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Girl in the Attic – Review
Girl in the Attic – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Billy watches social media reels at work when he spots his former acting student, Kelsey. He follows her page and finishes his work before going home. Billy runs into his neighbor, Mrs. Bird, who expresses concern about Billy’s mother, Debbie. Former dancer Debbie is housebound after an accident damaged her spinal cord. Now, she depends on her medication, wheelchair, and Billy. Mrs. Bird can’t imagine the toll the accident has taken on Debbie’s mental health. So she offers to help Billy if he ever needs it. Billy thanks her and enters Debbie’s home. She accuses the cleaning person of stealing from her. Billy proves the laborer is innocent and that Debbie’s memory fades. Feeling foolish, Debbie tells Billy to get out more and find a girlfriend. She gives him money to change the attic into a gym.
Kelsey starts a social media account to track her progress and collect donations. She plans to run a half marathon in her mother’s honor for breast cancer research. Kelsey sticks to her program for weeks before deciding to run 10 miles. Her father worries, but she wants to do it alone. Kelsey runs, and a man, Billy, in a vehicle, asks if she’s seen a golden retriever. She states no. Then, he asks if she would like a flyer. She walks to the back of his car but learns the trunk is empty. Kelsey walks away, but Billy drugs her and puts her into the trunk. Billy returns home and sees Mrs. Bird and Debbie at the front steps. He panics and offers them money to go to dinner. They take it and leave, giving Billy the time to bring Kelsey to the attic. Kelsey awakens to chains around her ankles and wrists. She begs Billy to let her go home. He gives her a choice: to be his wife or die. Can Kelsey escape a deranged madman, or will Billy’s double life crack him?
Billy is an evil, manipulative person. The script quickly and quietly explains Billy’s pathology, with his quips about his mother’s work and the red-pill podcast playing in the background. He didn’t change suddenly. It slowly brewed over time. Bill does everything that will make the audience squirm. The script has Billy talk about Kelsey’s purity, weight, and behavior. You will beg for him to get a Lifetime shovel special. The writers used a lot of foreshadowing, so pay close attention to small, insignificant items. The makeup department did a spectacular job on Kelsey’s look. They gradually applied enough to enhance her suffering. Viewers should read the screen. The length of time for Kelsey’s disappearance flashes across the TV, and it is jaw-dropping. This film will make you sick to your stomach, but it’s worth one viewing.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
I guess things are worse than I thought – Debbie
We can start our lives together – Billy
How do you know my name? – Kelsey
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Bride or Die – Review
Bride or Die – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Allie and her fiancé, Nick, smile as Allie’s father gives a speech during their engagement party. Those smiles change when Nick’s ex-girlfriend, Vanessa, crashes the party. She stammers and accuses Nick of planting drugs in her car. The cops arrested her, and the courts took her child. She speculates that Nick did it to start his relationship with Allie. The police take Vanessa away while Allie tries to focus on her party.
Nick and Allie argue about Allie’s future. Nick works for her father and is making strides in the company. Allie sold her company and refused to work for her father. She discussed attending school but couldn’t decide on a major. She explains her frustrations to Nick, but he hears blame. Nick tells Allie to figure it out and goes to work. Allie’s best friend, Maya, arrives. She planned Allie’s bachelorette party in her family’s summer cabin. She wants Allie to celebrate herself like she does for others. Maya, maid of honor, invited their friends, bridesmaids Steph and Kat, to come. Allie relents.
Allie, Maya, Steph, and Kat eat at a diner before driving to the cabin. They notice Allie staring into the distance, and Maya calls her name. Allie swears she saw someone staring at her, but they weren’t there. The women pack up and drive further down the road. They continue until Kat needs to use the restroom. They pull over, get out, and Allie sneaks away to call Nick. Maya, Steph, and Kat get a notification stating Vanessa is out of jail. Kat and Steph want to tell Allie, but Maya convinces them not to. Finally, they arrive at the cabin and expect to have a fun bachelorette weekend. In the end, one person dies, one gets stabbed, and two will be in handcuffs.
