate her about The Builders of Ascension cult. Serena testified against the leader, Aleph, and he got 30 years in prison. The cult believed the world would end in five days. So they planned to take their life and rise to the next level. Fearful, Serena stepped away before anyone else died. Ryan begged the court to see his sister as a victim instead of a perpetrator. Serena leaves without uttering a word.
Ryan brings Serena home to the arms of her adoring niece, Aria, and uneasy sister-in-law, Marielle. He offers Serena the guest house to give her much-needed privacy. Marielle apologizes for the red curtains because it's the cult's color. Marielle worries about Serena's progress, but Ryan tells Marielle not to focus on the past. Marielle checks on Serena and notices Serena removed the metal from the house. Also, Serena created wooden amulets to protect herself. Marielle alerts Ryan, but he brushes her off.
Marielle, Serena, and Aria get into the car to take Aria to school and Serena to therapy. Marielle and Aria argue about Aria trying to impress new classmates. Aria leaves in a huff. Serena warns Marielle to loosen the reigns on Aria, or someone will take Aria away. Marielle sees Serena's warning as a threat. Marielle vows to keep a watchful eye on Serena. In the past, Serena took Aria to the cult without Marielle's permission. Marielle worries Serena isn't deprogrammed and could repeat her actions. Marielle should worry because a deadly threat creeps around her family, and she has 5 days to save them.
Can someone slap Ryan? You will come unglued every time he accuses Marielle of overreacting. You will realize she is underreacting during the conclusion. This movie boils down to communication. If Serena told Ryan and Marielle about the cult's plans, everything would have been avoidable. Also, they needed to tell Aria everything about the cult. She uses it to bond with classmates and romanticizes it. The plot feels farfetched. However, NXIVM, Heaven's Gate, and Jonestowns prove this can happen. This movie won't be a favorite, but it's an entertaining distraction for two hours.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
I can't avoid red for the rest of my life - Serena
Do you think she's ok - Marielle
You cut her off - Ryan
Hi, sister - Laurel
Why did you betray me - Aleph
Find, shop for, and watch Lifetime movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Click here for more information
Top of this Post
Fran grabs a weapon to confront an intruder, Kasey. However, Kasey introduces herself as Fran's older sister. The police question Kasey as Fran's mother, Diana, and Diana's old co-worker, Troy, arrive. Troy and Diane pacify the police and bring Fran and Kasey into Diana's home. Diana explains that she and Troy had an affair. They called it off when his wife, Elle, discovered the truth. However, Diana became pregnant with Kasey. Since Elle couldn't have kids, Diana signed over her rights to Elle and Troy. They legally adopted Kasey, but closed it. Diana missed Kasey so much that she got pregnant with Fran by her husband. Kasey discovered the truth after overhearing a screaming match between Elle and Troy. Diana apologizes to her daughters, but they both leave the table.
Elle calls her mother, Gloria, in a frantic state. Gloria eases her daughter's fears and tells Elle to focus on her family. Elle's brother, Jake, wants to end Diana, but Gloria warns him to step back. He is on probation and could return to jail for the slightest mishap. And she paid too much money to get him out of jail. Elle had a mental breakdown over Troy's affair, and caring for Kasey helped her through it. Gloria won't let Diana hurt Elle again. Gloria assures Jake that she has wheels in motion to handle Diana. Elle interrogates Kasey about her whereabouts when Kasey arrives home with Troy, but Kasey refuses to answer.
Across town, a woman gets a phone call as she stashes her cash and gun. The caller wants her to take care of two females. She agrees to do it and gets pictures of Diana and Fran in her email. The woman makes a profile named Lynda and will ingratiate herself to Fran. Lynda pretends to be a basketball-loving college student. She plans to get into Diana's home and make Diana and Fran's deaths look like accidents. Will she succeed before Fran and Kasey connect?
Lifetimers must pull out a notepad to keep track of all the connections, dealings, and motives. With each new character, the script injects a new complexity. The writers risk the script with more sensationalism. Lynda drops her first body, and Fran gets a clue. But the clue is so outrageous that viewers won't believe it. The plot has so many moving parts it becomes a parody of itself. When things go wild, the main characters finally have honest conversations that should have been in the first 15 minutes. Honestly, Troy is the villain of this movie. His affair caused a ripple effect for decades.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
I will do anything for you - Gloria
You can go to hell, mother - Kasey
It was surreal - Troy
I truly thought I was doing the right thing - Diana
What stops - Elle
Leave our family in peace - Jake
Well, that was awkward - Fran
Find, shop for, and watch LMN movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Click here for more information
Top of this Post
The Replacement Daughter - Review
Jessica leaves school with her friend, Vanessa, and discusses how Shane stared at Jessica during school. Then Jessica notices a black sedan across the street. She believes it's been following her for days. Vanessa suggests they make a strategic maneuver to test Jessica's theory, and the car follows them. Jessica runs to her mother's beauty salon but doesn't tell her mother, Liza, about the incident. Liza argues with her landlord, Frank, about the business space. Condo developers offered Frank money to sell, but now Liza refuses to move. He threatens to raise the rent, and Liza does the same with a city hall. Frank leaves in a huff, and Liza finishes Eva's nails. Liza's friend, co-worker Helen, suggests Liza get the cameras fixed because the cafe down the street had two break-ins. Liza and Jessica leave to spend the evening together. As Jessica takes a selfie, a car hits Liza.
