Fatal Defense

I've never seen a Lifetime Chanel film before, but I've heard them mocked as poorly made thrillers typical featuring women in peril. That pretty much sums "Fatal Defense." I'd set a series recording on my DVR to record anything that Sherilyn Fenn is in and this made-for-cable film showed up, so I gave it a watch. Fenn wasn't the main character. That would be a pretty blond haired single mom, Ashley Scott ("Into the Blue" and "Jericho"), who signs up for a self defense class and is charmed by the handsome instructor. But guess what? He's a psycho and goal all Fatal Attraction on her. Fenn has a supporting role as a police detective trying to help Scott. Ridiculous dialogue, poorly constructed suspense, laughable action sequences, and general incredulity abound. One star for Fenn and Scott, who are better than this dreck.

What were the producers of this extended music video thinking? The not particularly good music was incessantly oppressive from start to finish; 86 minutes of continuous acoustic assault. For the first time that I can recollect, I was actually looking forward to the commercial breaks, as they provided some much needed respite.

It wasn't even background noise, and while it never quite overwhelmed the actors' delivery of their respective lines, it was certainly a significant distraction. Then again, given the poor quality of the script, and indeed the entire screenplay, maybe this was deliberate.

The only redeeming quality, it makes one appreciate the beauty of silence.

The writer Steven Palmer Peterson should never write again. This was a ree Todd did movie. Just mind boggling stupid. Idiot you buy a gun when you're a single female, you don't take martial arts lmfao. Sheridan Fenn now looks like Diane Feinstein. That's depressing. What happened to Ashley Scott beautiful body ie Walking Tall days with the Dumb as a Rock dude. That was depressing too. If anyone paid for this movie, you should sue for your money back. I will be a witness for you.

The most painful movie for the eyes and ears. Such a disappointing movie that is terribly written, terrible acting and the most stupid and annoying thing you will ever watch. Just not worth watching at all

Stalker time again on the MyTime channel, as single mother Scott discovers she's the target of a twisted psychopath putting both her life and that of her young daughter in peril.

Scott has a physically demanding role but it's Sherilyn Fenn we've all come to see, here playing a hard-nosed, tea-drinking detective who gives Scott the initial idea to learn self defence as a means of regaining her composure and confidence following a violent home invasion.

Reasonably taut, formula-fed plot does best in anticipation of the action, those scenes awkwardly staged invariably looking stilted and crude even by telemovie standards. The performances are varied with the principal cast mostly consistent, although the same can't be said for many of the background characters who appear wooden and amateurish.

Average telemovie offers nothing new in terms of plot, although it's good to see former diva Fenn and Scott in dominant roles (Fortier completes the triple threat as Scott's no-nonsense detective sister) with no male hero to fall back on. This aspect at the very least should appeal to some viewers.