| Table of Reviews |
|---|
Husband, Father, Killer: The Alyssa Pladl Story – Review
Husband, Father, Killer: The Alyssa Pladl Story – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Fifteen-year-old Alyssa meets twenty-one-year-old Steven in a chat room. Although they are 2,000 miles apart, she falls in love with him. Her parents force Alyssa to cease communicating with him, but Steven helps her run away from home. Soon, she is married and gives birth to a girl, Denise. Then, Alyssa sees his true colors. Steven rages when Denise cries. He pinches Denise and puts her in a cooler with the lid on. Alyssa gives Denise up for adoption to save her from Steven’s abuse. Her adoptive parents have one condition: they change her name for a fresh start. Alyssa and Steven agree.
Seventeen years later, Steven can’t keep a job and prides himself on being the fun dad. He and Alyssa have two daughters, Caroline and Jenna. Alyssa turns on the faucet, and nothing comes out. She charges toward Steven and demands an excuse, and he laughs. She threatens to pawn her ring for the money and get a divorce. Steven reminds Alyssa that Caroline is on the spectrum and negatively reacts to change. Alyssa rebuts and says Caroline is the reason she stayed too long. She wishes she left with Denise instead of staying with him. Denise is now Katie. She lives with Kelly and Anthony, and they give her an art set for her birthday (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Before they serve breakfast, Katie tells them she wants to meet her biological parents. Anthony hesitates. But Kelly believes Katie should meet them. Katie finds Steven on Facebook and messages him. Steven runs to Alyssa and tells her with pride. Alyssa worries because of Steven’s past abuse but invites Katie to stay with them for two weeks after her graduation.
Katie arrives with Anthony and Kelly. She is excited to meet her little sisters and biological parents. They prepare a room for her and make her feel welcome. Katie and Alyssa spend time together and converse about the past. Alyssa tells Katie that she regrets giving her up but doesn’t mention the abuse. Steven becomes jealous of the time Katie spends with Alyssa and makes time with Katie, too. He tells Katie that Alyssa forced him to give her up and degraded him. Katie dreams of attending college, but Steven tells her that’s a mistake. He says she can be an artist today and live with them until she starts her career. Within days, Steven lets Katie party, drink, and disrespect Alyssa. Alyssa’s patience ends when she finds Steven sleeping on Katie’s bedroom floor. She decides to divorce Steven and take their daughters. However, Katie wants to stay. Alyssa determines Katie is old enough to decide for herself and leaves with Caroline and Jenna. This fateful choice will lead to incest, child abuse, and three murders.
This movie is heartbreaking and feels unreal. Sadly, it’s all true. Young Alyssa didn’t understand that her parents tried to protect her from a manipulator. As she tells her story to a detective, Alyssa reveals that she left a lamb in a lion’s den to fend for itself. It’s disturbing to watch Steven use the same pick-up lines on Katie that he did with Alyssa. The actors did a superb job because your skin will crawl as you watch this film. And you will gag at the multiple people who failed Katie. She was no match for the primed predator she called Dad. This film is a quintessential story of grooming, and the incest makes it worse. Everyone made mistakes, and three people paid the ultimate price. Viewers should watch this movie with their teens and open a dialogue.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars
He loved bombed me from 2000 miles away – Alyssa
I thought you already knew – Steven
Is this wrong – Katie
They’re going to be fine. It’s their mom I’m worried about – Eric
Find, shop for, and watch Lifetime movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
‘Twas the Date Before Christmas – Review
‘Twas the Date Before Christmas – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Jessie tells her sister-in-law, Shelly, about her string of horrible dates. Shelly wonders if Jessie intentionally picks the wrong men because she isn’t over her former fiancé, Shawn. She still wears Shawn’s engagement ring. However, Jessie points out that the ring is on the wrong hand. Later, Jessie concludes her virtual team holiday party and prepares to put work aside for two weeks. Then, her mother, Laura, knocks. Jessie welcomes Laura, and they discuss the family’s Christmas Eve festivities. Laura stops Jessie and gives her sad news. Aunt Lily decided to have the Christmas Eve dinner only. They don’t believe Jessie is over Shawn and don’t want to make Jessie sad. Jessie lies. She says she has a new boyfriend, and he’s excited about the family’s activities. If Jessie invited him and they didn’t have the events, they would make her look like a liar. Laura bounces and quickly exits to inform Lily. Jessie updates her online profile to say she’s looking for a man for a blind Christmas date with her family.
