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Behind Closed Doors – Review
Behind Closed Doors – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Morgan jogs with her daughter, Lizzy, before preparing her son, Cody, for his field trip. She calls her husband, Kevin, to coordinate the evening. He warns her he will be a little late, but he will be home in time to spend time with the family. Morgan drives Cody to his meeting location and notices several police officers, emergency vehicles, and reporters outside the mall parking garage. When they return home, she prepares dinner while listening to the latest news report. An unknown assailant killed someone in the parking garage, and they are on the loose. The police ask people to remain vigilant. She ignores the report and focuses on her meal. Morgan tells Lizzy to get Cody. Then, Morgan hears Lizzy scream. She sees a man, Grant, standing in her kitchen. Morgan offers him money, but he’s not here for that. He ties up the family and waits for Kevin to come home.
Kevin arrives with a jovial attitude until he sees Grant sitting at the kitchen table with his family. He warns Kevin not to try anything. Grant hid Cody in a secret location and will kill him if Morgan and her family don’t comply with his demands. Morgan grasps that Grant is the parking garage murderer. She promises to do anything Grant asks to protect her family. Grant says he will leave once his associate contacts him for a handoff. Kevin doesn’t believe him and wants to fight. Grant reminds Kevin that he is in charge and kills to prove it. Morgan begs Kevin to follow her lead and try to understand Grant’s side. Can Morgan save her family from a madman?
This film has some tense moments throughout the plot. Morgan and Kevin must live their lives without alerting neighbors, co-workers, and family. Morgan attends a party, talks to the police, and converses with neighbors while in captivity. It mentions Lima Syndrome without describing it, but this movie perfectly depicts it. The writer considered today’s technology when creating the plot. Grant is tech-savvy and commandeers their phones. This story drags because Lifetimers know there is an underlying motive. However, the plot keeps you on the hook until the very end. Some will see it coming while others want more. Either way, you will watch from start to finish. This film is shocking and entertaining, but the pacing is slow.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
Maybe it’s that guy from the parking lot – Kevin
What I want doesn’t matter right now – Grant
Can I get a blanket to put on her – Morgan
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A House Built on Lies – Review
A House Built on Lies – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Daisy and her best friend, Louise, visit Daisy’s new home. She and her husband, Chris, will move in once he’s done with the renovations. Daisy finds Chris in the attic, and they kiss. She questions why Chris’s best friend, Zack, isn’t helping. Chris says they got into an argument, but doesn’t go into specifics. He warns her that it will take more time to finish since he is working alone. Daisy and Louise return to Louise’s home. They can’t believe how far they have come in life. They were raised in a neglectful foster home. Their foster mother was a monster. Now, both women are successful and happy.
Daisy and Louise wake to a police officer knocking on the door. The officer expresses his condolences because Chris fell out of the 2nd-story window and died. Daisy collapses to the ground and enters premature labor. Hours later, Daisy wakes with nurse Tyra by her bedside. Tyra explains that they had to perform an emergency C-section to save her baby. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy but became infected. She must remain on antibiotics and pain medication for months. Daisy gets better and chooses to move into Zack’s home with her newborn baby. He is happy to have them. After a few days, the police question Daisy. They believe Chris’s fall wasn’t an accident; someone pushed him. The police discovered that someone had taken $100,000 from his bank account. Daisy admits that she found out about the money recently but hasn’t seen it. The officer lets Daisy know she is their prime suspect. Can Daisy clear her name?
This movie takes the long way to the point. It drops breadcrumbs to other suspects, but experienced Lifetime viewers will figure it out after the first commercial break. However, the plot, the murder, and the deception don’t grab or hold your attention. The twist isn’t surprising, the motive is obvious, the pacing was slow, and the editing was too dark. This movie is better for white noise.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
Chris, I can’t do this on my own – Daisy
It’s you – Chris
I swear I didn’t relapse – Zack
Just ignore her, D – Louise
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Murder at the Merriweather – Review
Murder at the Merriweather – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Sophie and Rena arrive at the Merriweather Hotel to start their workday. They greet the maid, Dasha, and their boss, Alec. They like Dasha, but Rena doesn’t like how handsy Alec gets with Sophie. Chef Phil overhears Rena and Sophie making plans for the future. They plan to move to LA to support Rena’s singing career while Sophie takes journalism classes. He wishes them the best of luck. Sophie checks the guest list, and they can’t believe their former friend, Kelly, will wed Rena’s ex-boyfriend, Sam. Sam arrives first with his brother, best man Jasper, and they check into their room. Sam pulls Rena aside and apologizes for the past, while Dr. Joseph checks in. Sam invites them to his bachelor party that evening. Rena convinces Sophie to attend.
