A Neighbor's Vendetta - Review
At work, Sonja meets her client, Robert, and presents updated architectural plans. He approves the designs and asks Sonja to meet him in his hotel room that night. Sonja declines because she wants to work on her marriage. She wants to give her husband, Jason, another chance. Sonja settles in for the evening, and Robert calls for closure. They have an intimate call, but Robert abruptly ends it. Sonja considers that closure. Sonja and Jason leave the city to stay at a cabin. It's close enough for Sonja to drive to work for emergencies. Jackie calls Sonja out of the blue to discuss the designs. Sonja tells Jackie that Robert approved them, but Jackie never got the message. Jackie warns Sonja to return, or Sonja could lose the contract. Sonja updates Jason and promises to return to the cabin after an overnight business trip.
Mia reads love notes from her husband, Robert, around the house. She makes him coffee before going to work while he showers. Robert tells Mia she has to stay late before she leaves. The next day, an officer knocks on Mia's door with grim news. Robert died in a hotel alone, and they suspect that he died from autoerotic asphyxiation. Mia cries but slaps herself to stop. She stands up and focuses on Robert's business. Mia will be the CEO until Robert's executive assistant, Jackie, can find a replacement. The police return Robert's artifacts, and Mia goes through them. She smells a scarf and taps his phone. However, the phone is dead. She charges it and leaves it behind to go to Robert's workplace.
Sonja stands at the front desk waiting to meet Jackie while Mia asks for parking validation. Mia recognizes a familiar scent coming from Sonja as Sonja walks towards Jackie's office. Sonja meets with Jackie and hears that Robert died and his wife will take over momentarily. Sonja never knew Roger had a wife. Shocked, Sonja agrees to stay in town longer to finish the contract. Mia returns home and opens Robert's cell. She sees a string of explicit text from Sonja dating back months. She screams in the shower and makes a plan. Days later, Mia knocks on Jason's cabin, pretending to be their neighbor, Claire. She says the storm took her power out and schemes her way into Jason's cabin for the night. With Sonja in the city, Mia will slowly worm into Jason's life to seek revenge. Can Sonja catch Mia in time, or will Sonja pay the ultimate price for Mia's vendetta?
This film opens with two stories that don't gel for 20 minutes. Also, they jump between timelines while telling their narratives. It can be hard to follow if you don't pay attention at the beginning. Some viewers will find it unbelievable that Mia will go to this lengths for a man who cheated on her, but it does happen. Sonja and Jason's marital problems make it easy for Mia to infiltrate their relationship. She doesn't have to say or do much to cause strife. The movie shows you Mia's fantasies, too. This imagery can be distracting, but it expresses Mia's resolve. She puts her plan ahead of her desires. This film's conclusion allows the writer to give the viewer a part two, but it will need a more compelling story for viewers to watch.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
I think we both need some closure - Robert
You're killing me - Sonja
Don't presume to know what I can and can't handle - Mia
Hey, be here now - Jason
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The Killer with No Name - Review
Podcaster Fiona returns home for her parents' anniversary party. They invited the town, including retired Sheriff Raphael. However, they don't believe he will appear because he prefers his cabin's seclusion. At the party, Marcus Holt, owner of Holt's Vineyard, praises Barry and Cecily on their commitment to the community and raising a famous podcaster. Fiona's friend, Daisy, greets Fiona warmly and alerts Fiona about Dr. Joseph, Fiona's high school ex-boyfriend. Daisy reports that Joseph is single and ready to mingle. She pulls Fiona to Joseph and leaves to give them privacy. Joseph and Fiona converse and plan to meet again. Then, Marcus's wife, Emily, approaches and gushes about Fiona's podcast. Fiona blushes at the compliments, but Rafael distracts her. She follows him and finds him sitting on a back porch.
