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Amish Stud: The Eli Weaver Story – Review
Amish Stud: The Eli Weaver Story – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Detective Mike and Bruce walk to the home of Eli and Barbara Weaver, but Bruce makes Michael stop. He explains that the Amish have different rules. And they must carefully tread so they won’t offend anyone. Murder is rare for the Amish, so they can’t mess up the case. Before approaching the crime scene, the Bishop tells them to keep their noses out of Amish business. Bruce knows he won’t be any help. Bruce and Michael find Barbara Weaver in bed with a gunshot wound in her chest and no signs of forced entry. Her children ran to a neighbor after discovering their mother, and the neighbor went to the community phone to call the police.
Barbara’s sister, Abagail, frantically runs to the Weaver residence. The Bishop stops her because their are English detectives inside. Abagail wants to talk to them because she knows who killed Barbara. The Bishop warns Abagail not to gossip. The Amish should only judge the Amish. Abagail remains quiet and goes to her niece and nephew. The detectives leave the scene and run into Eli Weaver. Eli tells the detectives that he was fishing with his friend, Jeremiah, a Conservative Mennonite, during the murder. Eli believes it was an attempted robbery. Bruce and Michael leave with an eerie feeling about Eli. Eli never mentioned or expressed concern for his children during the interview. Their investigation will uncover affairs, sin, and abuse with the help of a prayer and journal.
Based on A Killing in Amish Country: Sex, Betrayal, and a Cold-blooded Murder by Gregg Olsen and Rebecca Morris, this film will break your heart (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Eli only wanted to be Amish when it was convenient. He would run out of money, charm his way to forgiveness, get rewarded, and sin again. Barbara does everything she can for Eli but refuses to perform oral sex because it is sinful in the Amish religion. She does what the church taught her and runs to the Bishop for help. He shames Barbara and lays Eli’s poor behavior at her feet. Eli requested several of his lovers to kill Barbara, but only one, Barb, took him seriously. Eli was a narcissistic psychopath with community support. The script ensures that technology isn’t the enemy, only Eli. Thankfully, from the beginning, Abagail saw through Eli and refused to keep quiet. If anyone listened to her cries for help, Barbara would be alive. Luckily, she wrote them down. Be warned, Eli and Barb’s sentences are a travesty.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars
He’ll be of no help – Bruce
Did he just call us English – Mike
Every litter has it’s runt – Abagail
That’s not how you submit – Eli
I was wondering where you were going to show up – Laura
I’m not abused – Barbara
I love you – Barb
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Mystery Island – Review
Mystery Island – HMM – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Jane calls her friend, Dr. Emilia, for help. Jane is on Mystery Island again and picks the incorrect killer. Ten times a year, guests come to the island to solve a crime, and each one is different. She tells Emilia to take a break from real killers and go on a vacation. Emelia consults with the police and analyzes murders. Usually, Emilia says no but is having second thoughts about her career path. So she says yes. Three weeks later, Emilia and Jane are guests at Mystery Island.
Jane and four others are island investors. The owner and main shareholder, John, started the getaway to keep his mother’s literary legacy alive. His mother, Evelyn, wrote mystery novels and shared the love of storytelling with John. John owns 80% of the island. Jane, along with three others, has a 5% share. Jane introduces Emilia to the other investors. Sarge fancies himself a writer. He offered to write mysteries for the island, but John turned him down. Phoenix is a fitness influencer who dated John in the past. Carlos manages a hedge fund, and his wife, Morgan, accompanies him. Carlos met John in college. The host, Fredrick, shows Emilia around the house and introduces her to the house manager, Lucia.
After the guests settle in, Fredrick invites them to the dining room for dinner. Fredrick plays a recording of John giving the guests their first clue. A worker burns the recording after it plays. The guests disperse after the dinner. Emilia and Jane figure out the first clue and find a secret passageway. They walk to a balcony and find two dead bodies. Jane recognizes Fredrick, but he’s alive. She can’t hide her disappointment. The second person is the worker who burned the recording, but Emilia takes a closer look. She sees he is wearing a disguise and pulls it off. The dead worker is John with a dart in his neck. This death isn’t a game, and John is dead. Fredrick calls the police.