Sophie wakes up in the hallway with a horrible hangover. She stumbles to her room when Joseph sees a cut on her arm. He bandages up the wound while questioning her about missing items. She offers to help, but he blames her. Then, they hear a commotion outside. Sophie staggers to the front entrance and sees a crowd gathered around Rena’s dead body. Sophie stifles her tears and runs away. She can’t remember what happened that night. Alec gives Sophie the day off. When she returns to work, the police assessment stuns her. They labeled Rena’s death a suicide, but Sophie won’t accept it. Sophie confronts Sheriff West about his conclusion, but he won’t budge. She returns to work and checks in the bride-to-be, Kelly, and Sam and Jasper’s mother, Tamara. Sophie attempts to maintain her professional composure, but Kelly pulls her aside. Sophie confesses that she believes someone killed Rena and the police are covering it up. Kelly offers to help, but will she continue when the evidence points to Sam?
This film has a small cast of characters for a mystery, but the plot uses that to its advantage. The character development is more in-depth and offers a richer plotline. Every character has a motive and poor behavior, which makes the audience suspicious of them. Viewers must watch the first 20 minutes to understand the character build-ups, backstories, and plot points that will return later. The body count is low, but this movie is entertaining.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
You know that you let him do it – Rena
Welcome to the Merriweather – Sophie
Where do you think you are going? – Alec
You don’t want a health code violation, do you – Joseph
And good morning to you – Phil
I missed you guys – Kelly
Who do I have to kill to get another drink around here – Jasper
Oh, my heart is broken – Dasha
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To Philly with Love – Review
To Philly with Love – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Emily returned to her hometown to help her mother clean out her grandmother’s house before selling it. She admires her grandmother’s items and reminisces with her mom. Emily answers a knock at the door, and it’s Nancy. Nancy is a member of the Daughters of Liberty and friends with Emily’s grandmother, Beverly. Nancy states that the Daughters of Liberty are at risk of losing their non-profit status in two weeks. They need something to prove their worth in society. Nancy hands Emily letters and Beverly’s rough draft. Beverly believed her letters were linked to important people in the American Revolutionary War. Emily reluctantly offers to help by finishing her grandmother’s research.
Emily arrives at the National Archives at Philadelphia to examine their records. However, she accidentally sets off the alarm. Nate deactivates it and questions her presence in the stacks. She explains why she’s there, and he offers to look at her letters. He is wowed by their contents and adds a layer of protection before putting them in a sleeve. He asks her to leave the letters with him for further examination, but Emily politely declines. Nate gives Emily his business card and offers to help her if she needs it. After Emily leaves, Nate hears his boss, Richard, enter the building. Richard wants an exhibit to wow the guests and donors. He wants it to be interactive and bring a newfound respect for their work. Nate hides his panic with a smile and awkwardly accepts. Then, he remembers Emily. He can research her letters and add them to the exhibit. Her new documents can give a new perspective on history. Can he get Emily to work together while falling for her?
This movie brings a dash of American history to its plot. It discusses the making of America, the Declaration of Independence, and Betsy Ross. However, the plot isn’t straightforward because the letters use a code and have a poetic flair. The added mystery gives the movie a National Treasure feel (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The leads aren’t aware of their budding romance, as are those around them. Their friends and family see the sparks and push them together. They fall in love reading the romance between the correspondents. The film is an easy love story with mystique.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
Can I ask why you’re trying to break into the archives – Nate
You’re very witty for an archivist – Emily
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Categories: A House Built On Lies, Behind Closed Doors, Dennis Andres, Diana Salvatore, Haley Lohrli, hallmark, Home is Where the Harm Is, Jennifer Pudavick, Kimberly-Sue Murray, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Made for TV, Margo Parker, movie, Murder at the Merriweather, Nancy Harding, Rebecca Dalton, review, Spring into Love, Stephen Huszar, Taylor Anne Danehower, To Philly with Love, tv review
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