beaitken Reviews

An Hour Behind (2017 TV Movie)

Touching, Well Acted Romance

[7/10 · 18 December 2017]

One Hour Behind is a fun film that is well acted, particularly by Barry Watson. Its premise is cute and its script a bit more literate than the Lifetime movies it seems inspired by. Obviously filmed on a budget, nonetheless it is well shot with some moving surprises. We enjoyed it, so will you.

Blind Date (I) (2014)

Heather Aitken's Femme Fatale makes scary/funny Blind Date a Must See

[9/10 · 14 June 2015]

BLIND DATE has the best premise: two serial killers solicit victims through internet dating sites. Then the inevitable happens: they get matched with each other. The tension of the film is Who's Going to Strike First? Blind Date is a model of clever, script and performance driven indie filmmaking. Aitken is terrific: she is drop dead beautiful and outdoes Sharon Stone's femme fatale in Basic Instinct. George Patterson is fine as the other half of this homicidal couple but Heather's sexy/crazy performance makes the film. Director Jamie Patterson gives more than one one to Hitchcock in this film from the opening tracing shot at the beach to the Rope type apartment-confined locale of the bulk of the film. It is a bit claustrophobic but all in all the film is scary, funny and fun.

A Cry from Within (2014)

Haunting Ghost Story with Terrifying Performances by Cathy Moriarity & Heather Aitken

[10/10 · 27 March 2015]

A Cry From Within is a Hitchcokian Haunted House thriller with which is Tentpoled by an amazing comeback performance by Cathy Moriarity and a truly frightening performance by LA Idie actress Heather Aitken as Cathy's character age 26. Heather is a dead ringer for the young Cathy and the camera loves them both. The script by Deb Twiss is terrific. Anyone over the age of 10 can see this film (one horrifying scene is inappropriate for younger kids). This is not a slasher film but is really scary. Eric Roberts finally is given a chance to play a charming lead and the chemistry between Deb Twiss and him is palpable. Veterans Robert Vaughn, James McCaffrey, and Eliza Roberts are effective although McCaffrey goes a bit over the top in the finale.Judy Beecher is fine as the (old) mother. Zach Miller, a first time feature director does well. Deb Twiss' daughter, Sydney McCann, is fine in a focal role and her son, Jatthew McCann, although acting with charm is given little to do. Go see or rent this film if you liked the 1963 version of The Haunting.