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Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story – Review
Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Marcela and Ruben Borges watch their baby’s heartbeat during their prenatal exam. Marcela breathes a sigh of relief, listening to the pulse. After the appointment, Ruben and Marcela head toward their separate cars. Marcela will go to their son’s graduation while Ruben works. He hates to miss Ryan’s achievement, but Marcela says there will be more in the future. Ruben promises to pick up the cake before heading home for Ryan’s party.
Marcela, Ruben, and Ryan celebrate Ryan’s graduation with their neighbors and friends. Marcela and Ruben give Ryan a sonogram of his baby brother as a present and go to bed. Marcela and Ruben consider going to the zoo before getting a knock at the door. Ryan runs to the door and opens it. Three masked men – Victor, Miguel, and Oscar – enter with guns. They tie up the Borgeses and ransack the house. They demand Ruben’s money. They find a few thousand dollars in the home, but it’s not the amount the robbers desire. They put the family in their SUV and drive to another location.
The kidnappers bring the Borgeses to a trailer park and throw them onto the floor. Marcela begs for her family’s life. Then, a masked woman, Bianca, speaks. She wants $200,000, or she will kill the Borgeses one at a time. Marcela tells the robbers that the family doesn’t have that much money. They must have gotten them confused with another family. Bianca knows everything about them and won’t allow Marcela to say otherwise. Then, Biana receives a call. Her accomplices found a safe with $30,000 inside the Borges’s residence. Bianca wants the rest of the money. She won’t let Marcela’s pleas, tears, or tricks distract her. Can the Borgeses survive?
It’s unbelievable that anyone could survive this situation. The script puts the audience in a sense of panic. It allows you to see the unspoken communication between Marcela and Ruben. They consider different forms of escape. However, they silently convince the other to rethink their position before the robbers forcefully stop them. So, the Borgeses do everything to survive this nightmare. The conclusion gives the viewers each character’s recap. However, the motive is missing from the script. A member of Bianca’s family needs $100,000 to avoid jail time. Bianca had insight into Ruben’s business finances and assumed Ruben’s wealth. You will cheer for Marcela’s daring decision but cringe at the recap. It lets viewers know that the world is unfair.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
Hard work pays off – Ruben
I’ll think of 6 just in case – Ryan
You have to do as I say – Victor
There’s no money – Miguel
Shut up. Know your place – Oscar
I love my family – Marcela
What matters is I know everything about you – Bianca
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My Fatal Social Following – Review
My Fatal Social Following – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
It’s been a year since Julia attended school. Her friend, Nina, disappeared after she and Julia walked to the woods. The police cleared Julia of any wrongdoing, but the town labeled Julia a murderer. Julia promises her parents, Melissa and Paul, that she will focus on her studies and the track team.
Julia arrives at school, and Brittany bullies her. Adam steps in to help, but Brittany turns her venom towards him. Julia gives Adam a quick thanks before running to class. Julia gets an app notification that ‘The Family’ wants to follow her social media account during class. Julia approves the connection, and her teacher, Maria Delgado, catches Julia on her phone. Maria admonishes the behavior but offers Julia a shoulder to cry on.
Julia admits to her therapist that she has nightmares about the last time she saw Nina. However, Julia can’t remember much about that night. Julia’s therapist convinces Julia to try hypnosis. Julia remembers her cousin, Matt, being in the woods. Later, The Family asks Julia if she feels alone and scared. Julia confirms her hidden pain, and The Family says their group helped. Julia agrees to join The Family but must complete tasks to prove her loyalty. Julia falls behind in school while trying to recall what happened the night Nina disappeared and to please her new family. Can Julia come out of this unscathed and clear her name?
This movie moves in too many directions and concludes with the most absurd. Julia doesn’t act like a person who lost their best friend. She travels into the woods alone under the direction of a random text message. Adam is the only character who makes sensible decisions. He warns Julia to tell the police about The Family and stands up to Brittany’s bullying. The plot attempts to make a statement, but this is the wrong audience. Viewers can skip this confusing film during LMN’s 2025 Deadly Resolutions programming.
I give it 2 out of 5 stars
I don’t want anyone to forget about Nina. I don’t want to forget about her – Julia
You’re welcome – The Family
What does she want – Adam
I’ll give you one hint: camp – Brittany
I can’t tell you, Julia – Matt
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The Jane Mysteries: A Deadly Prescription – Review
The Jane Mysteries: A Deadly Prescription – Hallmark Mystery – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Detective John congratulates Jane for finishing her set. They plan to go out after the final performance. John sits with the band while Jane joins her aunt Sadie at a table. Sadie sees the romance between Jane and John building and encourages Jane to go after him. But Jane doesn’t think John romantically sees her. Then a woman, Sandra, runs into the club, hugs John, and leaves with him. Jane tries to follow but John and Sandra drive away too fast.