Interim CEO Don tells his team he wants to evict their holdout before the new year. The tenet will cause significant delays in their affordable housing development. Bryan knows the company can’t afford this but wonders if they could talk to the owner face-to-face. Don challenges Bryan to meet with the owner, but Bryan backs down. Bryan’s father wanted Bryan to run the business, but today, Bryan doesn’t feel ready. So, Don has the final say and will send the owner an eviction letter. Bryan spends time with his friends, and they worry about him being alone for the holidays. So, Bryan’s friend, Terry, grabs Bryan’s phone and scrolls through a dating app. She finds Jessie’s profile and likes her look. Bryan reads about the family gathering and likes the idea because he never had a big family Christmas. They flirt via text messages, and Bryan accepts Jessie’s invitation.
Before meeting Bryan, Jessie goes to Shelly’s candle shop and reveals the truth. Shelly can’t believe Jessie will bring a stranger to their family function and pass him off as her boyfriend. However, Shelly promises to keep Jessie’s secret. Later, Jessie meets Bryan, and they drive to her parents’ home. Laura and Jessie’s stepdad, Marcus, greet Bryan with bear hugs. They pull him inside, and he meets Jessie’s brother, Andrew, and Andrew and Shelly’s kids, Haley and Evan. None of them are a match for Aunt Lily. She announces the start of the 23rd annual Chamberlain Family Christmas Olympics. She reveals a board with seven games but has something new to shake things up. Lily introduces a wheel. She will spin it to pick the next challenge. Bryan can’t wait to play.
After a game, Bryan goes outside to help Andrew with the lights. Andrew reveals that Shelly created the scents for the home. She ensured every room smelled different because candles are her brand. Bryan uncovers that Shelly is the holdout and will receive an eviction notice. He plans to fix it before Jessie learns the truth. The family chose not to reveal Jessie’s past with Shawn. They want her to do it at her speed. And Jessie will keep the ‘boyfriend’ lie going. This year, the Chamberlains Family Christmas will be a hot mess.
Hallmark chose this movie to start the 2024 holiday movie lineup, and it’s a solid film. It had terrific character growth, a genuine connection, comedic situations, and a heartfelt ending. Jessie looks forward to her family’s traditions, so she lies to keep them going. Bryan grew up connected more to his grandparents than anyone else. He never experienced a traditional holiday. So he jumps to spend time with Jessie and her family. Also, the plot doesn’t immediately connect Bryan and Shelly. It allows them to build an honest friendship and understanding. As the audience gets familiar with the Chamberlains, you understand their concern stems from love. You want to be a part of the family and compete. Also, viewers learn that Bryan is a kind person, not a corporate evil-doer. This film is easy-going, sincere, and fun.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
My family does not do subtle – Jessie
She scares me – Bryan
You’re not the boss of me – Marcus
Deal with it – Lily
You seem like a good dude. I hope you are. Jessie deserves that – Andrew
Yes, Shelly knows all – Shelly
This is a hot mess – Evan
And I am going to go so viral – Haley
Find, shop for, and watch Hallmark movies on Amazon (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
My Professor’s Deadly Secret – Review
My Professor’s Deadly Secret – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Lauren is inconsolable as she caresses the gift her aunt Trish gave her. Professor Trish taught math at IMT and gave Lauren an engraved abacus (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Trish understood Lauren loves math like her. Lauren joins her parents, Helen and John, to honor Trish’s life with the other mourners at Trish’s wake. However, Lauren tells Helen that Helen chose the wrong photo. Later, Helen enters Lauren’s room and sees Lauren’s Math Summit application torn on the floor. Lauren condemns Helen for accepting Trish’s death with ease. The coroner reported that Trish died from a heart attack. Lauren states that Trish ran marathons, and the family has 0 history of heart problems. She deduces that someone killed Trish. Lauren doesn’t have time for the summit because she will solve Trish’s murder.
