Netz der Begierde

We've all seen this a hundred times before. Though I find movies like this appealing. And I thought Cassidy Rae did a pretty good job as the 18-year-old cheerleader who finds herself dating a 33-year-old professional man who runs into her with his car. Though the primary appeal for me was seeing Lujack from 'The Guiding Light' all these years later in another role--one where he wasn't the bad boy (or maybe he was). I was addicted to that show during the years of Phillip, Mindy, Beth and Lujack.

But how could this girl possibly think she had a future with this man? One of three things is likely to happen: he's married and keeping his affair secret; he's abusive and has a history with young girls; or a jilted former lover will start stalking his latest girlfriend. Or maybe a combination of these. I won't say which, or whether they came up with a fresh approach in making this movie, but I did enjoy it. One thing I can say: chilling music and a weird camera angle frequently made it look like someone was watching.

Nothing groundbreaking, but not too bad either.

(1996) Lying Eyes DRAMA THRILLER

The intro is like this, an older guy watching from the bleachers inside of a gymnasium a basketball game sees a cheerleader he likes, and upon her driving home, he purposely rear ends her from behind, for the purpose of meeting her. We find out that he is the 33 year old, Derek Bradshaw (Vincent Irizarry) who works in a law firm and she is 18 year old high schooler, Amy Miller (Cassidy Rae) who lives with her realtor estate, single mom, Ruth (Sherry Hursey). Derek tells her, if she wants her car fixed, to take it to his personal mechanic, and he gives her his card. On the following day, when Amy comes to grab her car, they didn't just fixed her rear end but they gave her the full treatment, with Derek coincidentally over there to greet her as well. Derek offers her dinner and when she accepts, he invites for her to come to his beach house. She comes and it appears someone is watching her through the window as Amy is making out with Derek. And it was at this point, Amy's continued relationship with Derek is affecting her studies, her cheerleading and her friends. During at one point, her best friend, just as they are getting ready to go cheerleading, Dana (Ashlee Levitch) grabs her wrist, accidentally breaks the tennis bracelet Derek had bought for her (one of many gifts), and goes to the jewelry store to get it fixed is when she finds out he an already married man with two young boys. When Amy tries to confront him about it, by visiting him in his law firm, Derek convinces her that he is planning to leave his wife over her. Except that by the time Amy bumps into Derek's wife by accident, and invites her to have dinner with them, we find out her name is Elizabeth (Jamie Rose) and that the reason Derek is able to work in law is the result of him working for her dad's law firm. Amy realizes, he had no intention of leaving her wife at all, and that she is nothing more but a mistress, so she cuts him out of her life in it's entirety. Except that, Derek can't take no for an answer, and he begins to stalking her as well. Besides receiving threatening letters, someone's also locked her in the sauna, trashed her locker, with Derek visits her best friend as well as become one of Amy's mother's clients. And if Amy does not want her mom to know about this, then she can't go to the police.

Both of Derek and his wife Elizabeth stalk her for different reasons, for it is obvious by now, Derek may have told his wife 'one' story, Elizabeth that Amy is obsessed with him. At the same time Derek tells Amy a different story that he is divorcing his wife, and that Elizabeth is able to accept that. All of this is the result of Amy not say anything to anybody about what Derek looks like, including her mom. Leaving with her a nightmarish kind of scenario that requires professional counseling and direction, for she needs to tell someone for it's just a matter of when.

I liked the first hour as some teenage girls do not want anyone to know about their rendezvous as it looked like a routine stalking movie. But as soon as it involves a third party is when it suddenly gears toward ridiculousness, that asks more questions than the movie is willing to answer.

For a TV movie, "Lying Eyes" had everything you can ask for. Cassidy Rae was wonderful to look at, as was Vincent Irizary. The story of a older attorny and highschool girl who have a affair which leads to the young girl being stalked by the older mans "wife". The ending is wonderful and suprising. Sure I've seen better acting, and better writing, but it was a wonderful plot and a good use of two hours. I'd definately recommend it again. The suspense was wonderful. "Lying Eyes" is one for the books.

This is just one of those teen movies(with actors actually in their 20's of course) that you love to hate. It's super cheesy but for some reason you watch it straight through to the end. It even comes equipped with the classic to-hot-sauna scene. How can you resist the brain-candy? I'm not sure I could think of much more to say about a movie like this. It's the kind of show you would (or should) never rent, nor go see in a theatre without asking for your money back. That would explain why it's a made-for-t.v. movie, I suppose! It's perfect for the veg-out, rainy-day Sunday groaner!

Listen, I unapologetically love Lifetime garbage movies. My sister and I used to watch them after school and laugh at how nuts they were. I have to say though, the twist in this one genuinely got me! I was not expecting it at all which is pretty rare for a Lifetime flick.

It's too bad that Cassidy Rae left acting because she was really good in this and would've had a great career. The drama is fun and Vincent Irizarry is perfect as manipulative sleazebag Derek. The acting and suspense were good enough that at times it didn't even feel like a straight-to-tv movie. The drama was super fun and worth a lazy Sunday watch.