Jane looks over her uncle Herald’s old case files. She will continue his work for the Foundation of Righting Wrongs but won’t allow it to overwhelm her. Then, John enters with Sandra. Sandra explains that her son, Ryan, has an appeal approaching. Years ago, Sandra was ill and couldn’t afford her medicine. So, Ryan robbed their local pharmacy at gunpoint. The pharmacist, Phyllis, died but Ryan says he didn’t shoot her. Sandra says the police questioned Ryan for hours and coerced a false confession from him. The confession will work against Ryan’s appeal. Otherwise, Ryan will finish his 15-year sentence. Sandra never believed Ryan did this. Someone confirmed her belief when they broke into her home and left a note. The note states, ‘I know your son is innocent. I’m sorry.’ Jane remembers the case file in Herald’s boxes. Sadie confirms it was the last case he worked on. Jane promises to continue investigating.
Jane and John read Herald’s notes. They uncovered that three people were in the store during the shooting. Phyllis’s husband, pharmacist Jason, ran when he heard his wife scream for help. He grabbed Ryan’s gun after the shooting but Ryan fled the scene. Pharmacist Kyle worked in the backroom during the murder but never saw Ryan. Joe stocked the shelves during the shooting but didn’t hear anything because he wore headphones during the incident. Jane believes that Jason, Kyle, or Joe can prove Ryan’s innocence and lead her to the actual murderer.
This film, based on Amateur Night: A Jane Da Silva Mystery by K. K. Beck, has insurance fraud, a falling air conditioner, and three new songs (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Jane finishes Herald’s last case while balancing personal issues. First, Sadie still hurts from her husband’s passing. Jane wants her to go out, have fun, and find like-minded people. Second is Jane’s relationship with John. It’s a delicate situation that’s complicated with police corruption. He can’t believe someone in his precinct would coerce Ryan’s confession. It insults him that Jane thinks the police would. Jane avoids his calls to dodge the argument. Investigating his comrades creates a crisis of faith for John. As John and Jane find their footing, they unravel a fun mystery with the audience. And let’s not forget the many layers of Sadie. She fires a gun, understands ballistics, and gives an award-winning performance. This film is a musical watch for any sleuthing Hallmarkie.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
Break a rib, John – Jane
Wait. I know that ‘great’ – Sadie
The law has no emotions, Jane. It runs on facts – John
It’s so nice to have an empathetic ear – Sandra
I don’t know. I don’t remember – Ryan
No one is going to take my business away from me – Kyle
I can’t change what happened – Jason
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Vanished in Death Valley – Review
Vanished in Death Valley – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Kayla and Alan, a married couple, ride through Death Valley with their daughter, Hope. Kayla wants to bond while seeing the sights, but Hope is less enthusiastic. She’s unhappy that they moved for Kayla’s new job. Alan is neutral in their disagreements, but Kayla wishes he would take her side. Kayla sees signs for an antique shop. She wants to stop, but Alan wants to drive. She convinces them to use the shopping to connect. However, Kayla worries the car could overheat later. So, she asks Alan to take it to a local mechanic to check its fluids.
Kayla and Hope walk around the antique shop. They argue over a Death Valley shot glass because Kayla won’t buy it. Kayla says it’s inappropriate for teenage Hope. After Kayla leaves, the manager, Lydia, gives Hope the shot glass. Lydia states that Kayla will regret her harsh words later and commends Hope for being an intelligent young lady. Hope leaves with a smile.
Kayla and Hope meet with Alan after the mechanic, Eli, checks out their car. They drive down the road until the car overheats. Alan blames Kayla because she suggested the vehicle check earlier. Hope exits the car and asks to turn on the air conditioner. However, Alan knows it won’t work. They give Hope permission to walk to the store and rest until they fix the car.
Hope walks down the road, and Eli gets her attention from his vehicle. He says Alan and Kayla asked him to pick her up and bring her back. Hope senses something is off and rips off her bracelet. She runs towards the store, but Eli grabs her and pulls her into his car. Later, Alan and Kayla arrive at the store but can’t find Hope. Kayla knows something’s wrong when she discovers Hope’s favorite bracelet on the ground. Kayla tries to inform people and local law enforcement that someone kidnapped Hope, but they think Hope is having fun. However, they are wrong. Years ago, Lydia and Eli lost their daughter, Dani. Now, Lydia convinced Eli to kidnap Hope to replace Dani. Can Kayla and Alan find Hope before she disappears with Eli and Lydia?
