Bad Influence

Right, well I have to say that I was a bit reluctant about sitting down to watch the 2022 thriller "Bad Influence". Why? Well, the movie was just having that particular Life Time movie aura to it, and with Jennie Garth at the helm, I just wasn't convinced.

However, I opted to go against that little voice at the back of my mind and actually take the time to sit down and watch what writer Adam Rockoff and director Bill Corcoran had to offer with "Bad Influence". And I am actually glad that I did, because this was a surprisingly good and enjoyable movie.

The storyline was rather nicely written, and it definitely had some appeal to it. I was rather quickly submerged into the storyline, so writer Adam Rockoff did manage to churn out a rather enjoyable and wholesome storyline. It wasn't a massive rollercoaster of a thriller, but it provided me with adequate entertainment.

Now, aside from an adequate storyline and script, what made "Bad Influence" work was the cast ensemble and their acting performances. First of all, I must say that Jennie Garth definitely stepped up and managed to put aside that Kelly Taylor mantle on the shelf, proving to me that there was much more talent to her than just that. But then again, I haven't seen her in anything since the time in "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Melrose Place". But truth be told, it was actress Keyleigh Shikanai that carried the movie phenomenally well with her performance as the somewhat mentally distraught cult leader Violet Lawrence. I was so impressed with her performance in "Bad Influence".

I was genuinely entertained by "Bad Influence" from director Bill Corcoran, and it is a movie that is well-worth taking the time to sit down and watch. However, the contents of the movie is just not strong enough to support more than a single viewing.

My rating of "Bad Influence" lands on a well-deserved six out of ten stars.

I don't know the name of it but the song was so good. Can someone please put the name of the song that the girl was singing? It would be so helpful please.

Blood is thicker than water - is that just a pun/cliche or something that holds true most of the time? When it comes to movies, you should at least expect some cliches of course. Like you get here - but very well played by those involved. Well played as good as one can expect for a movie of this "magnitude".

Take this with a grain of salt, suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the ride if you can. Because this is as predictable as it gets. With over the top twists to add to the flavor. Except maybe the ending - there is something sinister in there ... or maybe not - maybe you feel differently about it, having looked it in the eye (sorry for the pun)

Lily Miller (Devin Cecchetto) is the shy new student at her school. Her single mom Joan Miller (Jennie Garth) is a new professor at the college. Lily is befriended by rebellious cultist students led by Violet Lawrence who may have a questionable code based on a book.

This Lifetime movie is trying to do a teen NXIVM story. It does still have to be a TV movie and can't do a lot of stuff on screen. This can't escape its TV movie nature and feels cheap for it. It is holding back the needed edginess. The TV production is a bit cheap. That's not going to cut it.

The daughter Lily has the most random outbursts and gets mad at the dumbest things. She needs therapy to be honest.

This movie is ok. It's the best and certainly not the worst. You can get through it.