Gold Digger Killer

Julie Benz is perfectly cast as the black widow Celeste Beard who marries (for money) a millionaire named Steven Beard a man 39 years older than herself. Celeste brings to the new marriage her twin teenage daughters and quickly goes through Steven Beards fortune spending foolishly and extravagantly.

They remained married for four (4) years until Steven was shot in the stomach in his own bed only to survive for another four (4) months before succumbing to a blood clot and dying. As the investigation into Steven Beard's death is unraveled it becomes quite clear his death was an attempted murder to which one of Celeste's roommates Tracey Tarlton, while both were residing in a mental health facility (Celeste was suffering from depression and suicidal tendencies) admits to shooting Steven Beard as she was madly in love with Celeste.

This made for TV film passes the smell test on the back of the believable acting of Julie Benz who can best be remembered as Rita Morgan the love interest of revenge serial killer Dexter (2006-2010).

Well worth watching. I give it a highly deserving 8 out of 10 IMDB rating.

In Austin, wealthy Steven Beard is shot in his home. Four years earlier, he meets single mom and waitress Celeste (Julie Benz). He would later marry her. She loves spending his money and he showers her with gifts until it goes overboard. He threatens divorce and she threatens suicide. In rehab, she seduces and recruits fellow patient Tracey Tarlton to do a little killing.

This is based on the true crime story of Celeste Beard Johnson. There is a large age difference which isn't here in the movie. Julie Benz is going crazy, but everybody else is totally bland. This is a bland movie-of-the-week. There is no tension. The structure saps away the intensity. They could have spiced it up to fictionalize it as a pulpy lesbian killer thriller. This is nothing.

The casting was WAY OFF. It's incredibly hard to believe the 43 year age gap when the original characters are supposed to be 27 and 70. The waitress was played by someone who is 50 years old and the man is played by someone who 63. They don't look 43 years apart, they look like a perfect couple. Casting was way off.

It's an entertaining low budget movie, but I wouldn't watch it again.

Julie Benz shines as Celeste, a single mom who's a waitress with 2 kids who wants a better life for herself and them. Enter Steve Beard, a millionaire regular at the bar who falls hard for Celeste, ties the knot with her and ends up being shot in his own mansion. Did Celeste kill him? This one is not as predictable as some movies and a supporting Canadian cast makes this one worth a watch. Definitely recommend!!!