Movie Review - A Murderer Upstairs

A Murderer Upstairs

AKA:  My Stepdaughter's Secret

2017

The Cast

Family secrets and turmoil are always good plot points for a thriller as is the case with this story and film.  After being left on her own by her mother, Rachel Kent (Skovbye), is taken in by her father, Greg (Bancroft), and his wife,  Cindy (Davis).  She quickly ingratiates herself into the family and everything is good.  However, when the store she is working is broken into and her friend is murdered, while she is left tied to a table, the police don't believe that the crime is as black and white as it appears.

It's the titles of the movie which are the drawback as they reveal a major plot twist.  This is a shame as the writer does try to keep a mystery, at least for a little while, as to who the criminal is.  Though there should be a spoiler alert on the titles it only deters from the integrity of the film a tad.  Where it's strength comes from is the story and the characterisations.  There are some really dark moments, though because of it being a TV movie these are depicted in a lighter shade.  I really liked the moment that Cindy Kent tracks down Rachel's mother.  This is when she learns of her past and along with the portrayal of Rachel's mom this scene left me chilly.

The director, Garrard, does a good job of keeping the pace of the story trotting along while building tension and atmosphere at all the right places.  Though the rest of the directing techniques are basic, some differing camera angles and such wouldn't have gone amiss. While the actors and actresses, for the most part, do more than an agreeable job with their portrayals.  However, sometimes, Tiera Skovbye, slips in and out of the maple, oak and sycamore style of acting.  Unfortunately, most of these moments come in key scenes so they're more noticeable.

These are only minor issues so I would gladly recommend this to all armchair detectives, mystery lovers, and thriller fans, as I found this to be an enjoyable and entertaining film.  Not a bad way to pass a snowy afternoon.

I give this stepdaughter a secret 6 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - The Perfect Assistant

The Perfect Assistant

AKA:  The Perfect Secretary

AKA:  Secretary 2

2008

The Cast

Be aware you have to stay with this film for it to gell together correctly.  At the start of the movie, my finger was hovering over the off button for at least the first twenty minutes.  I was close to the pressing point.  But something in my mind stopped me from depressing the button.

The story starts out with David Prescott's (Potter) wife Carol (Marcil) being rushed to the hospital.   David contacts his personal assistant, Rachel (Davis), to bring her up to speed and to cancel and rearrange meetings until his wife is better.  However, Rachel isn't as stable as she appears.  She sees David as one of the good men and is truly upset to hear about his wife.  She asks how their daughter, Isabelle (Szalankiewicz) is coping.  From here on in we get to see her slowly immerse herself into the Prescott's life and family as her delusion grows.  It's this growth and the path it leads her down that makes this movie watchable.  It gives the story twists and turns that show the workings of a broken mind.  Her morals lose ground as her infatuation and obsession grow... how far will she go in what she believes to be true love?

I believe that had this been given to a stronger cast and director it would have been a fantastic thought-provoking and chilling film.  However, what we get is an entertaining and easily watchable afternoon TV movie.

Though the direction is pretty standard for this style of flick more powerful atmosphere and tension were called for to add strength to the project.  For me, the worst thing about the film was the acting.  Especially from Josie Davis who is a little too over the top with her characterisation - less definitely would have been more.   However, it's not a constant thing as there are times when she's spot on with her portrayal.  Then there's Deborah Pollitt as Nora... okay, so I actually know people like this so she conveys a realistic character, however, with Josie Davis' performance it makes Pollitt's idiosyncrasies more than a little irritating.  One annoying character per film is enough.

Since this film surprised me I would recommend it to all psychological thriller fans, though you have to stay with it for the full effect - it's a potboiler.

I give this a psychologically sound average of 5.75 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Carolina Moon

Carolina Moon

2007

Production Companies:  Mandalay Television, Stephanie Germain Productions, ARD Degeto Film, Tandem Communications, & Alberta Film Entertainment.

This film is based on the Nora Roberts novel of the same name.  I have to confess that I do have a soft spot for her TV movie adaptations, I particularly liked Midnight Bayou, Tribute, and Northern Lights.  If you've seen any of these then you roughly know what to expect.

In Carolina Moon Stephen Tolkin tells the story of Victoria Bodeen and her psychic ability of second sight.  When Victoria "Tory" Bodeen was young her life was a mixture of good and bad.  The good was her best friend Hope and the adventures they had in the local woods.  The bad was her religious zealot of a father, who saw Tory's psychic gift as a curse.  One that needed beating out of her.  One nighttime, Tory was meant to meet Hope in the woods, hough her father had whipped her so bad that she failed to make their rendezvous.  Suddenly her gift kicks in and she has to watch helplessly as her best friend is killed.  Worse yet, it's through the eyes of the killer.  Her father moves the family away a few weeks later and Tory leaves them as soon as she can.  Eighteen years later and she's returned to her hometown to try and find peace from the ghosts and memories that have plagued her.  It's not long before Tory is having visions of other murdered girls... do these have something to do with Hope's murder?  Is her killer still out there?  Are they still active?

Tolkin does a splendid job of casting suspicion onto just about everybody in this film and that is where its strength lies.  I had a good idea of who did it, and I was correct, though I was thrown off the trail more than once by other possibilities.  As for the direction, Tolin doesn't do pretty or interesting, though there were plenty of opportunities to enthral us.  However, he stays to the standard point-and-shoot style of most TV movies.  Sometimes it's nice to have a sweeping shot or an interesting angle.  The pace of the film is in keeping with the style; generally, the film has a steady and even pace.  Tolkin does speed it up a little to create a little tension near the climax of the film when the killer is revealed.  More suspension and tension wouldn't have gone amiss with the psychic visions and the daughter and father scenes - this would have shown her distrust and terror of the man.

For the most part, the acting is above average and though I do like Claire Forlani her fake southern accent does start to irritate, though her acting is on par.  It's Oliver Hudson who could win the Redwood prize in this film as there are more than a few scenes where his acting is wooden.  It's Jacqueline Bisset, Shaun Johnston, and Josie Davis who are the strongest and most believable in their characters which make this movie stronger.  In fact, Johnston as the Bible Bashing and Daughter whipping father is so realistic and believable I wanted to hit him myself.

I would recommend this to everyone as it's a good film about youth, friendship, overcoming loss, and rebuilding relationships.  All of that tied up in a whodunnit murder mystery with a paranormal twist.  I did enjoy the film though I'm not sure I would purposefully watch it again... but who can say, it does have Claire Forlani in it...