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Killer Clown – Review
Killer Clown – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Elizabeth enjoys the carnival with her husband, Dan. They enter a funhouse that leads to a maze. Elizabeth tells Dan to cover his eyes while she runs and hides. She sprints through the maze until she sees a clown and screams. Dan runs to her rescue while the clown apologizes. Dan takes her home and tries to ease her mind. But the stress causes Elizabeth to miscarry. Thirty years ago, someone dressed as a clown killed her mother, Samantha, in front of her. The case was never solved. The sight of a clown triggers this memory.
Elizabeth meets with her father, Reed, and stepmother, Ana. Elizabeth questions them about her mother and the case. The detective, now sheriff, Bob, worked the case, and Reed hasn’t heard from Samantha’s sister, Helen, for years. He informs Elizabeth that he has a box of her mother’s things in the basement. Elizabeth finds the box and sifts through the items. Reed joins her and reminisces. Samantha worked as his accountant before Ana. He jokes that Samantha was far better with numbers than Ana. Elizabeth returns home with Dan and finds a woman, Jessica, standing at her front door. Jessica is a podcaster, investigating Samantha’s murder on its anniversary. She badgers Elizabeth for an interview, and Dan chases her away.
Later, Dan worries about Elizabeth and offers to stay home. But she tells him to leave for work. During the evening, she sees a clown standing outside. She grabs a weapon and walks towards the clown. A balloon pops and splatters fake blood on Elizabeth. She runs into the house and calls the police. Bob shows up with his team, but there is nothing they can do. Bob questions if Elizabeth is seeing things. Dan interjects because the fake blood is proof that something happened. Elizabeth demands her mother’s case files, but Bob says no because it’s an open case. As the clown sightings get worse, Elizabeth’s grip on reality fades. But she won’t let that stop her. Elizabeth will uncover what happened to her mother and who did it.
This thriller mystery has a great pace, creepy clowns, and unhinged characters. The plot builds suspense by adding characters who add layers to Samantha and Elizabeth. For example, Helen hears voices. So, Elizabeth fears she’s having the same problems. She doubts her sanity and fears she’s inventing the clown. You may miss the second clue until you see the clown’s feet. It will jog your memory to a 5-second plot point. The tension ramps up with each clown sighting. Each visit gets scarier and too close for comfort. Viewers will beg for Elizabeth to fight. However, her trauma causes her to freeze. Also, these moments happen when she’s alone. It makes the audience question her too. And the final twists will leave you with a satisfied smile. It’s the extra boost the story needed to change it from okay to great. This movie is a fun, creepy mystery if you can stomach clowns.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
I’m a mom – Samantha
So, where should I start – Elizabeth
No chance to redeem myself – Dan
I am so sorry that happened – Ana
I still blame myself – Reed
Those files are off limits to you – Bob
Be better, Helen – Helen
Wow, what took you so long? – Jessica
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The Twin Who Lived – Review
The Twin Who Lived – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Teacher Claire is ready to prepare for her wedding now that school is winding down. She and her fiancé, Mark, have ideas but haven’t set a date. They haven’t even had a chance to think about their honeymoon. Claire returns home and relaxes with Mark. She hears a knock at the door and finds a package containing a stuffed monkey. However, there are no other markings on the package. As Mark packs for a business trip, Claire gets a call from her mother, Helen. Claire’s grandmother, Irene, had an accident and is in the hospital. Claire and Mark run to the hospital to meet Helen and Ron. However, it’s too late. Irene died.
Claire and Mark have Irene’s memorial service at their home. Claire’s friend, Julie, stops by to pay her respects. Mark answers a knock at the door and sees flowers. He assumes it’s from Mr. Fenwick. However, Mr. Fenwick says it’s not from him and that someone’s car is blocking his driveway. Mark apologizes and brings the package inside. Days later, Irene’s stuff arrives on Claire’s doorstep. She opens the box and finds a picture of herself inside that shocks her. The picture has another little girl who looks exactly like her. On the back, someone wrote ‘Claire and Anna: Age 3.’ Later, Claire confronts Helen about the image. She admits that Claire had a twin who died. Claire had a difficult time coping. So they moved away, removed all Anna’s pictures, and stopped talking about her. After years, Claire forgot about Anna. So they never spoke about her again. Claire accepts this answer until more gifts arrive, and she loses her grip on reality. Claire must unpack the truth before she loses her mind.
This suspense thriller relies heavily on Claire’s investigation into her past, with roadblocks from her family, the gift giver, and herself. The pacing is slow because Claire constantly changes her stance on her family and friends. Lifetimers will make up their minds about the culprit by the first commercial break. However, this pacing is so sluggish you won’t care about proving yourself right. And the storyline isn’t enough to hold your attention. Even the final fight doesn’t resonate. The film doesn’t have a twist because the title gives everything away. While the story doesn’t have plot holes, it doesn’t have much of a plot either.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
I’m happy here. Really – Claire
It has a nice irritating ring to it – Mark
We were going to tell you some day – Ron
You look like you could use some sleep – Julie
Why would you do that ?- Helen
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What She Didn’t Tell Me – Review
What She Didn’t Tell Me – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Laura questions why her daughter, Maisie, didn’t try out for the volleyball team since they moved to Cedarville. Maisie doesn’t want to play since her dad died. Laura hides her family photo before going to work at the pharmacy. At the drugstore, Laura helps patients and customers. She assists Ethan in finding headache relief and fills out Ruby’s prescription. During the day, Dr. Walter enters and asks for a refill. Laura rejects it because the doctor with that number and address retired. So the insurance company won’t accept it. Dr. Walter demands that she fill it now or she will face the same fate as the last pharmacist, Monica. Dr. Walter leaves without his prescription. Laura asks her assistant Kate what happened to Monica. Kate says Monica disappeared without explanation. And no one knows where she is now.