Detective Jason and Chief Gloria investigate everyone on the island. The medical examiner determined the dart had poison on the tip. When guests want to leave, Jason counters by threatening to tell the public the mystery destination isn’t safe. These amateur sleuthers must do the real thing if they want to go. Can they solve the crime before someone else dies?
Emilia tries to avoid the mystery but can’t help herself. Soon, she uses her techniques to help Jason and clear her name. It doesn’t take long for the guests to turn on each other. Everyone has a secret and quietly resents John. Viewers will use their HMM expertise to pick apart the evidence and deduce hidden meanings, but this movie turns everything you know on its head. The compelling plot doesn’t reveal a critical scene until the summation. And the culprit will have you rethinking everything you saw and heard.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
Are you psycho-analyzing a real murderer today – Jane
I have no interest in making anyone’s mind smaller – Emilia
Flaunt it! You work hard for it – Phoenix
The game’s afoot – Fred
Eat, drink, and wait for someone to drop dead – Sarge
Maybe I can put you to use – Jason
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My Doctor’s Secret Life – Review
My Doctor’s Secret Life – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Doctor Veronica West is a therapist with a highly-anticipated book, Life’s Power Within. She preaches about being honest to heal. Veronica enters her office and briefs her assistant, Nancy. She meets with her client, David, to discuss his kleptomania. Veronica doesn’t give her patients medication but uses hypnotherapy as an alternative.
Veronica loves helping her patients but has to take a break for her 6-week-long book tour. She signs autographs for fans, but Brianna requests a session. Veronica informs Brianna that she only takes referrals. Brianna begs because her nightmares haunt her. Veronica relents and tells Brianna to give Nancy her contact information. After signing autographs, the host takes written questions from the audience. An audience member asks Veronica if she’s ever done anything to cause a patient’s death. Veronica says no but can’t stop thinking about Matthew.
Matthew was Veronica’s patient. However, he left her practice after feeling better. Two years later, they randomly saw each other on the street and decided to have coffee. They dated for a while, but Veronica felt the relationship had no future. So, she broke up with him. Later, Matthew got drunk, got into his car, fell asleep, crashed, and died. Veronica continues to ponder about Matthew until someone knocks her out from behind. Veronica wakes up on the ground with a note in her mouth. It reads, ‘If you want to get better, tell the truth.’ Veronica hopes this is an isolated incident, but someone seeks to destroy her career, connections, and life.
Veronica has a wild personal life. Her assistant, Nancy, displays suspicious behaviors. Veronica’s mentor, Dr. Summers, is sketchy and desperate for money. And her boyfriend, Jackson, is clingy and questionable. Veronica is a mess. But the culprit manipulates and exposes Veronica’s problems. They use bribery, lazy hacking, and a knife to get the job done. This plot won’t hold your attention, but the final fight scene will. The culprit is a savage.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
Why would I say no – Veronica
Everything you do is so wonderful – Elizabeth
Is that supposed to be an insult because it’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me – Robbie
I told you everything about me. How could you let this happen – Brianna
I know you have feelings for me – David
Ok, 20 – Nancy
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Murder at the Country Club – Review
Murder at the Country Club – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
It’s Cassie’s first day at Pinecrest Country Club as assistant manager. Her boss, Ava, welcomes Cassie and shows her around the property. It’s Cassie’s job to handle events and keep the members happy. Also, the club is hosting a golf tournament for their scholarship fund. Ava wants that to be Cassie’s focus. Cassie inquires about her predecessor, Lisa. Ava says Lisa left without notice, closed her social media accounts, and left town. Cassie starts analyzing the books to prepare for the tournament, but it has a zero balance. Cassie informs Ava, and Ava takes the information. Later, Ava decides to cut the worker’s pay to cover the cost of the competition. Cassie doesn’t think that’s the best move but agrees to do it.
