The Family That Preys (2008)

Two families from different walks of life learn to work together.

Director:

Tyler Perry

Writer:

Tyler Perry

Stars:

Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard, Sanaa Lathan

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alfre Woodard	...	Alice Pratt
Sanaa Lathan	...	Andrea
Rockmond Dunbar	...	Chris
KaDee Strickland	...	Jillian Cartwright
Cole Hauser	...	William Cartwright
Taraji P. Henson	...	Pam
Robin Givens	...	Abby
Tyler Perry	...	Ben
Kathy Bates	...	Charlotte Cartwright
Sebastian Siegel	...	Nick
Santana Pruitt	...	Christopher
Kaira Akita	...	Robin (as Kaira Whitehead)
Ron Clinton Smith	...	Construction Foreman
Jeffrey Alan Chase	...	Austin
Johnell J. Easter	...	Customer

Storyline

Alice Pratt, a hard working Christian woman, raised her two daughters while managing a simple diner of her own. Her snobbish and arrogant daughter Andrea graduated in Economic Science and works in a construction corporation while her sister Pam stayed with Alice and worked in the diner. Andrea is married to construction worker Chris, who works in the same corporation as his wife but dreams of starting up his own business. However she is being unfaithful to him - with their boss William Cartwright. William is the son of Alice's best friend, the wealthy Charlotte Cartwright. While Alice travels with Charlotte on a road trip, the ambition and infidelity of William triggers a series of events that will affect relationships in both families.

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Plot Keywords:

deception | diner | road trip | infidelity | alzheimer's disease | 

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Taglines:

In every family, there is good. And there is bad....

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, sexual references and brief violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 September 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys

Filming Locations:

4795 Harris trail, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,381,218, 14 September 2008

Gross USA:

$37,019,849

Company Credits

Production Co:

Louisiana Producers Film Source, The Tyler Perry Company

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alfre Woodard & Sanaa Lathan - who played mother & daughter respectively in this film - also played a mom/daughter duo in "Love & Basketball".

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Goofs

In the scene where William breaks up with Andrea, it switches between two different camera shots as they are speaking. In one camera shot, Andrea's hands are on William's shoulders, and in the other, they are not.

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Quotes

Charlotte Cartwright: My family has been known to prey on the weak.

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Connections

References The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986)

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Soundtracks

Down By The Riverside
Arranged by Jay Weigel
Performed by Quartet All-Stars
Published by Melpomene Music (BMI)
Courtesy of Carondelet Music Group

User Reviews

Viewers grounded in the Southern experience will have special insight

I saw this movie last night, and found it entertaining, with great acting, and intriguing twists. Perry's movies get better and better. Most of his early work, I did not take very seriously, and did not pay to see in theaters. I thought "Why Did I Get Married" was his best. The Family That Preys, in my opinion ties with it. I think southerners, with insider's knowledge of complicated relationships between Blacks and Whites, (especially between wealthy Whites and the people who work for them), viewers familiar with Faulkner's work, family stories passed down from generation to generation will walk away with a special, "ah ha" that reminds me of so and so and "miss" so and so...moment.

So often family secrets cross color lines, friendship and loyalty have a unique southern flavor. Proximity to the powerful often holds special dangers and temptations. I think most memorable are the strong women who in their unique southern style, play for keeps while holding their heads up, cursing while wearing hats and gloves, in ladylike form. If you've ever lived in the South, you know what I'm talking about. Southern Belles, matriarchs, supportive wives--who have a manipulative, strategic side--are so often the real backbone of the family.

Am I the only one who noticed (thankfully) the absence of the "N" word, or similarly distasteful references? The audience knew why Alfre Woodard's character said, "He won't marry you", without any reference to race.