Antagonist Patricia is forward and headstrong, and would seem to dance around her words to find a lie that fits in the moment. The writing is kind of the same, as there's a directness to dialogue, scene writing, and plot development that pairs with tropes and a minor sense of contrived movie magic to tie it all together. These elements are as noteworthy as the minimal prior experience that director Fleming B. Fuller or co-writer April Campbell Jones would seem to have. None of this is any specific indicator of quality, of course, though apart from the previous credits or lack thereof of the filmmakers, I'll also say that much else about this movie makes a particular impression. On the one hand, with heartier violence and more explicit sex this would easily be described as an erotic thriller. On the other hand, with a strong female protagonist, a male lover that jilted her, and an antagonist who is noted as having a history of mental illness, the only thing keeping it from being a Lifetime original movie is that Alexandra Paul isn't given still more time in the spotlight. 'Prey of the chameleon' isn't the most remarkable or essential movie you could watch, but it's still decent and suitably enjoyable.
The writing is imperfect, but the biggest weakness I see is any particular lack of feeling. A thriller should carry tension, suspension, or some baseline level of urgency as the course of events develop. Even at the climax, however, and even through whatever heightened emotions the actors may impart, this feature just doesn't have the same fire. That's not to say that it's altogether humdrum or lacking, but from start to finish it Simply Is, and the ending (including the song over the end credits) comes across as an indifferent resolution to hastily wrap up production. Still, it's well made in a broad sense. It's always nice to see Paul - again, were that she were emphasized still more - and Daphne Zuniga, too. The narrative is complete and engaging, if not especially compelling, and the scene writing ably moves things along. I appreciate the work of the crew behind the scenes, and Fuller's direction is fine. And so on.
Do I sound nonplussed? I suppose that's fair. I liked this well enough - I just don't have any specific feelings about it. Whether good or bad, movies should inspire a reaction, or make us think, and 'Prey of the chameleon' just sort of exists and hangs in the air. Everyone does their job well, and I think this is a fair way to spend 90 minutes on a lazy day. Unless you're a huge fan of Paul or Zuniga, however, there's no one reason to seek this out over other titles. Watch it, enjoy it, move on with your day - there are other critical, must-see flicks to take priority, but this is good enough, too.