This getaway is the most depressing bachelorette party ever. Allie is a whiny, rich girl who would rather complain than take action. She spends more time dredging up the past, being defensive, and bringing down the vibe. It’s no wonder Kat drank so much. Viewers will discover the shaky foundation of their friendship while nothing happens. This script becomes boring because it spends so much time on them and their issues. Viewers forget the breadcrumbs the writer provided in the first 30 minutes. The women make several poor decisions after the stabbing and break-in. This film will make Lifetimers beg for a dead body. The plot doesn’t get exciting until the last commercial break. This method of taking the long way to the point doesn’t work in a film.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
You couldn’t even dump me like a real man – Vanessa
Isn’t she supposed to be in prison – Allie
Would it kill you to be happy for me for once? – Nick
You think this is a sign you don’t want to be together – Maya
Any wine is better than no wine – Kat
What’d I miss – Steph
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Seduced By Lies – Review
Seduced By Lies – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Terri tours an open house and sparks a conversation with realtor Ann. Ann’s examining the home for her client, but doesn’t believe it’s the right fit. Terri likes the house but doesn’t want to be impulsive. Ann encourages Terri to buy the home before a bidding war starts. Terri takes the leap of faith and enters a bid.
Months later, Terri calls her boss from the back of a rideshare. She quit her job because the boss gave her a promotion to his nephew. She refused to let her company overlook her again. Terri arrives at home, drops her keys, and plops on the bed. She notices someone else’s phone and clothing. Marcus enters with a bat, and Terri screams. He yells at her to get out of his house, and she echoes him. Then, they call the police.
The officer informs them that they are victims of real estate fraud. He gives Terri and Marcus Detective Hewitt’s business card. He is the head of the department responsible for fraud. Hewitt will sort out who owns the home and discover who tricked them. Terri packs her items and leaves to go to a hotel. But the police officer arrests her for credit card fraud.
Detective Hewitt meets Terri in an interrogation room. He shows Terri his evidence, but she states that she is not the woman in the photos. Hewitt believes the real estate con artist and the identity fraudster are the same person. Hewitt warns Terri that this will cause issues until she calls her bank. However, it’s too late. The bank froze her accounts and credit cards. Terri returns home. She enters her driveway, and a driver almost hits her. But Marcus pulls her to safety. He wants to compromise. He will stay in another part of the home, and she can have the bedroom. They will work together to find the realtor who scammed them. Marcus makes himself a worthwhile guest with tremendous cooking and great looks. But is there more to him than meets the eye?
This film is precisely what you would expect, with one twist at the end and a high body count. However, some Lifetimers will anticipate the twist and wait. To those Lifetimers, you are correct. Terri allows nice abs, pretty hair, and a winning smile to cloud her judgment. The script turns her from running a company’s division to being a target of the week. The writers need the viewer to know that anyone can be the victim of a real estate or love scam. The premise is intriguing, but the acting falls short of expectations. They are not believable as a couple or as adversaries. Viewers should watch this when they need to procrastinate.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
I’m sorry if I scared you. – Marcus
I’ll be sure to give you a call if I need my car stolen – Terri
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The Wedding Contest – Review
The Wedding Contest – UPtv – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Wedding planner Taylor is excited because a famous influencer, Cherish, wants to discuss her upcoming nuptials. Taylor and her business partner, Celia, need this business to get a better office space and elevate their status. Taylor brings her portfolio to Cherish’s home early. Cherish has Taylor wait outside while she cares for the home. Taylor starts filming for social media on Cherish’s lawn, and the sprinkler starts, soaking Taylor’s outfit. Taylor hides behind the bushes and sees a car pulling into Cherish’s driveway. She begs the driver, Benedict, for his jacket while explaining her situation. He laughs and decides not to help her because he’s a planner, too.
Cherish’s fiancé, Will, invites Benedict inside, and they discuss Will’s ideas for the wedding. Taylor enters with a green bomber jacket covering her shame. Cherish whispers that she hates Will’s idea of getting married in an old, moldy castle. Will and Cherish explain that they love Benedict’s and Taylor’s work respectfully. However, they can only choose one for the wedding. So, they want the planners to learn more about them and create a design. The best design will win their business. Benedict and Taylor draw their battle lines. Taylor plans to win the wedding, but will she win more?
