Blackwater Lane

I HIGHLY suggest you read the book 'The Breakdown' by B. A. Paris. This movie was made off of that book. And when I say the book is SO SO SO much better, it truly is!

I'm so disappointed in this film. It left so many things out that made you wonder where the heck they came up with some things. So many holes in the plot!

I was so excited to see that this book was made into a film bc B. A. Paris is my favorite author. Now I'm just embarrassed for her at what they did to her incredible book. I couldn't put her book down. This film...? I was bored and disappointed. PLEASE read her book instead of watching this film!!! You won't be disappointed!!

It's not a spoiler, I'm just doing you are favor, it's not horror, there's nothing scary, there are no jump scares or idiotic CGI.

It's a mystery movie and it could be suspenseful, but not the white knuckles type. More like the brainy kind.

At one point it seems like a Scooby Doo episode but longer, way longer and not as silly.

It's not convoluted or twisted as the Agatha Christie novels and if you are into this genre you might even guess the end.

I gave it a 7 because it is intriguing and entertaining, beautiful to look at, and well acted... although I would go easier on the forehead Botox (sometimes I couldn't figure out if she was laughing or crying).

This is a standard plotted movie following in the steps of Gaslight, Rebecca, Suspicion, etc., but it doesn't reach the heights of these films. It stays very mediocre, running through the standard steps of this type of story. And thus somewhat flat

Minka Kelly does well in the lead role playing through the standard tropes and plot twists as she keeps her character well entrenched. The others are, unfortunately, given little to do with their one dimensional characters other than to act according to what the plot demands of them. So there's not much here to watch.

And that's the major fault of the film: nothing new or exciting happens. It's produces well. But this doesn't come together for much of anything. And that's a shame.

I'll start by saying I am not a fan of ridiculous Hallmark movies that are silly because they are so unrealistic and the dialogue and acting are reminiscent of day time soaps. The gazes off in the distance, the awkward almost kisses and a LOT of whisper talking.

There's a lot of that in this movie. The main character is written like the typical helpless Hallmark woman. Who is so hurt and weak but also strong and smart but you don't really know that until the end. Is that suppose to be comforting? No, don't worry, she's not as annoying as you think!

I have to say though that the story of is she actually experiencing a mental health crisis or is it ghosts or something else is very compelling and the only reason I watched it until the end. And just like a soap opera, you've got the main character narrating what happened at the end just in case you didn't understand what you just saw. Ugh.

This is a prime example of why women need to be written better in Hollywood. Thank you Geena Davis for doing all you are. We deserve better.

When will I learn? Just seeing the words Grindstone Entertainment on screen tells you. That you're in for B movie at best. In this case, it's more like a C- movie. Minka Kelly, Maggie Grace, and Dermot Mulroney are wasted in what amounts to a really slow and lame ripoff of Gaslight and countless other psychological thrillers. Giant old creepy house? Check. History of mental illness? Check. Lots of easy to see through red herrings? CHECK! If not for the recognizable names in the cast, this could be a Lifetime Movie Network original, and that's using the word "original" very loosely. Nothing to see here.