Murder in the Dark – Review

Murder in the Dark – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Detective Guy takes his friend, Detective Cedric, to a trendy restaurant called the Blind Spot for his birthday. Its employees have low or no vision, and guests eat in the dark. Their waitress, Ash, introduces herself, informs them of their phone policy, and escorts them to their table. After dinner, Guy notices that Cedric is attracted to Ash as they leave the restaurant. A drunken Cedric re-enters the establishment and makes a failed attempt to flirt with Ash. Sadly, he gets sick on her shoes.

After work, Ash walks home and realizes she left her house keys at the restaurant. She returns and feels for them. She trips over something and touches the ground. Soon, she discovers she tripped over Chef André’s feet. She hears heavy boots leave the establishment while she calls the police. Guy and Cedric arrive at the scene. Ash gives them all the information she has, thanks to her other senses. As Cedric and Guy investigate, the killer stalks Ash. Soon, the detectives fear she is the intended victim. Can Ash survive a killer she can’t see?

This film highlights the capabilities and challenges of people with low vision. The sound editor zoomed in on the sounds Ash wanted to capture. It allows viewers to focus on what they hear rather than what they see. The script carefully weaves in the political issues Ash faces with employment, earnings, and government assistance. It’s an eye-opening moment that doesn’t take away from the film. Ash isn’t a damsel in distress but a capable woman who fights for respect. Even if she must throw coffee at a cop. This film is informative, and the twist is different but expected.

I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars

Do you run this place the way Jo ran her salon – Cedric

Patience is a virtue, detective – Guy

You didn’t hear his allyship panic spiral – Ash

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The Guest Who Wouldn’t Leave – Review

The Guest Who Wouldn’t Leave – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Widower Tom needs to make some extra cash to buy a compressor for his bar. He put his guest house on a short-term rental website and got his first booking. Elise arrives, and Tom introduces her to his daughter, Cora. He gives her a tour of the guest home. Later, Tom invites her to dinner, when she requests takeout menus. When Elise shows up at his bar, Tom’s accommodating. She gets to know him and his daughter well. Tom’s sister, Louise, warns Tom that Elise is getting too close. If he’s not careful, he could ruin his chances to get back together with his ex-girlfriend, Audrey. Tom assures Louise that he has everything under control. However, Elise is completely in love with him and will destroy everyone in her way. Will Tom be able to get her out of his guest house and his life?

This film has the old-school Lifetime action with a new-school premise. Tom falls for the latest con: extended stay scams. The client gets the owner to rent another day without the platform. If the person stays for more than 30 days, they become a resident of the home (depending on your state), and you have to follow the eviction process. Tom falls prey because he has more heart than sense. The script doesn’t explain Elise’s erratic behavior until the wrap-up. Viewers don’t have to wait long for her descent into madness. Elise is crazy from the beginning. The body count is zero, and the final fight scene is hilarious, but the pacing is perfect. This movie is a decent way to spend two hours, but it shouldn’t take up space on your DVR.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars

Never underestimate the power of a woman – Elise

What happened to that picture – Cora

Your wish is my command – Tom

Can I get back to you on that – Audrey

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Ten Thousand Reasons for Revenge – Review

Ten Thousand Reasons for Revenge – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Anna got into the college of her dreams, but she knows her mother, Laura, doesn’t have the money to pay for it. Laura plans on getting a loan to finance it, while Anna considers attending community college with her boyfriend, Max. Laura goes to the bank, applies for the loan, and arrives at work. She cares for her patients, but Calvin is her favorite. Moments after Laura left the bank, a masked man entered and robbed the establishment. The security guard shot him during his exit, but the robber got away.

Anna pulls over after, finding a van on the side of the road. She looks inside and finds the robber, dead from a gunshot wound. She calls 911 for help, and the town labels her a hero. Later, she calls Max to admit she did something wrong. She takes him to the woods and pulls out a hidden bag. Before EMTs arrived, Anna took some of the stolen loot. She stole enough to pay for her 1st semester: $10,000. She’s unsure what to do with the money, and her guilt is growing.