Fiona thanked Rafael for encouraging her curiosity because he sparked her passion for cold cases. Fiona and Daisy got into trouble until Rafael showed them a better path. Fiona has her podcast, and Daisy is the head of logistics at Holt's Vineyard. Rafael humbly sits and smiles at Fiona's adulation. Rafael tells Fiona about a poker game he had with friends recently. They talked about old unsolved cases, and Rafael mentioned the girl with no name. A woman, Vicky, walked her dog around the trailer park. The pup picked up a scent, followed it, and dug up a baby's corpse. No one claimed the baby. So, the town buried the infant. One of Rafael's poker buddies saw someone put flowers on the grave every year. Fiona deduces that the person must know the child. Rafael gives Fiona the case files because he wants a fresh perspective. He invites Fiona to his cabin in the morning to discuss the files.
Fiona arrives at Rafael's home and discovers the front door open. She gingerly enters and sees Rafael dead. She calls the police for help. Fiona explains her presence to Sheriff Walker, and he says the 'girl with no name' is a dead-end case. He assumes Rafael succumbed to his heart issues, but Fiona thinks Walker is wrong. She asks Joseph to report the coroner's findings and look into the 'girl with no name' case. They couldn't get DNA in the past because the technology was too new and expensive. Joseph agrees to help. Fiona has unearthed a dangerous can of worms that will rock the town and threaten her life.
This movie's title is misleading because Lifetime changed it. It's the deceased infant that doesn't have a name. Then, the plot changes after the first commercial break. Fiona switches from solving a cold case to looking for Rafael's killer. The script builds Fiona as an astute crime solver, but she trusts the wrong people, lets down her guard, and talks too much. Fiona is persistent and annoying. The conclusion attempts to shock the audience with scandal. However, your imagination will create a better outcome. You will likely give up on the movie during the investigation and never watch the end. If you stay, the plot will treat the viewer to corruption, greed, and the ultimate betrayal. This movie is entertaining if you are patient and accept the twist.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
This could get dangerous - Rafael
I don't scare easily - Fiona
Who would be watching you - Joseph
I let you win - Daisy
Who told you about that - Vicky
That case is a dead end - Sheriff Walker
I have chills. Do you have chills - Emily
We have a problem - Marcus
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A Family Nightmare: Secrets of Maple Street - Review
Archer asks his girlfriend, Brittany, to go for a walk. However, she questions him because they are heading towards his car. Archer states that Brittany is drunk and wants to take her home. She tells Archer her parents, Betsy and Dr. Pete, aren't home when they arrive, but Archer refuses to enter. He escorts her to the front door and says I love you. She huffs goodbye. Brittany cautiously stalks through her home but doesn't feel alone. Then, she wakes up in her parents' bed with a bump on her head and a splitting headache.
Pete examines his daughter and explains she had a nasty fall. She wants to know why they assumed she fell. He found her at the bottom of the staircase, reeking of alcohol. They called the police because they didn't know what happened. However, nothing was missing or disrupted. So, he monitored Brittany and checked her vitals through the night. Betsy will overlook the alcohol for now. And asks Brittany to rest for the evening and takes Brittany's phone. Brittany believes someone broke in and hit her on the head.
Brittany stops Archer before school because she wants him to skip practice and go to the police station with her. Brittany believes her parents are holding something back. Brittany asks Detective Vaughn to pull up the police report of her parents' call. However, Detective Vaughn didn't find it because they never reported Brittany's accident. Brittany exits the police station in disbelief. She decides to raid her father's weed stash in his garage. While looking for drugs, Brittany finds a wallet belonging to Tony Dale. She has no idea who he is or why Pete has it.
Detective Vaughn visits Pete and Betsy's home a few days later. Their neighbor found a dead body while fishing. She heard from other neighbors that someone saw a blue sedan driving through the neighborhood. Detective Vaughn questions if Pete saw the vehicle, and he denies it. Then, Detective Vaughn inquires about the dead body, Tony Dale. Both Betsy and Pete say they don't know him. Brittany knows her parents are lying and don't know why. Detective Vaughn turns to Brittany for answers, but Pete ends the interrogation. So, Detective Vaughn leaves. Brittany demands the truth at dinner. Pete relents and confesses. He found Tony in their home with Brittany on the floor. Pete flew into a rage, killed Tony, and threw Tony's body into the lake. Betsy and Pete will keep quiet about Tony's murder and expect Brittany to do the same. But something plagues Brittany about Pete's confession. They are at the beginning of a family nightmare.