Lauren is lackluster in class until the new guest lecturer, Kristy, breathes new life into the class. Lauren perks up and finds a kindred spirit. Lauren goes to the market with Helen and criticizes Helen for not retrieving Trish’s research journals. She steps away from Helen and rejoins her at the register. Lauren beams when she sees Kristy standing there. Kristy can feel the combative nature between mother and daughter and tries to ease the tension by straddling the fence. When Kristy’s card declines twice, Helen offers to pay for her food. Helen sees the connection between Kristy and Lauren and invites Kristy to dinner.
Kristy plays peacemaker between Lauren and Kristy throughout the meal. Kristy mentions she was in the Math Summit, and John asks Kristy to tutor Lauren. Kristy accepts, and Lauren can barely contain her excitement. Helen hopes this will ease Lauren’s life and help Lauren come to terms with Trish’s passing. However, it will unlock two secrets Trish took to her grave.
This movie is The Big Bang Theory, with tears and two murders (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Lauren is impertinent and wishes Helen dead. Helen is too accommodating, and her mother-in-law, Susan, is a stickler for the rules. Viewers who like bloody Lifetime movies should skip this film because it focuses on the growing connection between Lauren and Kristy. They become sisters through math. Even Kristy’s watch reflects her love for the subject. The script allows you to see why Lauren trusts Kristy more than Helen. Kristy inserts herself into Helen’s life, but Helen spies that something’s off. So, she keeps a watchful eye on Kristy. If you can get past the crying, the movie simmers but picks up in the last 10 minutes.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
And you’re still wrong – Lauren
Respectfully, I can not accept that answer – Helen
You can trust it. Numbers don’t lie, just people – Kristy
Kill me, okay? I want my wife – John
This is a business, not a charity – Susan
Find, shop for, and watch LMN movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Click here for more information
The Killer I Picked Up – Review
The Killer I Picked Up – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Angela admits to her co-worker, friend DJ, that she doesn’t have enough money to pay her daughter’s future tuition. Angela’s daughter, Brianna, plans to attend a great school, and Angela desires to help. However, Angela lost her husband, Mike. She doesn’t make enough money to cover the bills and college. So, Angela decided to be a rideshare driver.
Angela’s first few rides are uneventful. She picks up a handsome rider named Aaron. They have an easy conversation before Aaron falls asleep. Angela arrives at Aaron’s destination and wakes him up. Aaron thanks Angela for the ride and hopes he sees her again. She wants the same thing, too. A few nights later, Angela picks up John. Angela arrives at his designated stop, but he won’t leave and grabs her. Then, someone opens the back door and pulls John out. Angela jumps when she sees Aaron at her window. He was in the area and saw her predicament. So, he saved her from John.
Angela and Brianna are shopping for food when Angela sees Aaron beside the frozen food fridge. Brianna thinks Angela should date again and calls Aaron over. Aaron introduces them to his nephew, Jason. Angela spies that Brianna is smitten with Jason. Brianna accepts a dinner date for Angela after Aaron asks. Angela sighs but looks forward to the night’s events. The date goes well, but Aaron rubs her the wrong way sometimes. However, she overlooks it because he is smart, kind, and funny.
Over a few days, DJ warns Angela that her night job is negatively impacting her day job. She advises Angela to slow down. However, someone won’t be happy if Angela is off the road. They are stalking her, put a tracker inside her car, and installed cameras in her home. They want Angela and Brianna to themselves and will kill for them.
This movie is great for playing ‘Spot the Red Flags.’ Some are obvious, while others take time to notice. Angela overlooks the issues, but DJ doesn’t. She calls the attention weird and inappropriate and shows genuine concern for Angela. It takes time for Brianna to see them, but she immediately lays out her boundaries when she does. The plot is obvious, but the ride is fun. This movie maintains your attention for two hours, but it’s not a classic.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
So we’re not okay – Brianna
Stay safe – Aaron
That wasn’t a push. That was more like a shove – Angela
Yeah, it’s my tragic flaw – DJ
Are you dating again – Whitney
Find, shop for, and watch Lifetime movies on Amazon TV (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Click here for more information
Haunted Wedding – Review
Haunted Wedding – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Brian and Jane tour an abandoned asylum for the criminally insane to discover earth-bound ghosts. However, teacher Jane isn’t finding any activity on her meters. She looks around the room and sees a heart of rose petals on the ground. Jane turns to Brian on a bent knee with a ring. He found the love of his life at Polter-Con, and now he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. Jane says yes.