Maisie walks home from school when a girl named Lizzie recognizes her from class. She invites Maisie to a party, but Maisie’s unsure if she can go. Later, Lizzie arrives at Maisie’s home and won’t take no for an answer. Maisie admits she’s had a difficult time relating to people since losing her dad. Lizzie feels the same since her mom died. She gives Maisie a pill to help her relax. When Maisie questions its content, Lizzie assures her it’s anti-anxiety medication. They attend the party, but a fellow partygoer warns Maisie about Lizzie. Before he can explain why, they hear screaming. Maisie walks to the sounds, and Lizzie bumps into her. Lizzie wants to leave, but Maisie finds the young man, seizing on the ground. Officer Samantha Townsend arrives and collects the kids’ statements. Laura arrives to collect Maisie. Before Laura takes her daughter home, Samantha wants to know what the substance near the boy could be. Laura gives her a few options and offers to look into it. Samantha alerts Laura that Cedarville has a rapid drug problem. Some of the citizens believe Laura’s the cause. Laura vows to help Samantha. Laura doesn’t want to lose her job and freedom to town gossip. Can she succeed when the problem hits close to home?
This film takes a moment to hook you into the plot. You won’t know the issue until the overdose. Then, Laura becomes suspect number one. The plot has three distinct storylines to keep the pace going until the end. They affect each other and merge at the conclusion. This movie focused more on location than on backing tracks to convey a sense of sneakiness and danger. The performances weren’t over the top and didn’t distract from the story. Lifetimers will have a suspect in mind until the arrest happens. That will prove them wrong. But this arrest only covers one of the storylines. The other two wrap up the twist that proves Lifetimers right. This film isn’t memorable, but it’s compelling.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
Why is everyone in this town so obsessed with each other – Maisie
I have my ways – Lizzie
Did you take something – Laura
Don’t mess with me – Walter
What are you doing here – Ethan
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Love Under The Mistletoe – Review
Love Under The Mistletoe – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Grace and Olivia walk to their office. They started a design firm and compete for contracts across the city. Their rival got the Christmas decorating contract with Ivy Glen. Nevertheless, the contractor looks to them for assistance. Grace’s brother, Jack, assures Grace and his wife, Olivia, that they will get the contract next year.
Ryan gets a call from Mayor Sami. The Christmas festival isn’t generating donations as it did in previous years. Sami’s confident that reviving the Ribbons and Bows fundraiser will generate newfound interest. Ryan’s unsure because the fundraiser usually happens at his grandmother’s residence. Although he’s kept it over the years, he hasn’t returned since her passing. Ryan says he will think about it because he planned to travel to his old hometown to sell it. However, he’s still unsure about the fundraiser because that was his grandmother’s project.
Ryan comes to town and bumps into Grace, fixing decorations. They dated in the past, but their relationship ended when he went to college. They converse before parting ways. Ryan arrives at his grandmother’s home and greets his friend, Quinn. Quinn works as a real estate developer and has his eye on the property. He wants to tear it down and build luxury condos. It will bring in new residents and an influx of new business. Ryan assures Quinn that he will contact Quinn if he wants to sell.
Mayor Sami visits Grace and Olivia’s workplace. The entire town knows Ryan and Grace have a crush on each other. She asks Grace to meet with Ryan and convince him to host the fundraiser. It will help the city consider their firm to decorate the town next year. Grace agrees to do it if Sami makes them the top contender for the contract. Sami agrees and leaves. Then, Grace follows to find Ryan. Olivia pulls Jack aside, and he knows she’s up to something. She thinks Ryan and Grace belong together. Their paths never crossed at the right moment. However, they are both single. So she wants to manufacture it with Operation Mistletoe. She will hang up mistletoe all over town to encourage a kiss. They will fall in love and live happily ever after. Will it work, or will the sale and Grace’s past with Quinn derail Olivia’s plans?
This movie has the perfect holiday feeling with festivals, fundraisers, and decorations everywhere while giving it a small-town vibe. The script laughs at itself by manufacturing the magic as Olivia puts mistletoe in every corner of the town. The wide shots of snow are CGI, but the street-level snow looks real. The plot leans into the tropes with holiday names, meet-cutes, and the evil developer. Viewers know how this love story will end, but the competing storylines make it interesting. Olivia, Grace, and Ryan have separate schemes going that wonderfully collide. The final twist develops carefully with the love story. It doesn’t come out of nowhere or feel disjointed. The leads find love, but you never doubted it. Hallmarkies will be more worried about the festival than their romance. This holiday romance found the right place with the 2026 Christmas in July programming.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
Sorry, Madame Mayor – Ryan
Have your people call my people – Grace
She’s a grown adult – Jack
I have an idea – Olivia
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Categories: Christmas in July, David Cubitt, Eden Cupid, Ellie O'Brien, Genelle Williams, hallmark, Hamza Haq, Jen Lilley, Johnny Ramey, Killer Clown, Kimberly-Sue Murray, Kolton Stewart, Kristina Clifford, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Love Under The Mistletoe, Made for TV, movie, nick bateman, review, Sara Paxton, Sizzling Summer Nights, The Twin Who Lived, tv review, What She Didn't Tell Me
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