This movie has the right amount of crazy that Lifetimers beg for. Lydia is unhinged, and Eli goes with it. At first, he tries to be the voice of reason but descends into Lydia’s madness. The script lets you listen to Lydia’s insane reasoning for kidnapping Hope. She believes Kayla doesn’t deserve Hope after watching their interaction in the store. It’s reminiscent of Lydia’s final moment with Dani. Lydia thinks she can be a better mother the second time around. Alan and Kayla have issues, too. He resents being a stay-at-home dad while encouraging Kayla to progress in her career. This attitude causes them to bicker during the search. However, Kayla won’t let anyone sway her. This film has two determined mothers who will fight to the death for Hope. The script occasionally lags, but the wild story makes up for it.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
You don’t scare me anymore – Dani
They come a lot worse than me, darling – Lydia
Paper maps are so retro, Dad – Hope
She doesn’t get that from me, you know – Kayla
I didn’t make a face – Alan
We can’t just take her – Eli
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Love of the Irish – Review
Love of the Irish – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Fiona calls her mother, Helen, during work. She wanted to leave early for an audition, but earlier, her boss, Sandy, threatened to fire her if she left. Helen encourages Fiona to stay because jobs aren’t plentiful. Then, Helen tells Fiona she must close the antique shop for two weeks because of a leak. Fiona chooses to attend the audition and asks for luck from Helen. When Helen wishes Fiona luck, a clock stops. Helen tinkers with the clock and notices a gold plate with Irish writing on the back. It translates to ‘It’s Not Too Late.’ Helen grabs a blue envelope out of her drawer and stares at it.
Fiona doesn’t get the part in the ballet and goes to Helen’s home for comfort. She sees the envelope, and her curiosity grows. Fiona opens it to uncover it’s from Helen’s birth mother, MJ, in Ireland. Fiona never knew MJ found Helen. Helen admits MJ contacted her during Fiona’s high school graduation, but Helen never responded. Fiona asks if Helen plans to reach out, but Helen changes the subject.
Helen wakes to Fiona frantically packing. Fiona booked a 10-day trip to Ireland to locate and meet MJ. Fiona says Helen has no excuse because the shop won’t open until the contractors fix the leak, and Fiona doesn’t have a job. They hop on a flight where Fiona’s bad luck continues. They arrive at the one-bedroom cottage, and Helen wants to escape. So, Fiona chooses to go to a pub.
Helen b-lines to the pool table to prove she still has skills. Fiona takes a shot and bumps into Liam while he plays darts. They trade quips about American vs. Irish politeness. She grabs a dart and gets a bullseye. Fiona states she can do it every time. Liam doesn’t believe her, so she does it again. Her unfortunate luck never affects her dart skills. She leaves, but Liam’s friends and daughter can see the spark between them.
Later, Fiona leaves Helen at the stables to enjoy horseback riding while she secretly searches for MJ. The note has a P.O. box but no formal address. She walks along the countryside, deciding what to do, when she sees a man and asks for help. The man is Liam. He offers to help her if she sits with him and shares a good luck ritual he did with his late wife. She agrees. Fiona asks Liam about luck. He believes luck finds people who look for it. He will help her find MJ and luck. But will they find more?
This movie transports Hallmarkies with beautiful landscapes and Irish Eyes by Rose Betts (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). This script helps heal three generations of women. MJ and Helen reconnect over their love of history. Helen doesn’t reveal her identity, so they bond naturally. Fiona needs to see that luck doesn’t happen; you create it. Liam helps her see past the horizon and into the world. She discovers that your path isn’t always your dream. This film carefully mixes heartfelt content with humor.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
You need me to flex some mom muscle on her – Helen
Pray for a miracle – Fiona
Only to those who can take a joke or a nudge – Liam
Life-altering stakes. Got it – Annie
It’s not over until the Irish lady sings, and I haven’t cleared my throat yet – MJ
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Categories: Alessio Andrada, Aryè Campos, Chloe Avakian, Dascha Polanco, Deadly Resolutions, hallmark, Hallmark Mystery, Hunter Romanillos, Ivan Lopez, Jodie Sweetin, Johnathan Souza, Katherine Joan Taylor, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Love of the Irish, Made for TV, Marito Lopez, Matthew Pohlkamp, Mitchell Jaramillo, Moira Kelly, movie, Muretta Moss, My Fatal Social Following, Nisa Gunduz, review, Ripped From The Headlines, Shenae Grimes-Beech, Signature Mystery, Sleuthers, Stephen Hagan, Stephen Huszar, Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story, The Jane Mysteries: A Deadly Prescription, tv review, Vanished in Death Valley, Winter Escape
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