Kindred Spirits

MarVista Entertainment makes a lot of the movies shown on Lifetime. They tend to be very formulaic, all following certain thematic elements. It's almost like there is a checklist the movies follow, making them very predictable. This movie is no different, having a character with an obsession that the main characters don't see until the end, as is common in most of these movies. And then of course the movie ends quickly, with a resolution that leaves many plot points unresolved. Again, typical for these movies; after the last commercial, you get a quick ending that is often illogical in the way it comes about.

I gave this movie 7 stars only because of the performance of Caitlin Stasey as the sister, Sadie. She is excellent in her role. So much so that I am going to seek out other work she has done to see if she is as good in them, too. This movie, while so very stereotypical, is worth seeing just for her performance.

As an aside, MarVista also makes many of the movies shown on the Hallmark Channel. They, too, follow a certain formula, one that is entirely different from the one used for Lifetime movies. Anyone who has seen any Hallmark movies knows what I mean. Each channel has its own audience, I guess, and the movies are made to satisfy the types of audiences drawn to either Hallmark or Lifetime. Or both; I don't doubt there are people that enjoy both channels and the types of movies each channel features.

This story is what is referred to, as a "guilty pleasure", or a guilty waste of time. It's a silly, emotionally-manipulative waste of time, which starts out fairly good and degenerates into more and more "wacko", as it goes along. The crazy plot keeps your inner "bad news junkie" salivating, even though you know, you're being taken for a ride,"over the top". Near the end, I actually thought, that it was going to go off formula, which surprised me, but it was just a tease. It actually went back to the expected script, amazingly, in a most awkward and unexplained manner.

Apart from the ending. And don't mean I would have liked it to go a different direction, it just seems to take the easy way out. It seemed to built up something really good (or bad) and then ... ah well you can't have it all, now can you. The acting is ok for a thriller of this kind and while you know where this is heading, Caitlin is quite a tour de force.

No matter what you think of her character (and there should be only one way you should feel about her), she carries the movie. Charismatic and at least at the beginning enigmatic too. So if you like thrillers in general, this will be right up your alley - try not to be to dissapointed in the end ...

The premise wasn't that bad. The dialog was weak. The normally decent actors were brought down by bad writing and poor direction. The ending was garbage. I wish Lifetime movies came with some kind of warning label.

Entertaining in a lifetime TV movie kind of way - kind of silly, questionable acting. There are moments that are tinged with that distinctive Lucky McKee vibe but this is definitely not his best. Enjoyable enough if there's nothing else on, just don't take it too seriously.