If There Be Thorns

Well what can I say! Once a massive fan of Virginia Andrews writings until she passed away and her team continued to write in her name, the change was so apparent and not up to her standards that I had to stop. As for the movies ( If that's what you call them)the first was utter rubbish, the second was worse and the third appalling. The acting was atrocious. Regretfully wasted a good few hours of my life on what I can only describe as a gigantic pile of cods-wallop!! No Offense meant to all those that loved the movies.

Well what can I say! Once a massive fan of Virginia Andrews writings until she passed away and her team continued to write in her name, the change was so apparent and not up to her standards that I had to stop. As for the movies ( If that's what you call them)the first was utter rubbish, the second was worse and the third appalling. The acting was atrocious. Regretfully wasted a good few hours of my life on what I can only describe as a gigantic pile of cods-wallop!! No Offense meant to all those that loved the movies.

The brother and sister duo locked up in an attic during their "coming of age" returns for a third "Flowers in the Attic" (2014) series movie; having spent their "Petals on the Wind" having sex and coming to terms with their honest, albeit incestuous, relationship. Another set of actors take over the parts, blond doctor Jason Lewis and blonde ballet teacher Rachael Carpani (as Christopher "Chris" and Cathy Dollanganger). It's now the 1980s and, to avoid scandal, the couple have changed their name to "Sheffield" and are raising two sons (hers) aka two nephews (his). The oldest is this film's entry in the crowded "shirtless hunk" character sweepstakes, attractive blond Jedidiah Goodacre (as Jory). His brother is moody, dark-haired pre-teen Mason Cook (as Bart)...

Rough-looking butler Mackenzie Gray (as John Amos) is an asset...

This story, and the next (possibly final) installment, changes focus from Chris and Cathy to their kids. What happens is that the sons' grandmother Heather Graham (as Corrine Foxworth) secretly moves into the mansion next door to her offspring. Like she did in the other movies, Ms. Graham causes trouble. She mainly cozies up with young Cook, who gradually reveals himself to be a chip off the old block. Graham is fine, but should have applied some old age make-up; she looks like she could be playing her daughter. Everyone does well for director Nancy Savoca, but it's Cook as the kid who convincingly carries the story. To improve the story, the Gothic suggestion that young Cook is possessed by evil ancestor Malcolm Foxworth should have been more clearly developed.

***** If There Be Thorns (4/5/15) Nancy Savoca ~ Mason Cook, Heather Graham, Jedidiah Goodacre, Jason Lewis

I enjoyed the movie this movie was much truer to the book than the second installment of the series and because of that redeemed the series because of that. The only aspect of the book that they left out as I recall was getting more in depth about Cathy and Christopher revealing their secret to Jory.

This one was not as strong but still enjoyable as part of the series. I felt like the people who played chris and Cathy did not capture the essence of the previous actors . It honestly felt like a different story at times I had to remind myself there are the Cathy and Chris not some randos

After the disappointing "Petals On the Wind" production, my expectations for this third chapter of the Dollanganger series, were compromised. But the creators of this latest film mostly redeem themselves, with this creepy, slickly produced story about the "seeds of evil," that are being planted inside Cathy's youngest son, Bart Sheffield. This wonderfully Gothic story deals with the systematic corruption of a child, who already has the blood of a fairly ruthless father. The cold and calculating Bart Winslow was a morally corrupt attorney that Cathy seduces away from her selfish, calculating mother, Corrine.

The creepy old woman who moves into the mansion next door to Cathy, her incestuous brother Chris and their two boys, has a dark secret. Behind the lace veil, Corrine Winslow is hiding, and she is planning on making a play at getting her family back. She is particularly interested in young Bart, and she sees him as the "son that should have been hers." And Bart, alone and awkward, is particularly susceptible to the mysterious woman's attentions. Under the tutelage of Corrine, and her sinister butler, John Amos, Bart is taught a fanatical religious ideology. And the love he has for his mother and father is poisoned by them both.

For a story with such dark tones, Lifetime television actually did a nice job. The film succeeds at being atmospheric and downright creepy. Of course all the usual flaws are present, mainly some of the acting being pretty awful at times, and some dialog is awkward and even preposterous. But the entire film rests on the shoulders of the young actor who plays Bart. This kid is really excellent, and he absolutely elevates this movie to a higher level. His acting abilities are so strong that they make the rest of the cast look bad. They all look the part of course; Cathy and Chris are soap opera-perfect blond dolls, and the actor who plays Jory is gorgeous. Purists will complain that Jory's hair isn't black, like that of his father Julian, but it is a minor issue. Disturbing scenes, like the killing of the dog, and the one with Bart and Cindy by the pool, are not shied away from, which makes this one a bit too intense for very young viewers. Of course a series with the subject of incest is not aimed at young audiences anyway.

"If There Be Thorns" is, so far the best film in the series. Of course my opinion might be biased as this was my personal favorite book in the series. It is also one of the best things Lifetime has ever done. At times this has the look of a theatrical production, and not a TV movie. My enthusiasm for the series has been renewed, and I am looking forward to the final installment, "Seeds of Yesterday." I'm hoping it is as Gothic and as evil as this one.