Held Hostage in My House - Review
Charlie doesn't want to go camping with his father, Matt, and Matt's girlfriend, Kate, but Charlie's mother, Dawn, tells Charlie to give Kate a chance. Dawn goes through her guest list and checks her guesthouse before check-in. She steps on fire ants before entering her home. Dawn calls her friend, Pete, and leaves a message, asking him to stop by to remove the ants. She feeds, packs, and drives Charlie to the pickup point. Charlie reluctantly gets in Matt's car, and Matt pulls Dawn aside to talk. He wants Dawn to quit her art career and work a regular job. She's had sketchy guests in her rental and called the police on them. He doesn't believe Dawn creates a safe environment for Charlie. Dawn's anger boils over because Matt recently got sober and acts like a model dad but doesn't offer financial support. He threatens to sue for full custody if she doesn't get a job.
Dawn calls her best friend, Victoria, for moral support. Victoria invites Dawn on a trip like they did in Dawn's single days. Dawn says no but dreams about the days she was single and child-free. Victoria eases Dawn's mind. Matt was addicted to alcohol and cheated on Dawn. Victoria doesn't think a judge will side with Matt. Dawn sighs, bids farewell to Victoria, and goes home to greet her guest. However, she doesn't know they canceled. Dawn sees the guesthouse's front door open and assumes the guest came early. She enters and tries to alert them, but someone hits her on the head with a vase. Dawn wakes up with her arms and feet bound to her bed. She uses this time to consider who would do this to her while attempting to free herself. She prays someone finds her before her attacker kills her.
This movie pushes its viewers in a 'Lifetime' direction with Matt and Dawn's looming custody battle. So, the audience will wonder why the script takes them down memory lane. Dawn thinks about her troubled guest and their ill-fated behavior. Some we're polyamorous, few are cheaters, and others are pimps. As the fire ants sting Dawn, she starts to hallucinate. The flashback will return full circle, although they seem irrelevant at first. Viewers must be patient and attentive. The devil is in the details. And thank goodness for Charlie. He saves the day for his mom. This film isn't about Dawn's escape but her sleuthing skills. She pieces her past together to discover the person who held her hostage. This picture features stunning artwork and respectfully credits the artist Valentina Sarfeh. Valentina's work is breathtaking. This movie takes a long way to become entertaining. However, it pays off if you wait.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
I thought I was the man of the house - Charlie
You need to keep a job - Matt
This is the predicament you put me in - Dawn
Honestly, I feel bad for her - Victoria
I just love this new little family of mine - Kate
What am I doing - Professor Mead
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The Past Comes Knocking - Review
After running into her daughter, Autumn, Professor Susan goes to a diner for lunch. She looks for updates on her former assistant's case. Her teaching assistant, Jane, went missing three weeks ago, and the police haven't found her. Sadly, they called off the search. The waitress, Zoe, overhears Susan talking about it and shares her condolences. Zoe recognizes Susan from Susan's book. It unveiled corruption but made Susan an enemy of the police. The book covered Attorney General Vincent Darte and his crimes. He ended his life after the book's release, and it caused a ripple effect among Vincent's family and victims. Susan reveals that she left investigative journalism to teach at a local college. Zoe admits she wanted to take Susan's course but transferred too late to register. Susan writes her information on a napkin and offers Zoe a chance to audit the class. Susan will gladly add Zoe to the class if Zoe likes it.
Susan teaches the class as Zoe arrives late. After class, Zoe apologizes and blames her tardiness on work. But she needs the job to pay her bills. Susan allows Zoe to come to class but as a teaching assistant. Zoe can earn money and credit. Zoe jumps at the chance to work for her idol. Susan asks Zoe to meet at Susan's home to converse.
Zoe arrives, meets Autumn, and reminds Susan about her date with Professor Thomas. Susan gives Zoe work and leaves for her date. Zoe returns home after a great night out and finds the door open. She searches through the home and finds a mess. Someone went through her boxes and trashed the house. Susan calls Zoe and hears Zoe's phone ring under paperwork. Susan grabs Zoe's phone and calls Autumn in a panic. Autumn answers, and Susan breathes a sigh of relief. Then, Susan calls the police.
Detective Marissa arrives and doesn't hide her disdain for Susan. Susan's book ended a few police officer's careers. Marissa remembers Zoe is the 2nd assistant to go missing. Also, Marissa finds it odd that Susan gave her house key to Zoe after knowing Zoe for a few hours. Marissa informs Susan they will investigate and believes the evidence will point to Susan. Susan thinks someone is framing her by making her assistants disappear. And she worries they will come after Autumn next. Susan must dig into her journalism past before Detective Marissa pins the crimes on her.