Later, Anna admits to her mom that she stole the money. Laura calls Detective Wilkes, the officer in charge of the robbery case, and he arrives at her home to retrieve the funds. Laura breathes a sigh of relief. She takes responsibility for Anna’s actions and offers to suffer the consequences. Wilkes smiles and says it’s a down payment for her freedom. He wants all of Laura’s money to replace what his partner lost in the heist. Also, he believes Anna let the robber die to steal the cash. Wilkes will put them both in jail if Laura doesn’t pay on time. Can Laura find a way out of this madman’s clutches?

This film’s premise speaks to your morals. The writers offered a dilemma that may not be a problem for the viewer. They won’t care if they stole money from a criminal because they didn’t earn it. Others may consider the funds a finder’s fee. Also, Laura messes around with Wilkes’s demands for too long. She is a single mother, working 2 jobs to make ends meet, and isn’t receiving child support. Laura can’t afford to replace her car. Wilkes’s demands just seem far-fetched. The writer tries to establish a strong bond to drive Wilkes’s blackmail, but it’s unbelievable. The film’s plot will make you yell at the screen. However, it’s funny and poses a moral question. This movie can be entertaining when you watch it with an open mind.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars

Why can’t you just be a dad – Anna

You stole stolen money – Max

Well, I told you everything was going to work out – Laura

Blackmailers don’t go away easily – Calvin

I always liked this house – Wilkes

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A Little Park Music – Review

A Little Park Music – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

City Manager Allie greets the townspeople on her way to work. She walks past the gazebo in the town square and puts out signage for the VanWilkinson Memorial Fountain. Julia, the local antique shop owner, stops Allie to ask for an update about her paint approval. Allie informs Julia that it was approved. Julia tells her grandson, Freddie, that there is too much red tape in City Hall. Officer Ryan stops Allie while she’s crossing the street and gives her a ticket for jaywalking. She can’t believe he gave her a ticket because she works for City Hall. Allie’s boss, Mayor Hope, enters Allie’s office to check the progress for the memorial. Allie assures hope that all the paperwork is complete and they will break ground tomorrow. Allie walks past the gazebo on her way home. To her surprise, there’s a piano. She decides to file a police report because it could be stolen. Tomorrow, she will call movers to get rid of it.

Sergeant Beth patrols with Ryan. It’s his first week on the job, but she knows this is a transition for him. He interviewed for a job in Seattle but failed on a community question. So he applied to a job in Springville. He plans to interview for the Seattle job again after working in Springville, developing his sense of community. Beth’s willing to help but doesn’t intend to impart all her wisdom to someone who will leave. However, she tells him to relax and connect to the people before doling out the law. Beth gets a call from Allie and puts Ryan on the case.

Allie sighs when she sees Ryan coming after their first encounter. He fills out a report about the piano before the movers take it away. She plans on breaking ground tomorrow. However, people in the town enjoy having it there. Allie sees their disappointment, but they need to construct the fountain to receive much-needed funding from the VanWilkinsons. Allie and Ryan walk past the gazebo in the morning. They stand in awe when they spot a new piano in the gazebo. Allie must find the culprit before they hinder her construction project. She and Ryan will work together to unmask the town’s prankster. Will their collaboration reveal more?

This adorable movie is worthy of the Hallmark Mystery Network. The writer has Allie and Ryan follow proper investigative procedures to find the culprit. They question the townspeople, look for camera footage, and go on a stakeout. It allows the leads to delve into each other’s lives, allowing them to know each other and grow as individuals. This plot differs because Allie and Ryan are both by-the-book people. She enforces City Hall orders, and he follows the law. However, they both tell the other to loosen the reins. The townspeople are the shining gems of this film. They may not have much screen time, but they carry the film with in-depth character backstories and vibrant personalities. This film is a compelling comfort that’s fun to solve.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

All I said was good morning – Ally

Wow, that’s efficient – Ryan

Slow down once in a while. That’s when you find real connection – Julia

Maybe let the hare win this one – Beth

Music isn’t really my thing – Sam

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