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Surviving My Father: The Rachel Jeffs Story – Review
Surviving My Father: The Rachel Jeffs Story – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Rachel Jeffs sits with her husband, Richard, for the first time. He’s ready to explain how a man and a wife make a baby, but she already knows. This knowledge perplexes Richard because the church bans women from knowing until their wedding day. She knows because she suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her father, Warren Jeffs, for eight years. Richard runs to Warren, and he begs Richard for forgiveness. The two men promise never to speak of this again and shake hands. Rachel thinks her years of abuse are behind her. Now, she can enjoy being Richard’s plural wife and have a family. Warren gave Rachel’s sister, Becky, to be David’s plural wife. Rachel believes she has found the lord’s grace and can live peacefully. Her devotion to the prophet will sink her deeper into the hands of the devil. Can Rachel escape?
Based on the memoir Breaking Free: How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and My Father Warren Jeffs by Rachel Jeffs, this film makes you want to throw your remote at the television (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The costume department carefully studied the women’s clothing. The vanity department gave the actress a signature plain look with big hair. It would be easy to forget this was a recent headline, but the title cards give dates and locations. In a matter of years, Rachel has five children with her husband and deals with his other wives’ jealousy. You will wonder why she doesn’t walk away. Viewers must remember the control these men enforced on the women. They stole their children, individuality, and faith. The actresses will rip your soul apart as they cry and beg for their kids. However, your blood will boil as they blame their sins for the abuse they suffer. This film will evoke every emotion. This movie is a must-watch, but only with a compassionate heart.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars
My father taught me – Rachel
I must be obeyed – Warren
It was worth the slap just to see you stand up to her – Becky
Music heals the soul – Barbara
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While They Were Sleeping – Review
While They Were Sleeping – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Detectives Rachel and Adam arrive at the home of William and Zoe. Zoe called 911. She woke up and found William dead with a gunshot wound to his head. She doesn’t know what happened. Adam doesn’t believe anyone could sleep through a gunshot, but Zoe doesn’t have gunshot residue on her hands. Rachel interviews Zoe and discovers that Zoe is William’s second wife, and they got custody of William’s daughter, Jess, from his first marriage to Robin. Rachel sits with Jess and offers a compassionate ear. Jess remembers hearing the floorboards creak, but didn’t see anyone in the home. Rachel and Adam examine the crime scene. They deduce that the culprit was familiar with the layout and entry points. She questions Zoe about William’s enemies and competitors, but Zoe says William had none. Rachel suggests Zoe and Jess sleep at another location in case the murderer returns.
Rachel enters Robin’s home. Robin tells Rachel she lost her daughter because of her drug addiction after a car accident. On the night of William’s murder, Robin was at a bar with her new boyfriend, Dean. They stayed until the last round, and the bartender, Riley, will corroborate her story. Rachel does suspect that Zoe was a little too familiar with Jess’s track coach, David. Rachel leaves with inuendos, but nothing concrete. Then, she unearths a life insurance policy with Zoe as the beneficiary. Zoe swears she didn’t know about the policy, but her signature is on it. Zoe explains that William signed her name to documents. Rachel doesn’t believe her. She thinks Zoe killed her husband for the insurance. But can she prove it without solid evidence?
This movie starts with an intriguing mystery that’s Dateline-worthy. A woman wakes up next to her dead husband after sleeping through the gunshot. She has no residue on her hands, but the killer knew the home. The writers took a step back and allowed the audience to uncover the culprit with Zoe. She peels the layers of William’s life and discovers the secrets he used to protect her. While the characters turn on her, the audience knows she’s the easy suspect. You will create several suspects and motives. Let’s say that yours is better than the conclusion. You want a new twist or motive, but the conclusion gives you the same outcome. It’s a letdown for a steady climax. Hopefully, this 2025 Shocktober kickoff isn’t a sign of the season to come.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
Why don’t we start from the beginning – Rachel
Are you suggesting I killed him – Robin
I did not kill my husband – Zoe
She’s basically a super mom – David
We’re a team. Team family, remember? – Jess
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Adventures in Love and Birding – Review
Adventures in Love and Birding – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Celeste escapes her nosy co-workers with her best friend Eva. Eva wants Celeste to step out into the world and be more adventurous. Since her divorce, Celeste hasn’t thought about love. However, her co-workers always want to fix her up with their friends or relatives. Eva receives a call that an opportunity has opened up, but she promised her friend, John, that she would help him with his birding competition. She doesn’t want to disappoint John, but she needs to make the most of this opportunity. Then, she gets a bright idea. Celeste will join him and get out in the world. Celeste isn’t sure until Eva lays out what’s at stake. John attended these competitions with his ex-girlfriend, Breena, and they won for three years. Breena cheated on him with her now partner, Lazlo. Celeste understands John’s pain because her ex-husband cheated on her, too. Celeste wants to help. As Celeste asks questions, Eva takes another phone call. Celeste inquires if this is a fake girlfriend setup. Eva replies Yes, but to the person on the phone.
Celeste arrives at the competition first and meets President Linda. She tells Linda that she’s John’s partner, and Breena overhears. She makes a few snide comments before rejoining Lazlo. John greets everyone, and Celeste embraces him with an overly dramatic hug. She tells everyone she’s John’s new girlfriend and partner. John hides his confusion until they are alone. He explains that Eva was only going to be his partner, not a pretend girlfriend. However, they decide to keep up the lie. Also, the competition will last 3 weeks. Celeste assumed it would last one day. However, she agrees to help with any bird-related activities on the weekends. John informs Celeste that he must win this competition to beat his ex-girlfriend and start a bird-watching business. Celeste will use her time to be adventurous in birding. But will she gain a passion for love?
This film has what you would expect from a Hallmark film. You have a competition, two people working together, and a unique hobby. The love story is predictable, but the setup isn’t. The leads understand betrayal and lean on each other to work through their pain. There is a bonus storyline about Celeste and her college-bound daughter, Morgan. This subplot will stun Hallmarkies more than the main one. This film presents bird facts and birding in history and art. However, it doesn’t give the viewers much else. The actors did their best to present compelling characters, but your interest will wane after the 2nd act.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
But your coworkers need to get a life – Morgan
The big dream is to win – John
Just keep walking – Celeste
They need to torch the house so they can leave it – Eva
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Categories: Adventures in Love and Birding, Alicia Leigh Willis, Andrew Walker, Britt Robertson, Dakota Volker, Fall Into Love, hallmark, Kaitlyn Bernard, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Made for TV, Michael Eklund, movie, Rachel Boston, review, Ripped From The Headlines, Shocktober, Surviving My Father: The Rachel Jeffs Story, Taryn Nelson Di Capri, tv review, While They Were Sleeping
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