This is an old story and it would not matter if you showed it to every high school in America, it never stops. Life is so cheap in the old US of A and this story reinforces that. What kind of young woman does not know when she is being pimped out? When she doesnt want to see what is in front of her. Very sad that it still goes on and it will go on forever unless they educate people. Not every one is nice. It was well done and acted very well but if anything the violence was underplayed and the manipulation very underplayed.
8 Reviews
When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story is a good movie if you look at it from the stand point of it being a hood TV movie. Beyond that though...
Amari-Sali9 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Summary
Falicia (Niatia Kirkland) was just a young girl in the ATL trying to make some extra cash. However, while stripping to make money she got caught up in the game. The attention from men led her into their bed and got her pregnant by one and eventually pimped out by another. A man named Big Dino (Lance Gross). Someone who exploits this girl from a slightly dysfunctional home and pushes her past her limits. Eventually leading to her becoming the man she once loved, came to fear, and found herself trying to do anything for so that he'd love her the way she loves him.
Highlights
Another Notch in Niatia Kirkland's Belt
After her surprising turn in CrazySexyCool, it was hard to know whether that was just a fluke, an easy role to get into because she rapped, or what? However, as Falicia, arguably Kirkland proves that she isn't one note. Though, I must admit, because expectations were low that might have been why I felt so blown out of the park.
Criticism
The Story Seems Like It Would Have Gotten Its Due Better With a Documentary
When it comes to retellings of anyone s life, there are only a few takeaways. Either A) you are left feeling like you learned enough of the subject to leave it alone, B) you are given just enough to entice you to learn more on your own or C) You wonder why they didn't just make a documentary? In the case of When Love Kills, arguably they should have just made a documentary.
For while I get having semi-famous people playing roles brings more notoriety than perhaps director Tasha Smith just providing narration, it is hard to feel like Falaicia's life just wasn't done justice. Be it how being raised by someone like her momma contributed to her decisions, the psychological games Dino played, or us just understanding what kept her coming back. Which assumingly was because Dino was one of her first loves, but that is something you could more understand from experience, or other productions, than this one.
On The Fence
Lance Gross
After Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, I must admit I was expecting more out of Gross. There was this expectation for him to match Kirkland or at least be the sort of lead she plays off of. However, what we end up getting is him sort of dragging her down a bit. Now, understanding he is playing a real person, meaning he can't craft someone you love to hate, I get he couldn't make Dino into one real charismatic character. However, he doesn't really make him into a hateful bastard either.
Not to say he doesn't do horrible things to her, but he doesn't bring his game to the level of us thinking, "This was so good they should have released this in theaters!" Rather, he brings an almost soap opera kind of performance to this. Making it feel sort of corny, like he is just mimicking those who did it better, and yet is failing to truly capture the spirit of those past iterations of guys like Dino.
Tami Roman
At the heart of Falicia's issues, you'll find her mother. Someone who is good for a one liner or smart mouth, but basically Falicia narrates everything we'd truly need to know about Stacey. That is, the stuff which helps you understand how a woman like Falicia comes to be due to her upbringing by her mom.
As for Roman specifically? Honestly, she is barely given enough material to make any real judgment. A part of me wants to say, similar to Mo'Nique in Precious, in not Kim Wayans in Pariah, she could very well be a comedian who can do a dramatic role and be believable. However, at the end of the day, Stacey's presence was to help illustrate how young Falicia is and give you a glimpse into the woman who is the reason why her life went down the road it did.
Overall: Negative (Skip It)
As good as Kirkland was, I got to admit it is only because the bar was set so low. However, I do feel if you have any sort of standard or aren't someone who just supports Black films because you want to see more of them, you may not want to waste your time on this. For while the movie isn't horrible, it basically is a hood Lifetime movie. One which has dramatic moments and violence, but it doesn't necessarily make you feel anything.
You don't get this feeling of shock, you don't really get feelings of empathy, you just recognize Falicia Blakely had a messed up life. One which you can contribute to a whole bunch of factors which this movie doesn't dive deep enough into. If only because it seems more about what can be sensationalized and made into memes and twitter hashtags than really allowing these performers to act and take you on a journey.
Falicia (Niatia Kirkland) was just a young girl in the ATL trying to make some extra cash. However, while stripping to make money she got caught up in the game. The attention from men led her into their bed and got her pregnant by one and eventually pimped out by another. A man named Big Dino (Lance Gross). Someone who exploits this girl from a slightly dysfunctional home and pushes her past her limits. Eventually leading to her becoming the man she once loved, came to fear, and found herself trying to do anything for so that he'd love her the way she loves him.
Highlights
Another Notch in Niatia Kirkland's Belt
After her surprising turn in CrazySexyCool, it was hard to know whether that was just a fluke, an easy role to get into because she rapped, or what? However, as Falicia, arguably Kirkland proves that she isn't one note. Though, I must admit, because expectations were low that might have been why I felt so blown out of the park.
Criticism
The Story Seems Like It Would Have Gotten Its Due Better With a Documentary
When it comes to retellings of anyone s life, there are only a few takeaways. Either A) you are left feeling like you learned enough of the subject to leave it alone, B) you are given just enough to entice you to learn more on your own or C) You wonder why they didn't just make a documentary? In the case of When Love Kills, arguably they should have just made a documentary.