Weeks after the accident, the police haven't found the person who hit Liza. A new detective questions Liza and Helen again. Helen believes Frank should be their number one suspect. Helen happily took Jessica into her home and now brings Jessica to visit Liza daily. Eva arrives at the hospital to see Liza and offers to take Jessica to dinner so Helen can pick up a delivery at the salon. Helen allows it.
During dinner, Eva says she overheard Jessica's dilemma about school. Jessica's top school accepted her, but with financial aid, she is $10,000 short of tuition. Eva has a surprise. She talked to the dean, and they are offering Jessica a full-ride scholarship as a favor to Eva. Jessica can't contain her gratitude. Eva wants to assist Jessica after losing her daughter, so it fills Eva's heart with joy to help. Jessica and Eva leave the restaurant so Jessica can go home with Helen. However, they find Helen dead in the alley. The police think it was a robbery gone wrong. Feeling alone, Jessica inquires about living with Eva after a social worker suggests going to a temporary foster home. Eva informs the social worker that she is a foster parent, waiting to receive her first placement. Jessica eases into a life she never dreamed of, but Eva is a dangerous woman looking for a replacement daughter.
This movie is old-school Lifetime, and you will love it. Eva is unhinged but has the resources to make others fall in line. Eva's goons keep her hands clean and out of the detective's suspicious eye. Eva quickly eliminates the competition and racks up a body count. And the hits come hard and fast. Jessica isn't a wilting flower. The moment she suspects something is wrong with Eva, she investigates and refuses to accept excuses. If you love a crazy villain, this is the film for you.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
Are you sure you're not just being paranoid - Vanessa
Liza is one of the sweetest people I know - Eva
Don't worry, I might not be a 5-star chef, but I do feed her - Helen
I feel like I'm losing everyone - Jessica
I'm so sorry, but I can't - Mrs. Durant
Find, shop for, and watch Lifetime movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Click here for more information
Top of this Post
Branching Out - Review
Branching Out - Hallmark - 2 hours and 0 minutes
Guitar newbie Ruby sits in class when her teacher, Miss Weaver, gives the class their next term project. She wants them to create a family tree and give a presentation about their heritage. Miss Weaver gives them two months to finish the assignment. After class, Ruby asks Miss Weaver for another project because Ruby is the product of IVF. Also, Ruby's mother, Amelia, is an only child with a deceased mother and an estranged father. Ruby considers Amelia's best friend, Maura, her aunt but worries her project will represent a weed instead of a tree. Miss Weaver encourages Ruby to complete the project and discover her heritage.
Ruby questions Amelia about her father. Amelia remembers keeping the donor's information about him along with an audio recording. However, the donor wanted to remain anonymous until Ruby's 18th birthday. Nine-year-old Ruby feels like that is a million years away and begs Amelia to learn his name. Amelia doesn't think it's the right time but lets Ruby read about and listen to him. Amelia prepares dinner with Maura, and Maura understands Ruby's need to reach out. Maura suggests Amelia give Ruby an ancestry test. Ruby overhears and begs for the tests. Amelia promises to think about it. Ruby wakes up early to provide a 10-point presentation to explain why Amelia should buy the test. Amelia says yes and waits for the results.
TJ is a struggling guitarist who works on his family's famous farm to make ends meet. He hopes to find a gig soon but loves spending time with his family. His parents, Tomás and Sofia Cruz, run the Cruz Family Farm. They are planning a birthday party for their grandson, Mateo, and look forward to TJ supporting his nephew. They hint at TJ to start a family, but he is happy to play cool uncle.
Amelia gets an email with Ruby's result, and Ruby matches with Sofia Cruz. Amelia researches the Cruz Family and discovers the farm is 20 minutes away. She decides to meet them. Amelia drives to the farm and approaches TJ. Within moments, she blurts out that TJ has a daughter and walks away. However, TJ wants to meet her. Amelia worries that TJ could break Ruby's heart as her father did to hers. Can she put her apprehension aside for Ruby's sake while falling in love with TJ? Will her concerns come to fruition when TJ gets his dream job?
This movie rests on the heart of one incredible young girl. Ruby starts with one project that looks simple, but for today's families, a tree can be a complex assignment. The script ensures that TJ and Amelia aren't the antagonists in the movie. Amelia knows how it feels to have a father disappoint her. So, she allows TJ and Ruby to connect but makes realistic expectations for Ruby. TJ's world does a 180. He is a single guy who can drop everything to play music. Then, he becomes a father overnight with responsibilities beyond the imagination. This change isn't something anyone could take lightly. Luckily, TJ and Amelia have friends and family to hold them accountable and strive for Ruby to thrive. With one group chat, these strangers become a loving and caring family. This movie deserves your full attention with the whole family.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
Oh no, my daughter's turned into a stuffed dog - Amelia
You are always in the kitchen when you tell me to get my brush - Ruby
It's my most creative time - TJ
Some weeds turn into the most beautiful flowers - Miss Weaver
I am so sorry - Maura
Even in the simplest of circumstances, parenting is never what we think it will be - Tomás
Boundaries are not for families - Sofia
Find, shop for, and watch Hallmark movies on Amazon (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Top of this Post
No comments:
Post a Comment