Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Key to the Castle – Review

Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Key to the Castle – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Gethsemane sees smoke bellowing from the Dorian Castle. She calls the fire department before entering. Gethsemane enters but can’t find the source. The director, Roj, yells cut because Gethsemane ruined their shot. Roj is shooting a paranormal show, Before and Afterlife, hosted by ex-spouses Kent and Ciara. Roj asks Zak to turn off the smoke machine, while Gethsemane apologizes for interrupting the shoot and calling the fire department. Ciara pulls Gethsemane aside because the local pub owner, Siobhan, told Ciara about Gethsemane solving Eamon’s murder with supernatural messages. Gethsemane chuckles and says Siobhan is mistaken. Ciara understands Gethsemane’s apprehension. She offers to give Gethsemane a tour of the castle and brunch. They will only do an interview if Gethsemane is comfortable. Gethsemane agrees.

Gethsemane goes to the local pub and approaches Siobhan. She apologizes for contacting Ciara, but she loves the show and the controversy. Paranormal investigator Ciara worked with medium Ed James. Ed and Ciara were in talks with networks to develop a show together. During a public reading, Ciara’s then-husband, Kent, exposed Ed for wearing an earpiece and hiding spies in the crowd. Ed lost his credibility, and Kent took over the show. The exposé ruined Ed’s career and marriage. His wife died shortly after. Ciara couldn’t look at Kent the same. She divorced him shortly after, but now they still work together to create the show. Then, Gethsemane hears yelling in the corner. She sees Roj rip a betting slip in half before exiting the bar.

Gethsemane arrives at the castle. She cautiously approaches Ciara, having a heated exchange with the cinematographer, Eliza. Ciara warns Eliza not to get too close to Kent. Ciara tells Gethsemane they will get brunch after they wrap the next scene. Kent introduces himself to Gethsemane. He heard about her abilities but doesn’t believe in the paranormal. He walks Gethsemane around the set and introduces her to his crew. Hardy is the sound guy; Zak is Roj’s assistant; this is his first job, and Eliza is Kent’s protege. He asks a staff member to get Gethsemane some coffee, but the staff member ignores him. Soon, they hear a scream. Gethsemane and Kent follow the sound, and they can’t believe their eyes. Kent’s dead body is on the floor. Eamon appears to help Kent get through the initial shock. When the inspector labels Kent’s death a murder, Gethsemane and Eamon are on the case. Can they find Kent’s killer before someone else on the set dies?

Inspired by Gethsemane Brown Mysteries by Alexia Gordon, the third installment in this series has Gethsemane hiding her abilities around eagle-eyed guests (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The script has Gethsemane and Eamon working together and simultaneously. Eamon will lead the charge and enter a room to report back to Gethsemane. He reads things she can’t see and collects clues without prompting. They become a team. Eamon also helps Kent cope with being a ghost. His statement about a person’s last moments could bring ease to audience members. The plot adds to Gethsemane’s love triangle, but the mystery is more compelling than the scandal. The mystery has several suspects with different motives. And the castle setting adds a layer of intrigue. It’s wonderful to see the crew working with a practical set. While this movie builds on the relationship between Gethsemane, Eamon, and the afterlife, the love story falls flat.

I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars

I’m very sorry for calling them – Gethsemane

You still love me – Siobhan

It’s the warm welcome that keeps you coming back – Eamon

It gets chaotic – Kira

Not one ghost but there never is – Kent

I have a network to answer to – Roj

If I’d known that was the last time I’d see him, I would have said more – Eliza

I’m a detective, I detect – Inspector O’Reilly

For your own safety, don’t make me be a bad one – Ed

I’ll track them down – Zak

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When I Say I Do – Review

When I Say I Do – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes

K-9 handler Ali listened to Clint and Lisa’s radio show while driving down the road. She almost hits a car in the middle of the road while tending to her dog, Grover. Ali pulls alongside the car and asks the driver, Shawn, if he’s lost. She can tell by his uniform that he’s a first responder like her. He says he’s not lost, but his GPS is out. She laughs, teases him, and tells him to follow her. They arrive at the search-and-rescue headquarters. Two hikers are missing, and police fear they are in danger. Ali and Grover find clues along the way and locate the hikers at the bottom of a cliff. One is hurt. Ali radios her location to the team. Shawn and his friend, rescue specialist Brett, arrive. Brett prepares the ropes for Shawn to rappel to the hikers. Shawn tries to get Ali’s name, but she refuses to give it to him.

After a successful rescue, Ali sees Shawn at the bar. He sits next to her, and they have a friendly chat. He tries to pay for her meal, but she says no. He takes it as a rejection. However, Brett tells Shawn to be more direct. Unsure of what to do, Shawn calls into the Clint and Lisa Show. He admits that he ended his engagement out of fear because he didn’t like the person he was becoming. It haunts him that he never apologized to his ex-fiancée. They agree with Brett and tell him to ask Ali out, but to ask his ex for forgiveness first. It will help him close the door on his past so he can look to the future.

Shawn asks Ali on a date, and to his surprise, she says yes. During their meal, she admits that she doesn’t date co-workers. Her husband, Kent, died on duty, and it broke her heart. She still hasn’t grieved his loss properly because she focuses on her children, Ben and Olivia. However, they decide to throw caution to the wind and begin their relationship. But will their relationship survive their fears?

Inspired by Clint and Lisa’s song, When I Say I Do, this movie follows a couple through the ups and downs of a relationship (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The plot doesn’t end with the standard kiss. The writers introduced action and life-altering events to heighten the film’s suspense. The leads have relationship issues to overcome, allowing them both to grow as individuals and a couple. This movie isn’t the archetype of romance storytelling. It’s funny, heartbreaking, and captivating. The only issue with this film is that the lovers fall in love too fast. A title card with a timelapse would be more helpful to make the love believable. Lifetimers should save this movie for a night in with heart-pounding romance.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

Okay, we don’t need to visualize that – Lisa

Follow me, rookie – Ali

Are you seriously not going to tell me your name – Shawn

You like her – Brett

Mostly real, Lisa’s more real than me – Clint

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