For while I get having semi-famous people playing roles brings more notoriety than perhaps director Tasha Smith just providing narration, it is hard to feel like Falaicia's life just wasn't done justice. Be it how being raised by someone like her momma contributed to her decisions, the psychological games Dino played, or us just understanding what kept her coming back. Which assumingly was because Dino was one of her first loves, but that is something you could more understand from experience, or other productions, than this one.
On The Fence
Lance Gross
After Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, I must admit I was expecting more out of Gross. There was this expectation for him to match Kirkland or at least be the sort of lead she plays off of. However, what we end up getting is him sort of dragging her down a bit. Now, understanding he is playing a real person, meaning he can't craft someone you love to hate, I get he couldn't make Dino into one real charismatic character. However, he doesn't really make him into a hateful bastard either.
Not to say he doesn't do horrible things to her, but he doesn't bring his game to the level of us thinking, "This was so good they should have released this in theaters!" Rather, he brings an almost soap opera kind of performance to this. Making it feel sort of corny, like he is just mimicking those who did it better, and yet is failing to truly capture the spirit of those past iterations of guys like Dino.
Tami Roman
At the heart of Falicia's issues, you'll find her mother. Someone who is good for a one liner or smart mouth, but basically Falicia narrates everything we'd truly need to know about Stacey. That is, the stuff which helps you understand how a woman like Falicia comes to be due to her upbringing by her mom.
As for Roman specifically? Honestly, she is barely given enough material to make any real judgment. A part of me wants to say, similar to Mo'Nique in Precious, in not Kim Wayans in Pariah, she could very well be a comedian who can do a dramatic role and be believable. However, at the end of the day, Stacey's presence was to help illustrate how young Falicia is and give you a glimpse into the woman who is the reason why her life went down the road it did.
Overall: Negative (Skip It)
As good as Kirkland was, I got to admit it is only because the bar was set so low. However, I do feel if you have any sort of standard or aren't someone who just supports Black films because you want to see more of them, you may not want to waste your time on this. For while the movie isn't horrible, it basically is a hood Lifetime movie. One which has dramatic moments and violence, but it doesn't necessarily make you feel anything.
You don't get this feeling of shock, you don't really get feelings of empathy, you just recognize Falicia Blakely had a messed up life. One which you can contribute to a whole bunch of factors which this movie doesn't dive deep enough into. If only because it seems more about what can be sensationalized and made into memes and twitter hashtags than really allowing these performers to act and take you on a journey.
Ride or Die Chick?
nyomec9 December 2021
This movie was good and real. It was disheartening but at the same time it was excitement and drama. Its sad its some young lady out there who would throw her whole life away for the sake of a man. I truly hope that this inspires some young lady to change her life. Never make a fool out of yourself for a man. The true story of a "Ride of die" woman. Something that no respectable woman would want to be any part of.
This made me mad
desiree_thompson-122728 November 2022
This movie made me so angry the way it went on lol. There were so many events that happened that made me want to turn it off but the story itself was so interesting. It also upsets me that this is a true story or at least based on true events. I think Lance and lil mama are both really good actors. I don't know if it was the writers or the actors but them but everything seemed so natural coming from their mouths. I wanted to be mad at how absolutely stupid the main character is but then it hit me that there are women out here really like this that will do anything for someone even if that someone doesn't deserve it.
Loved it !
christinasamaha4 June 2018
Poorly Cast
gettyeisrael29 May 2023
Let's start with the fact that Falicia Blakely was a dark skinned woman with brown eyes. Casting a light skinned actress was totally f.. up. They also cast a biracial child as her daughter.
This obsession with light skinned women and long weaves is rather f... pathetic and undermines the credibility of the film, according to every image I have seen. Tasha Smith, a brown skinned actress who rarely works probably because of her hue, should know better. There are plenty of struggling dark skinned actresses who could have been cast for this role. A dark skinned black woman can't catch a break ion this industry even when black folks are making the casting decisions.
The acting and writing are okay.
This obsession with light skinned women and long weaves is rather f... pathetic and undermines the credibility of the film, according to every image I have seen. Tasha Smith, a brown skinned actress who rarely works probably because of her hue, should know better. There are plenty of struggling dark skinned actresses who could have been cast for this role. A dark skinned black woman can't catch a break ion this industry even when black folks are making the casting decisions.
The acting and writing are okay.
Sad
cazaviusmurphy8 December 2021
This is a good movie, but what I don't like is the abuse they portray coming from the black man. They show this bull and make women think less of a man, I may get pissed and upset extremely, but I have never slapped poor alcohol or treated my women anyway these movies on tubi show, and it hurts my feelings to see it being showed in this manner, now I see why women gravitate to men that treat them this way, this is wrong to do this crap.
Wrong person playing lead.
valstone5220 December 2023
The movie is OK. But Lil ma looks not like the real person. Lala land needs to start using actors who at least resemble the real people. If the dancers they had in the movie are really dancers, they must be damn near starving. It's sad some desperate women still like and want this type of man. Lil ma might rap but sure as hell can't act, or dance. So the real person is still in jail, for being stupid. Wasted her life, lost her child and for what??? Her friend will be out before she will. I don't feel sorry for her. Also I don't have eighty more words to say. Decided to stop reviewing, cause it makes no sense to do six hundred words.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