Where to start? This movie begins with someone chasing a pretty girl through the woods. She falls and dies. Then, viewers get a few poorly manufactured wigs that are hard to ignore. Susan has an unnecessary love interest, and the ending is anticlimactic. Susan was a journalist, so viewers would expect her to do a background check before hiring a teacher's assistant. Instead, she hires an unknown person without references. Then, Susan doesn't keep her personal and professional lives separate. These enormous mistakes make viewers lose interest in Susan's well-being. Lifetimers can skip this movie. It is a slow burn to nowhere.
I give it 2 out of 5 stars
Please don't do this - Jane
Are you volunteering - Susan
When have you ever told the short version - Autumn
He is totally catching feelings for you - Zoe
You gave a key to your house to a relative stranger - Detective Marissa
You need to keep your nose clean - Brandon
Who'd want to frame you - Thomas
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The Daughter I Gave Away - Review
After hearing her distressed cries during a nightmare, Cynthia's husband, Andrew, wakes her. Cynthia dreamt about the day she gave up her daughter, Lexi. Her mother was ill, and she didn't have money. So, Cynthia signed over her paternal rights in an open adoption. Andrew asks Cynthia if she has the adoption paperwork. Cynthia says yes. Andrew tells her to contact the adoption agency since the process is open. They legally must inform her about Lexi.
Cynthia calls the agency, but they don't have a record of the adoption or the agent. They ask Cynthia for her case number, but it's too short. Someone kidnapped Lexi. Cynthia panics. Cynthia decides to use an ancestry site to connect. If Lexi used the service, it would link them as mother and daughter. After a few weeks, Cynthia gets incredible news. She matched with a teenage girl named Rebecca. Cynthia found her long-lost daughter. She messages Rebecca through the service and searches for her on social media. Cynthia uncovers a profile and looks through the pictures. They discover that Rebecca is a thriving high school student and athlete. Then, Cynthia reads the comments and discovers that Rebecca is missing. Cynthia refuses to lose the daughter she recently found and chooses to rescue Rebecca. Cynthia will uncover a kidnapper, enablers, and a coverup.
This movie momentarily captures your attention. When Cynthia talks to an agency representative and discovers someone kidnapped Lexi, you will be on the edge of your seat. The writers explain that Cynthia was in a stressful moment in her life and young. So, the kidnapper took advantage of the situation. Cynthia isn't dumb but misguided, scared, and defeated. When Cynthia talks to Rebecca's friend, Jenny, your heart will crumble as Jenny recounts her last communication with Rebecca. Rebecca was fearful for her life before she disappeared and reached out to her friends for help. The ending is predictable, but the ride is worth your two hours.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
What if you looked her up now - Andrew
I can't believe I was such an idiot - Cynthia
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Head Over Heels - Review
Head Over Heels - Hallmark - 2 hours and 0 minutes
Addison works in her father's shoe repair shop and loves to sketch shoe designs. Her favorite client gave Addison a pair of Delaney Diaz shoes to repair, and Addison drools over them. Delaney is Addison's favorite shoe designer, but Addison thinks Delaney has lost her passion for the business. Delaney traded style for mass production. Addison's sister, Claudia, goes to baby class with a woman from Delaney's company. She got Addison an interview with them. Addison creates excuses to pass on the opportunity, but her father, Tony, tells her to do it.
Addison arrives and expects to take the receptionist job. As Thomas rips off the headphones, Janice tells him to halt his celebration. Delaney's assistant, Kendra, quit, and they want Addison to take her place. Thomas looks at Addison's boring black flats and says Addison isn't ready. Janice walks Addison to Kendra's old office and warns Addison to clean the desk. Addison searches for cleaning supplies and bumps into Austin from marketing. She spills his coffee on his white shoes. Addison feels horrible. So she pulls Austin into a fabric room, grabs his shoes, and covers the stain. Austin admires her handy work and sings her praises to Delaney. Delaney gives Addison a one-week test to prove she can be Delaney's assistant. Addison jumps at the chance to work with her idol. However, she must learn to navigate corporate espionage, a hostile takeover, and work-life balance.
This film is The Devil Wears Prada mixed with Ugly Betty (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Her family wants her to spend more time with them, but Addison focuses on work. She doubles her efforts when she fixes her mistakes. And Austin is in her corner. When they scold her for prioritizing a meeting over her niece's first birthday, the family will annoy the viewers. Also, Delaney is a tenacious boss and takes advantage of Addison's admiration and lack of boundaries. She makes Addison feel like it's all or nothing. Addison tries to make everyone happy but fails. Addison's confidant is Austin. He understands her struggles and helps with encouraging words and advice. This plot won't be a favorite, but the movie is entertaining.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
I don't get the excitement about her - Tony
People always say I'm cheerful - Addison
Delaney will lose her mind if she sees you in those flats - Janice
Why do I feel like I'm getting mugged - Austin
I don't succumb to flattery. You know that - Delaney
Did they send you a restraining order - Claudia
Don't blame me. I'm just a pretty face - Thomas
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