User reviews

I stumbled upon this quite by accident - awake early one morning, flipping through TV channels and I happened to find this at the opening credits. I didn't know any of the cast, and the title (the one I saw in the listings when I checked it out was "Maternal Obsession,") seemed a bit unimaginative, perhaps giving too much away. But I decided to watch it - aside from news, what else is there at 6 in the morning? It was a pleasant surprise. Don't get me wrong. It's not a masterpiece, but it's not bad. It does rankle me by hitting on my pet peeve - a Canadian movie that has to try to pretend to be anything but Canadian by being set in the United States (in this case, Philadelphia) - but still, it's not bad. Yeah, the title gives it away. It's about an obsessed mom trying too hard (WAY too hard!) to control the life of her only daughter and prevent her from growing up and moving on. The whole "control freak" concept is a bit cliché and maybe overdone in movies, but the lack of originality is made up for by pretty decent performances by the two leads.

Gwyneth Walsh was actually pretty impressive as the obsessed, unbalanced and mentally ill mom, who simply can't bear to let her daughter have any sort of life, going to extremes when necessary to break up her daughter's friendships and relationships, trying to isolate her and prevent her from ever leaving home. She captured the essential creepiness of the character well. Nicholle Tom was also pretty good as her daughter Lily, controlled by her mom's manipulations and guilt-trips, gradually becoming more and more aware of just how truly disturbed the woman is.

This is moderately suspenseful, although the ending struck me as a little bit of an anti-climax. Given how these types of movies always develop, there's a sense of nervousness about poor Binky (Lily's little dog) right from the beginning of the movie that really does manage to heighten the suspense! All things considered, it's not that bad. (6/10)

The leggy eldest daughter on "The Nanny," Nicholle Tom, is all grown up now and "Her Only Child" in this 2008 film also starring Cameron Daddo and Gwynyth Walsh. Tom plays Lily Stanler, unlucky in love, who lives with her suffocating wreck of a mother (Walsh) who is terrified of bugs and of her daughter leaving her. She's the type of mom who makes cookies when her daughter is on a diet and wants to see a movie on Saturday night when she knows her daughter has a date that evening. When Lily meets the handsome Larry (Daddo), mom has a knife injury requiring stitches in the middle of one date, and during Lily's romantic weekend with Larry, her dog gets into the garbage back home and is possibly poisoned (I was nervous about Binky all during the movie). Add to that the fact that Lily's past relationships have ended somewhat suddenly, Mom always being there to pick up the pieces takes on new meaning - mom's the one creating the breakage to begin with. Does Lily need a sledgehammer over her head before she figures this out? Or does Binky or her new beau have to die before she gets a clue? Tune in and find out! Walsh is so obviously a whacko that it's impossible to believe her daughter would think she was even semi-normal. Still you can't help but feel sorry for the manipulated Lily character - the beautiful Tom has a sweet presence, and you just want to throttle her to get a life. Daddo, of "F/X" fame is hunky as ever.

Very ordinary, very typical Lifetime movie. Lifetime rotates the same three or four plots and changes the cast - and we keep watching. Now who's crazy?

This is the usual made for TV staple about a mother who fears being left alone if her daughter leaves. She does everything in her power to scupper her daughters love life to stop this happening.

The plot is simple and as in most of these kind of movies you can guess what is going to happen. However that doesn't stop this being an enjoyable if undemanding film to watch. I thought all the actors did a good job even if the mother played by Gwynyth Walsh was a little bit too obviously insane. Nicholle Tom is charming and believable as the daughter.

Although predictable Maternal Obsession holds your attention and it made me want to find out how it would end. The ending is maybe a bit of a let down but for fans of TV movies this is worth watching, although if you expect too much you will be disappointed.

About: an over obsessive mom is very clingy and controlling over her hot daughter. Will she continue to sabotage her life?

Story: Mellow

Production: Vibrant

Highlight: The Worthless Mutt getting poisoned.

Main intelligence: 5

Unworthiness Level: 1

Moral Code: 9

Worthless Mutt Alert: Yes

Should you watch this? Yes. This movie explores spells like mental illness. When an individual is incompetent or lacks treatment/support, mental illness can be lethal to those around an individual.

The writers explored the subject very well without it becoming a horror movie. A grounded movie that was absolutely enjoyable.

You may be able to relate to this movie somehow, either you had or have mental illness or you may know someone else who had a spell that caused problems for those around them.

I suffered from the disease of social anxiety, and I didn't let it overrule me. I was competent, and I treated myself to overcome the disease of Social Anxiety. With people in general, they lack the intelligence, will power, and competence to beat their issues.

Also known as 'Material Obsession', this made-for-T. V. Lifetime premiere drama about a young career woman who lives with her heavily overbearing mother manages to evoke hints of suspense without becoming too creepy or violent. Be warned though that the acting by the woman who plays the mother is not gonna win any Oscars.