Six months later, Jane kisses Brian goodbye. He will stay at their antique store while Jane, with her maid-of-honor, Rachel, prepares their venue for the wedding. Their venue is a haunted manor called Keystone Manor. Jane and Brian burst with excitement.
Proprietor Marianne begs a guest to stay as Jane and Rachel arrive. Seeing the guest run in fear excites Jane because she can’t wait to tour the manor. Marianne has Waylon get their bags before she escorts them to their rooms. She explains that Angelique haunts the manor. She didn’t like the other guest’s British accent because a ‘red coat‘ killed Angelique’s betrothed. Marianne cordoned off Angelique’s old room and kept its contents the same to appease the ghost. Jane’s curiosity takes over, and she enters the room after Marianne walks away. Jane finds Angelique’s obituary. It states that Angelique was 26 at the time of her death and died on what would have been her wedding day. She looks around the room and finds a painting of Angelique and her fiancé, Malcolm. Jane can’t believe how much Malcolm resembles Brian.
Jane and Marianne sit on the front porch and sip beverages while discussing Angelique and Malcolm. Jane hears someone and assumes it’s Marianne, but it’s Angelique. For the first time, someone hears Angelique.
Brian rides to the manor with his best man, Steve. Steve wants to spend quality time with Rachel while keeping Brian on task. Brian desires to make Jane feel secure about their wedding. Her ex-fiancé, Alec, left Jane on their wedding day and married another woman five months later. He plans to stay by Jane’s side and help with the wedding while looking for ghosts.
Jane shows Brian Angelique’s room and tells him Angelique’s story. Angelique appears. To everyone’s surprise, Brian and Jane can see her, and they will marry on the same day Angelique and Malcolm would have. Angelique explains that Malcolm died on his way to her. Her father wanted Angelique to wed a cad to keep their social status. However, Malcolm and Angelique planned to run away first. Jane understands Angelique’s pain and offers to help her cross over. They will find Malcolm and bring him to her. When their first attempts fails, Angelique’s rage boils over. She will doom their wedding day if she can’t have her love. Jane and Brian must find Malcolm and bring him to her or risk losing their wedding.
This movie is a classic with series potential. As Jane and Brian’s relationship grows, they can find more ghosts with similar issues. Hopefully, Hallmark will make this movie a Halloween regular. Jane and Brian have the same passion but approach it differently. Jane uses the scientific method, but Brian goes with his gut. She hypothesizes and tests while he sages items in their shop. They are two sides of the same coin. Angelique’s character feels a smidge bratty, but be patient. She learns the error of her ways. And Jane and Brian’s encounters with Malcolm are pure comedic gold. The writers pulled inspiration and tropes from your favorite paranormal TV shows and movies. So, keep your eyes and ears open. Hallmarkies, get your candy corn ready for this Hallmark classic.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars
This is the most romantic thing that anyone has ever done for me – Jane
So, today wasn’t a total bust – Brian
Yeah, that’s why – Rachel
Don’t want to poke the bear – Marianne
She can hear me – Angelique
You can’t believe everything you see on TV – Steve
It’s a tough road for a man to be invisible, you know – Malcolm
It’s showtime – Earl
Find, shop for, and watch Hallmark movies on Amazon (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer)
Share this:
Categories: 'Twas the Date Before Christmas, Amy Groening, christmas, Countdown to Christmas, David D. Wilson, Dominic Sherwood, Fall Into Love, hallmark, Haunted Wedding, holiday, Husband, Father, Killer: The Alyssa Pladl Story, Jackie Cruz, James Hyde, Janel Parrish, Kayden Tokarski, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Maddison Bullock, Made for TV, Matreya Scarrwener, Matthew MacCaull, movie, My Professor's Deadly Secret, Nancy Harding, Nicole Marie Johnson, Patrice Goodman, review, Ripped From The Headlines, Robert Buckley, Ryan Francis, Shocktober, The Killer I Picked Up, tv review
thatdarngirlmovie.reviews 