This film is the comic relief fans look for in a romantic comedy. Benedict and Taylor use every trick in the book without harming each other or their reputations. They use their skills to make bribery treats and obtain platinum passes. It’s a classy fight that fans deserve. Benedict and Taylor’s chemistry exudes off the screen during their adversarial moments. Benedict wants to propose to his girlfriend, Tiggy. However, June Groom fans know that she won’t last. Benedict never cheats and speaks about Tiggy honestly and lovingly. So, Taylor never oversteps, even when she has feelings for him. This writing approach endears the viewer to the relationship while laughing. This movie is the best of the ‘June Grooms’ series because they aren’t pursuing love. They stumble on it with humor and humility.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
I’ll give you $50 for your jacket – Taylor
I don’t know whether to take the money or give you some – Benedict
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To Barcelona, With Love – Review
To Barcelona, With Love – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Anna looks around the bookstore and finds her book in the clearance section. Her manager, Beth, informs Anna that her fans didn’t like the second book, Barcelona, My Love. Fans felt like Anna didn’t know love or Barcelona. And the publishing company may not pick up Anna’s third option. Anna has no idea what to do. Then, Beth gets a call. A bookstore owner in Barcelona asks Anna to do a signing and reading at a festival. Anna agrees.
Erica walks around Barcelona, discovers a person reading Barcelona, Mi Amor, and smiles. She meets with her friend Mateo and gets some bread at his café. Then, Erica runs into her friend, Nico. Nico owns a bookstore and tells Erica that Barcelona, Mi Amor is a bestseller. Everyone loves it. So he called the publisher and asked if the writer could attend Barcelona’s St. Jorgi’s Day festival for a reading and signing. Stunned, Erica tells Nico to cancel, but it’s too late. Then, Nico asks Erica to help Anna get acquainted with Barcelona. Erica accepts. Then, she tells Mateo the truth. She was the translator for the book, and the publisher gave her some liberties. She rewrote the entire translation and never told Anna or the publisher. If she tells Anna she translated the book, it will violate Erica’s NDA and terminate her employment.
When Anna arrives, she assumes that Erica is her assistant. Erica corrects Anna and takes her around the city. But Anna connects to Nico more than Barcelona. Erica tries to persuade Anna to stay on task, but Anna thinks her next book needs her life experience with love. A whirlwind romance with Nico might do the trick. Erica stammers because she’s had a crush on Nico for years. Erica has a handle on her secrets until Nico asks Anna to write a short story exclusively for the festival. Can Erica translate the new story without telling Anna about the rewrite or Nico?
This film is the first of a two-part special. This first film focuses on Erica finding her voice after happily living in the shadows. Anna isn’t the antagonist. She is unaware of Erica’s deception and is a kind foodie. Erica and Anna are two sides of the same coin. They love to write. However, Erica is happy to live her life out of the spotlight, personally and professionally. She must step into it to grasp the life she never knew she desired. This message will speak to Hallmarkies and inspire their wanderlust. The conclusion is predictable, but the storyline is enjoyable. Hopefully, the next film will offer more to the fans.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
You told me to never look at Goodreads – Anna
She just calls me that because I’m blonde – Erica
What do you think will happen? – Nico
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Categories: Alison Sweeney, Ashley Williams, Bride or Die, Christopher Russell, Giles Panton, Girl in the Attic, hallmark, Jean Louisa Kelly, June Grooms, Kara Royster, keenan tracey, Kelley Jakle, Lauren Lee Smith, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Love Sundays, Made for TV, Mark Hapka, Mary Kate Wiles, movie, Nikki McKenzie, Passport to Love, Rachele Schank, review, Ripped From The Headlines, Seduced By Lies, Sophia Carriere, The Wedding Contest, To Barcelona, With Love, tv review, Unhappily Ever After, UPtv
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