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Accused: The Karen Read Story – Review
Accused: The Karen Read Story – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Karen Read wakes up in the middle of the night and notices her boyfriend, Officer John, isn’t there. She and John bar-hopped and drove home under the influence. Karen calls him several times, but he doesn’t answer. She reaches out to her father. Karen wants to look for John, but her dad warns her to stay home. Then, she rings her friends, and they search the snowy roads for John. Karen finds John’s body in an embankment covered in snow. She calls 9-1-1 for assistance.
The EMTs put John in an ambulance, but won’t let Karen go with him. They escort her into another ambulance. Nurses take Karen’s blood at the hospital as she begs for an update on John’s status. John’s brother, Paul, barely acknowledges her before exiting. Her father enters with horrible news. John passed away.
Karen returns to John’s home, and his family is in the kitchen. They calmly ask her to pack and leave so they can care for John’s children in their home. Karen angrily packs her bag and leaves with her dad. Later, the police interview Karen. She worries that she is a suspect after they take her car and phone. So, she gets a lawyer. The family has insisted that Karen stay away and won’t let her attend the funeral. Devastated, Karen doesn’t know what’s next. That’s until her lawyer calls. The police believe she backed into John after a fight and left him to die. They won’t let her voluntarily turn herself in to them. They want to make a public arrest. Karen hopes the police will understand that she did not end John’s life, but she doesn’t remember everything that happened because she was intoxicated. They dash her hopes when they change Karen’s charge from manslaughter to 2nd degree murder. Will Karen spend her life in jail?
Inspired by a true story, Karen Read’s arrest exposed the dark side of the Boston Police Department. This film doesn’t take sides. While it’s not a linear story, it showed Karen’s obsessive nature about their relationship. It allows the audience to see Karen’s preoccupation with appearance and media coverage. While this seems self-serving, it works in Karen’s favor. She knows how to play the media and use it to her advantage. This movie also highlights the sexist nature of the police department. They didn’t investigate the crime and took shortcuts. They made a hypothesis and fabricated facts to support their narrative. The trial is over, but the movie lets you decide if Karen was guilty or innocent. That’s what makes it compelling.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
I remember everything – Karen
Best way I know to shut her up – John
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The Pastor Who Preys – Review
The Pastor Who Preys – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Nicole rents a home next to her cousin Amanda for a few weeks. Nicole will release her first fashion line and wants a vacation from the city before the launch. She walks through the home and finds an old love letter with an anonymous signature. She sets it aside and walks to her van. As Nicole unpacks, a couple approaches her. Pastor Caleb and First Lady Jen introduce themselves and welcome Nicole to the neighborhood. They mention that Amanda is a church member. Nicole makes polite conversation and mentions the letter. Jen believes it sadly belongs to the old owner, Phyllis. She was killed six months ago in a robbery. The police don’t have any suspects.
Later, Nicole hears someone rummaging through her home and calls the police. However, no one was there, making Nicole feel silly. Nevertheless, the missing letter solidifies Nicole’s fears. Someone was in her home. As she settles in, Amanda introduces Nicole to the church’s fundraising committee. She meets Caleb’s mother, Hattie, Alex, and Lacey. They all greet her with kindness and jokes. Nicole learns that Caleb will receive a prestigious honor in a few days. So, they must raise the funds.
Nicole answers a knock at her door. Amanda stands before her, with a tear-stained face. She admits to having an affair with Pastor Caleb for months. She went to Caleb for marital advice, and a romance started. She confessed the affair to Tom earlier but kept the name a secret until yesterday. Tom left with no signs of returning. Amanda worries that Tom will tell the church to ruin hers and Caleb’s reputation. Nicole doesn’t judge Amanda’s mistake because Caleb abused his power.
Tom frantically knocks on Nicole’s door. He returned home, and Amanda wasn’t there. He tried to call and text, but didn’t get an answer. Also, her car is in the driveway. He has no idea where she could be. Nicole and Tom look for Amanda. Sadly, they find her body at the river. The police declare her death a homicide. While Detective Chandler sets his sights on Tom, Nicole blames Caleb. Who killed Amanda?
