BORN AND MISSING/BABYNAPPED
(TV Movie 2017)
BASIC PLOT:
After the death of her baby, Kristin Anderson (
Kaitlyn Black) has gone into a postpartum psychosis. Instead of getting her the help she needs, her useless husband has abandoned her. Kristen is often around client's children while working as a decorator. This exposure has only pushed her deeper into madness. When her best friend, Ashley Thompson (
Alexandra Paul) learns she's pregnant, and shares the news with Kristin, it is the final blow to what's left of her sanity. Kristen begins plotting to steal Ashley's baby. Her first step is feigning a pregnancy of her own. No one realizes Kristen is not pregnant, or that she has sinister motives. Will baby Julia end up in the arms of madwoman?
WHAT WORKS:
*70% of the time, men run when things get tough. This is a fact. This makes David's (
Mark Famiglietti) abandonment of Kristen feel believable; it's a plotline that works.
*
Kaitlyn Black's portrayal of the damaged and dangerous Kristin Anderson is well done. She's sympathetic, while also exuding danger, a great performance.
*
Michael Feifer does an above average job writing and directing. The characters are well drawn, and believable; this elevates the movie a step above the standard made-for-tv movie faire.
*The locations are spectacular, and add to the ambience of the movie. The beautiful Arts & Crafts house the Thompson's reside in, and the gorgeous Hawaiian sea side resort Kristen flees to, both add something special to this movie. The location management team deserve a nod for sure.
*The montage using the music of Victoria Rosdahl is hauntingly beautiful, especially since you know Kristen's real motives.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK:
*Jeremy (
Mark Hapka) lives with Kristen, and never realizes she's not pregnant. Kristen accompanies Ashley to all her doctors appointments, but Dr. Taylor (
Betsy Russell), doesn't realize Kristen is not really pregnant either. However, since this has happened in real life, several times, I can't even say this doesn't work.
TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION:
*I would definitely recommend this to fans of made-for-tv movies.
Michael Feifer does an above average job writing and directing, which elevates this above the standard made-for-tv movie faire.
CLOSING NOTES:
*This is a Made-For-TV movie, please keep that in mind before you watch\rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.
*I have no connection to the film, or production in ANY way. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews. Hope I helped you out.
