I agree with another contributor that it is reminiscent of Secrets in the Mansion but better? In that movie, the protag did some truly stupid things as if she didn't take the danger seriously, but here Jess had a bit more self-preservation and survival instincts. Some things I liked were the general mood of the movie. The former first wife that everyone talks about mysteriously gave the movie a Lifetime-y "Rebecca" feel (except the "First Mrs. Prescott" has a face). It also reminded me of the VC Andrews movies which I contribute to the cinematography. The location was beautiful, which also gave it a Manderley-esque vibe. I loved the outside shots and the long winding roads. The only thing that sort of confused me was the anachronisms. Simon, the husband, seemed stuck in the 40s style-wise, so it kept throwing me off. Then of course the vintage cars, phones, etc. A few times, it wasn't clear whether it was a period piece. It wasn't ultimately distracting but it did have me curious.
I liked the set up of the beginning with Simon and Jess getting to know each other prior to their engagement. Sometimes Lifetime does not adequately show developing couples, so it was nice that they fleshed them out a bit. I saw that the leads only have a few credits, but I think they carried the movie pretty well. There were a few times I was genuinely on edge for Jess. I absolutely agree about the music and this is a common complaint from myself and others. I always joke that the loud music is like a cast member. They could do better with this. After all, the violins in Psycho weren't screeching the entire time.
The plot was decent and easy to follow. Nothing overly complicated. The villain (or villains? I won't tell) was not my first guess, so the movie kept me wondering until the reveal. I think the movie gave options for whodunit which helped the suspense throughout. I believed their motivation (not justified, but I understood it), so that's always a plus.
I'd say this is one of the good premieres this year, along with: Sex, Lies, and Murder...My Husband's Killer Girlfriend, The Perfect Wedding, and A Professor's Vengeance.
I liked the set up of the beginning with Simon and Jess getting to know each other prior to their engagement. Sometimes Lifetime does not adequately show developing couples, so it was nice that they fleshed them out a bit. I saw that the leads only have a few credits, but I think they carried the movie pretty well. There were a few times I was genuinely on edge for Jess. I absolutely agree about the music and this is a common complaint from myself and others. I always joke that the loud music is like a cast member. They could do better with this. After all, the violins in Psycho weren't screeching the entire time.
The plot was decent and easy to follow. Nothing overly complicated. The villain (or villains? I won't tell) was not my first guess, so the movie kept me wondering until the reveal. I think the movie gave options for whodunit which helped the suspense throughout. I believed their motivation (not justified, but I understood it), so that's always a plus.
I'd say this is one of the good premieres this year, along with: Sex, Lies, and Murder...My Husband's Killer Girlfriend, The Perfect Wedding, and A Professor's Vengeance.