On Cassie’s second day, she hears the club president, Frank, and Ava having sex in her office. She pretends to work when Frank comes out of Ava’s office and says hello. Cassie’s father, Brad, recommended Cassie for the job, but Frank had to convince the board to hire her. Cassie doesn’t want to upset Ava but can’t overlook Lisa’s disappearance and the misappropriated funds. Something isn’t right about this club, and Cassie will find the truth.
This movie takes a long time to get to the point, and sometimes the sound editing is awful. Some dialogue and characters feel unnecessary, but the writer did it by design. It’s a case of misdirection. The killer is a busy bee who orchestrates a hit-and-run, a car accident, and a murder. The money laundering is blatantly apparent with open-door conversations, big-mouth caddies, and dumb criminals. Ava includes Cassie in the money laundering scheme on Cassie’s second day. Frank is an outlandish creep, and Vanessa is a pimp. The plot is slow, but the culprit is entertaining.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
I’m telling you they’re having an affair – Cassie
Whatever, man, your life – Milo
I know something happened to her – Tracy
I was talking about white-collar crime, not murder – Jamie
I’ll let you know when we’re even – Vanessa
Quit. The girl who quit – Frank
Things are getting complicated – Ava
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Retreat to You – Review
Retreat to You – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Rachel and Abby drive to Azuridge Wellness Retreat to help Rachel get over her ex-boyfriend. Rachel looks forward to relaxing and countless activities, but Abby sees it as adult summer camp. Rachel bribes Abby with candy to have a positive attitude. Upon arrival, Chef Mason greets them with spinach papaya smoothies while complimenting Rachel’s purple Crocs (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The coordinator, Randy, takes them to their rooms and reminds them about orientation.
Abby and Rachel go to orientation and learn about the numerous events. Abby makes snide comments about the nourishment gatherings and animal activities, but Rachel begs her to break out of the 9 to 5 mindset. Then, Abby sees a ghost from her past. Her ex-best friend, Sean, and he notices her too. Abby explains her relationship with Sean to Rachel. They were best friends until high school and had planned an ultimate graduation trip since they were 11. Abby waited at the bus stop for Sean on the first day of their vacation, but he never showed up or called. Abby wants to ignore Sean, but he walks over to their table to talk. Rachel says hi but draws a battle line out of friendship. Abby leaves without signing up for an activity. So Rachel sees Sean’s choices and adds their names. Rachel wants Abby to be open and honest about her feelings for the first time, but it will take a long trek in the woods for that to happen.
Abby describes herself as a realist, but the script presents her as a Debbie Downer. The audience doesn’t understand why until an hour into the film. This late revelation gave the audience too much time to dislike Abby’s attitude toward someone trying to be nice to her. However, don’t give up on Abby. She sees the error of her ways, thanks to Rachel. Rachel informs Abby how Abby’s bleak viewpoint affects their friendship. Abby makes a change. Viewers will get a well-deserved reform if they look beyond Abby’s pessimistic comments.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
I will try to be positive about this very cringy thing we’re about to do – Abby
Whoa. That explains a lot. Like how you are as a person – Rachel
Being strong does not make you mean, and it definitely doesn’t make you like your mom – Sean
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Categories: Adam Harper, Alex Mitchell, Amish Stud: The Eli Weaver Story, Charlie Weber, Donald Heng, Elizabeth Henstridge, Emilie Ullerup, Fall Into Love, hallmark, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, HMM, Jason Tobias, Jessica Morris, Kirsten Vangsness, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Luke MacFarlane, Made for TV, Meghan Heffern, Miranda MacDougall, movie, Murder at the Country Club, My Doctor's Secret Life, Mystery Island, Peter Mooney, Retreat to You, review, Ripped From The Headlines, Signature Mystery, Sleuthers, Taylor Castro, tv review
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