The second installment of the Secret of Maple Street series opens with shiny mornings and deceitful nights. Scott and Katie aren't the talk of the town and assimilated into the Maple Street culture. This film focuses on the Walkers. Pete is a respected doctor, while Betsy is the neighborhood gossip. Their daughter, Brittany, is a bright troublemaker who won't back down from the truth. She confronts her parents each time she catches them in a lie, but only if she has evidence. This plot and score will give you Desperate Housewives vibes because it's saucy and comical (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The moment between Dr. Pete and Archer is hysterical. However, the conclusion may not sit well with viewers. There is one victim in the movie, and their fate is horrible. This movie is entrancing if you give it time. But the ending will make you upset.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
How did you know I fell - Brittany
I don't like seeing you like this - Archer
No, that's the benefit of having a doctor for father - Pete
Pete, I don't like this - Betsy
You can't escape human nature - Detective Vaughn
It doesn't seem fair - Sandra
Me? How could I possibly know anything about this - Ms. Claremont
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A Very Vermont Christmas - Review
Joy skis the slopes with her mother, Mary, but leaves early to brew beer at Mogul Joe's Brew Pub. Her dad, Joe, started the brewery with very little. It became a staple in their town, and people visited from all over the world. But business is slow now. Joy promises Mary that she will do anything to keep Mogul Joe's open. Then, Joy's ex-boyfriend, Frosty's owner Greg, enters her pub. Greg wanted Joy to sell her company to Schultz Distribution, like he did, to save her pub, but she turned them down. Besides, her pub doesn't carry Schultz brews. However, he has another offer. Schultz is having an inaugural Vermont Christmas Brew-Ski competition. The winner will get a distribution deal. Joy promises to consider it.
Joy stands near the ski lift, texting, when a man, Zac, bumps into her. She recognizes he is a novice on the wrong course. So, she guides Zac to the milder runs for the other skiers' safety. Later, Joy sees Zac at the café and gets to know him. Zac is a Schultz salesman, and they want him to open a craft beer division. Joy rages about big companies ruining smaller businesses and excuses herself. Zac walks into Mogul Joe's that afternoon and sympathizes with Joy's plight. She apologizes for her outburst but explains that big companies don't understand craft beer. Zac scoffs. So she challenges him to a beer tasting. He aces it because he's studying to be a cicerone. He impresses Joy.
Joy sees Zac at the café again. She approaches him and asks for help. Joy is creating a holiday brew for the competition but can't get the flavors to balance. She asks Zac to help with his cicerone skills. Zac offers a trade. He will help her if Joy teaches him to ski. They agree and work together. Greg sees the time Joy spends with Zac, and Greg's jealousy grows. He wants to stop their relationship and has the selfie to end their romance. Will Greg succeed?
Zac is the most mature character ever written in a holiday movie. He is honest, fun, and admits his faults. He doesn't lie to Joy about why he's in town, says he can't ski, and genuinely wants to help small businesses. It's easy for experienced Hallmarkies to assume the new guy will keep the secret corporate plan until the film's conclusion. This change of pace pushes the rising action further in the picture. You will ponder what the point of the movie is until Greg's bitterness takes center stage. It will all come together but lose your interest. Viewers should allow this film to play in the background while doing something else.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
Mom, I'm kidding. I would never - Joy
Are things that bad - Greg
It looks like I got off on the wrong lift, and we got off on the wrong ski - Zac
Is this chair lift guy - Mary
Do you have any proof of this - Bob
I would say, 'Look what the cat dragged in,' but cats have better taste - Kevin
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