This movie is a stellar mystery with a plethora of drama. The film introduces you to a warm and friendly church atmosphere. However, it doesn’t take long to see something is lurking under the surface. Then, the writer treats the audience to a murder in the first 5 minutes. Later, you get a new murder every 30 minutes. This pacing captures your attention and keeps you on the edge of your seat. During the interrogations, the viewers see flashbacks. It allows you to see how anyone could be the culprit. This movie is a rousing start to the LMN 2026 season.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
I can’t believe it – Phyllis
Never forget how much I love you – Nicole
You promise you won’t judge – Amanda
Not that my mom is at all biased – Caleb
Where have you been, Caleb – Jen
With god’s guidance, nothing is impossible – Hattie
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Mama’s Little Murderer – Review
Mama’s Little Murderer – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Constance returns to her quaint cabin in the woods. She calls out for her son, Anthony, and boyfriend, Leo. She spies a note on the dining room table and reads it. Someone kidnapped Anthony. They warned her not to contact the police and to wait for their call. Constance screams for Leo. Later, Mitch calls. He wants Constance to enter her bank and withdraw $100,000, and they will return Anthony safe and sound. Otherwise, they will kill him. Leo wants to inform law enforcement, but Constance says no. She will do anything for her son. Although Anthony hasn’t been perfect over the last few months, Constance will fight for him. Can she get her son home safely?
This movie isn’t linear. It alternates between today and days ago. This accomplishes two things. It keeps your interest in the film and offers clues about the bigger picture simultaneously. Constance deals with a complex dynamic at home. Her adult son and new boyfriend are competing for ‘man of the house.’ While one plays fair, the other gets their hands dirty. Constance lives in a tug-of-war that will irritate fans while compelling you to watch. As the script reveals the underhanded dealings, you will clutch your pearls and yell at the screen. Also, it will lessen your sympathy for everyone. The film’s only downfall is that there are zero murders – absolutely none. The title is misleading. This movie is entertaining, but it raises your blood pressure.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
Let me take another drink first – Constance
Did you know my mom was keeping you a secret – Anthony
It’s not hard to see – Leo
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Lost in Paradise – Review
Lost in Paradise – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Sophia gently rattles a list of demands for her team as she enters the workplace. She is the CEO of Tierra Fashions and a proud dog mom to Gianni. Sophia hears from her assistant, Miranda, that a major stakeholder, Mario, needs to speak with her immediately. Mario wants to sell his shares of the company to a national chain. Sophia says they will cheapen the brand, but Mario only cares about the bottom line. Sophia wants to meet with investors in Fiji to promote her new spring line. She booked a private jet and will leave in a few hours.
Max shops for ingredients at a local farmers’ market when his friend, pilot Julian, calls him. Julian knows that Max dreams of running a restaurant, but fears of past mistakes hold Max back. Julian met with an investor in Fiji who wants to open a food establishment. However, he’s looking for the right chef with a vision. Julian informed the investor about Max, a sous chef, and got a meeting. However, Max needs to leave now to catch the flight.
Max arrives at the hangar, and Julian hands him a flight attendant uniform. It was the only way Julian could clear Max for the flight. Sophia hired Julian to fly her to Fiji. As they travel with their co-pilot, Lance, Max will serve her and attend to her needs for free travel. Max groans because rich people tend to be difficult. Sophia and Gianni board the flight and relax while Max flaunts his culinary skills. During the flight, Julian warns everyone to take their seat. Hours later, Sophia wakes on a liferaft. The plane crashed, but she, Max, Lance, Julian, and Gianni were marooned on a deserted island. Julian reveals that the crash ruined the transponder, so no one is looking for them. He and Lance will take the raft to a neighboring island and leave Sophia, Max, and Gianni there. While Julian and Lance brave the elements at sea, Max, Sophia, and Gianni must stay alive on the island. Can they return to civilization to save their careers?
This humorous film is charming and refreshing. Sophia and Max don’t turn on each other. Instead, they come together and discover each other’s strengths. This twist makes their love story believable. The writers provided a ‘what can possibly happen next’ vibe to this script. Every time they overcome a hurdle, something more outlandish is around the corner. They deal with sunburn, pirates, and fashion faux pas. The setup is expertly done, the comedic timing is unmatched, and the chemistry is off the charts. This film is the perfect start to Hallmark’s 2026 season.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
You’ll take that as a yes? – Max
Don’t forget to cough when you call in sick to Anton – Julia
So you’re a stowaway – Sophia
For the record, I had nothing to do with this – Lance
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Categories: Accused: The Karen Read Story, Amanda Nicholas, Annette Saunders, Clark Sarullo, Daniel Stine, Deadly Resolutions, hallmark, Ian Harding, Katie Cassidy, lacey chabert, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Lost in Paradise, Made for TV, Mama's Little Murderer, movie, review, Ripped From The Headlines, Sara Canning, The Pastor Who Preys, Trevor Lyons, tv review, Winter Escape
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