Agent of Deceit

This one more out of so many lifetimes typical movies. They are almost all about the same topics like obsession, love, criminal and crime, psychopath. What I did not like is that it is too typical. Nothing new compared to similar movies like "at 17" titles. It is mostly easy to predict, to figure things out, and to conclude the story. What I did like is the professional few acting skills of so young detective. He had courage. Also many realistic things like jealousy and fight of two boys over girl. Feeling of power of one over other. There was turnover in the end but this is so quick, done by force, that it did not improve movie that much. Still not good enough, nothing extra to see compared to other lifetime channel movies.

Saw this last night, would have turned over but hubby was actually in to it. The acting is so awful - the whole cast surely haven't had an acting lesson in their life?? One to avoid unless you want a showcase in how not to do it.

I couldn't locate this movie at all on IMDB until I realized it's under its actual title "Agent Of Deceipt". I remember watching this before as soon as I watched actress Chelsea Ricketts walk across the kitchen floor and WOW, she looked awesome! Now, I LIKED actor Michael Welch as Detective Dawson and remember him in an episode of Stargate: SG1 as a young Colonel Jack O'Neill in the season 3 episode "Fragile Balance" as a cloned Jack O'Neill. He's quite a versatile actor, but also in an episode of "LAW &Order: SVU". Regarding this movie, most of the reviewers here didn't really like this movie, but it was typical of a 'stalker' movie and the ending was quite a twist. I won't give it away, but What an ending. I suggest that you cast all your doubt aside and just watch for that explosive ending.

Amanda (Chelsea Ricketts) gets attacked in her own home by a masked man. She manages to escape into the bathroom and the cops arrive after her friend calls 911. James Dawson is the overly helpful police detective. Detective Valencia tells Amanda about the rash of break-ins and suggests getting a gun. Valencia suspects Dawson of wrong doing and is killed by a masked man setting it up as a suicide. Dawson insinuates himself into her life as her 24 hour guardian. Liam is her ex who wants to be more than her business partner.

This is not a mystery since so much of it is revealed from the start. All the tension is drained. There is no drama in the drama. The only surprise is that every male role is a murdering scumbag. Even the one big surprise is revealed way before it's revealed. There is no thought to the script. The first dumb scene is Valencia's murder. It's a series of conveniently orchestrated events. She can't be carrying one of those window glass punch. She has to usually leave her gun in her car which cops should never do. Cops are supposed to lock it up at home. It's definitely not supposed to be left in their cars. It's really bad when one has to do a lot of logic gymnastics even if it is a Lifetime movie. It is downright infuriating. It becomes a wait-a-thon until a specific murder when another obvious suspect is illuminated. Honestly, I would have been more impress if the Captain turns out to be the other killer.

The premise of the movie is actually very interesting, and they had a great cast (Michael Welch, in particular) but the dialogue just felt a bit cringey to me. Cheesy may be a better word.

I appreciate the artistry of filmmaking and in that light, I give it a 6/10. I like to find my own symbolism in the movies I watch, something I can grab from it, but it was a little hard to do that with this film.

Strong premise, poorly executed. Michael Welch and Chelsea Ricketts did a wonderful job, given the script they were given to work with. Could have been better.