You Belong to Me

My wife and I are suckers for a good true-crime, thriller & or "who-done-it", so when she picked this from Amazon Prime for us to watch, I was game.

As much as we love a good crime drama, I quickly realized that this was nothing like a good crime drama.

The acting and directing was awkward and cheesy. It was like watching an 80s episode of Murder She Wrote.

I'm not a particular fan of the way these Mary Higgins Clark adaptations are handled by Grosso-Jacobson, but I love a mystery and I love Lesley-Anne Down, so I checked out this one. She's gorgeous as usual, no surprise there. The lovely Lori Haller, who has done so much television in Canada, was on hand too.

Down plays a radio psychiatrist who becomes involved with trying to find out what happened to a young woman some years earlier, in trying to help the mother comes to terms with it. In reaching out to her viewers, a pattern emerges, and soon, it's realized that a serial killer was meeting women on cruises and killing them.

I did figure out the killer - for some reason, though these TV movies give you plenty of suspects, they have a way of telegraphing the killer to the viewer.

Okay movie.

I saw this movie last night for Lesley Anne Down and it's surprised me that it's very enjoyable. Lesley proofs that she can more than playing Madeline in North & South. It's also surprised me that this tv-movie had some suspense in it, I didn't know who the killer was until the end and that was very surprising

Dr Susan (Lesley Anne Down) is a practicing psychologist who also hosts a radio program. Naturally, the talk show tries to help listeners with personal problems. One day, Dr Susie hosts an author who has written a book on women who disappear. Also a doctor, this man talks of lonely women who are vulnerable to preying gentlemen. As a part of the show, a lady calls in and relates a story from a cruise she took. Separated from her husband at the time, "Karen" says a handsome man romanced her at various departure stops along the cruise and gave her a ring inscribed with the words YOU BELONG TO ME. In secret, she was supposed to leave the cruise and meet him in Algiers. However, her husband called and begged her to return. So Karen never went to Algiers. BUT, Dr Susan is also counseling a mother whose daughter disappeared from a cruise and who received the same ring, found with her luggage. Wow! Could Karen meet the Dr and bring the ring? She tries, but is pushed into traffic, envelope snatched from her hands, and is in a coma. More witnesses bring more death. Dr Susan works hard with Detective Tom to find the killer. Among the suspects are the author, the grieving mother's lawyer and the husband of Karen. Meanwhile, a rich philanthropist takes an interest in beautiful Susan. Will they find the evil man? This strong film version of Clark's great novel has great suspense, fine performances and lovely scenery. Best of all is Down who is enchanting as the leading lady. You belong in front of the screen so arrange to view this fine mystery flick fans!

This was a great mystery and crime film to watch. I definitely recommend anyone who's a fan of this genre or, if you just fancy watching something different to your usual material you won't be disappointed.

The choice of Lesley Anne Down as the leading lady was an exceptional choice. The acting by herself and the rest of the cast was fantastic and created a more believable atmosphere for the movie which, lacks in other movies/films I've seen recently.

The main plot of the film was interesting as well. The combination of an engaging plot and well acted scenes certainly kept me engaged and, wanting to finished the film to see who the killer really is.