Mystery Woman: Vision of a Murder (2005) (TV)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Kellie Martin

Writers:

Michael Sloan (creator)
Joyce Burditt (written by)

Release Date:

5 June 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery

Cast

Kellie Martin	...	Samantha
Clarence Williams III	...	Philby
Nina Siemaszko	...	Cassie
Casey Sander	...	Chief Connors
Charles Shaughnessy	...	Dr. Drummonds
Felicia Day	...	Emily
Ylfa Edelstein	...	Kayla
Tess Drake	...	Becky
Lisa Dean Ryan	...	Kate
Allison Smith	...	Debbie
Bess Meyer	...	Alice
Bellamy Young	...	Tina
Christopher Cousins	...	Adam
Mark Harelik	...	George
Claire Malis	...	Mrs. Lowell (as Claire Malis Callaway)

Runtime:

120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Netherlands:MG6

Company:

Hallmark Entertainment

Goofs:

Errors in geography: In the film they are investigating the bad guys banking accounts and Swiss numbered accounts, then they are showing a bank statement from the Bank of Stockholm. Stockholm is of course the capital of Sweden not Switzerland.

Movie Connections:

Follows Mystery Woman: Sing Me a Murder (2005) (TV)

fun lady detective, with books

Actress Kellie Martin makes her TV directorial debut on this fun detective series, after the 2004 short film Frenching. I hadn't noticed this series before, not being a big Hallmark Channel watcher, but I was intrigued by the book angle. The Mystery Woman series is part of revolving trio of detectives shows that fill a two hour time slot. I haven't seen any of the others, but I think two hours is a great time period, lots of room for stuff to happen, room to flesh out the story. I enjoyed the fun interplay between the main group of characters, played by Kellie Martin, Nina Siemaszko, Casey Sander, and Clarence Williams III. In Vision of Murder Kellie and Nina visit a spa so Kellie, who's also a photographer, can take pictures for their new brochure. At least these writers know it's really hard to make a living from just selling books. These are all good actors, and everyone does a good job bringing their characters to life. Nothing new or strikingly original about the show, it kind of reminded me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, without the fighting or monsters, and if Buffy was about 30. In a bookstore rather than a library, Kelly spearheads the chase, Clarence does the research, Assistant DA Nina is the law-talking' gal, with Casey as the cynical chief of police. Puzzles to solve, lots of computer work,and lots and lots of talking but not much action, get the bad guy caught, after a smidge of suspense. There is some book talk, Clarence telling a possibly psychic woman about some fictional psychic detectives. It's nice to encourage book reading. Watch a movie, read a book, that's my motto, and this low throttle thriller has people talking about books, so what's not to like. A good solid piece of entertainment, nicely directed.