SECRETS OF MY STEPDAUGHTER/A MURDERER UPSTAIRS (2017 TV Movie)
*WARNING: ANIMAL ABUSE/DEATH AS A PLOT DEVICE (see below)
BASIC PLOT:
The Kent family has recently taken on Rachel, the 17-year-old stepdaughter, from the husband's first marriage. Greg Kent has (
Cameron Bancroft) never spent much time with Rachel, (
Tiera Skovbye) she's a virtual stranger, but she's moving in with his current wife, Cindy, (
Josie Davis) and younger daughter, Addy (
Ali Skovbye). What could possibly go wrong?
Rachel works at a clothing boutique with her friend, Leslie (
Maddy Hillis). When neither girl checks in all night, Cindy uses 'find my phone' and discovers both girls still at the boutique. Leslie is dead, and Rachel is bound, with minor injuries. Det. Pam Cherfils (
Lucia Walters) is called in to investigate the murder, but soon realizes there's something about Rachel's story that doesn't quite add up. Will Cindy realize danger lurks within her family, in time to save them from it?
WHAT WORKS:
*There are two types of movies on Lifetime. This is the second type, MELODRAMA. According to dictionary. C o m, the definition of melodrama is "a dramatic form that does not observe the laws of cause and effect and that exaggerates emotion and emphasizes plot or action at the expense of characterization."
In other words, this is a PERFECT MELODRAMA. The characters are not so well defined, but their motives are. If you watch this movie with that in mind, you'll like it a whole lot more. You're not supposed to take the over-the-top motives too seriously, it's pure silly entertainment. STOP LOOKING FOR EMMYS FROM LIFETIME MOVIES!
Also,
Josie Davis is a master at the art of melodrama, there's none better.
*Greg Kent (
Cameron Bancroft) tells his wife Cindy, Rachel is NOT seeing a psychiatrist. He dismisses Cindy's concerns out of hand, running roughshod over her feelings about the matter. The next day, he gets the girls a dog, without asking Cindy first. So often men act, without thinking, (even good men) indirectly injuring their partners. This is a believable storyline.
*
Tiera Skovbye does a great job of portraying Rachel Kent, a total sociopath. Her depiction of practicing emotions in the mirror, delivering evil smirks, and in general 'pretending' to be a human being with feelings, is done very well.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK:
*I hate movies that use the word sis. No one who has a sister calls them sis, myself included. Even though these girls are sisters in real life, I GUARANTEE they don't call each other "sis".
*Det. Cherfils questions Rachel after her arrest. It is illegal to question minors without a parent present. Rachel asks for a lawyer, and the Detective continues to question her. This would taint the whole case, and anything she did say, would be thrown out.
TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION:
*IF you can understand the art form that is melodrama, and you like that type of entertainment, you'll like this. If you are looking for lots of believable characters and motives in your TV movies, then give this a pass.
CLOSING NOTES:
*I don't believe in trigger warnings, I think WOKE is a virus. BUT, I also don't agree with supporting movies that use animal abuse/murder as a plot point, to show a character is evil. It is lazy writing, and in most cases should be quashed. This movie does use a dog's murder as a plot device, be warned.
*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.
