Splendida e mortale

This is not a bad made-for-TV crime thriller in which widower Don McAndrews (Barry Bostwick) gets into a relationship with Linda Crandell (Jane Seymour), who leads a dark secret life as a serial killer that marries men and then murders them after their first night together.

The plot goes at a fairly fast-pace and it is pretty entertaining seeing the sinister Linda Crandell trigger a domino effect in the seemingly well-to-do McAndrews Family, creating chaos whenever the opportunity comes. It is especially interesting seeing Jane Seymour, known for playing the motherly and gentle Michaela Quinn in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Women, play the out-of-character role as the evil and crafty Linda Crandell. She did a pretty good job in her role, though, I've found her character to be quite annoying at times: she sighs a lot when she talks and comes across as nosy and pitiful (despite the fact she plays a serial killer).

Barry Bostwick, Francis Fisher and Chad Allen also portrayed their roles well. The two clueless FBI agents played by Colby Chester and Michael MacRae were the cheesiest part of the movie, showing no urgency or emotion during the course of the events; they just roam around, hoping some clues that would lead to Crandell's whereabouts drop in their laps. In addition, this movie could have used some more action or edge-of-your-seat suspense to make it an more captivating feature.

But overall, it's a pretty good TV thriller that one might find alluring and exciting.

Grade B-

Mysterious poisoning deaths of five successful, newly married men occur over a number of years in such a manner that the FBI is sure they must be connected.

The prime suspect is a beautiful woman (Seymour) who is adept at dramatically altering superficial aspects of her appearance. She goes by so many aliases ('Linda' for most of the duration of this) that she probably can't even remember how many people she has been and has her eye on her sixth victim (Bostwick).

Her men are so driven in their careers that access to them beyond the confines of offices and work-related travel is limited. A gold-digger might view them as prime targets but never put in the work to find out where these guys can be approached, what they like, what they lack etc.

She actually adores her victims. It isn't work for her to find out about them. But she isn't really a gold-digger. Her motive is more complex.

The right questions aren't asked by the lonely, overworked GQ coverboys she captivates. She pushes all the right buttons when she meets them. Good things are just assumed and they feel loved by her after whirlwind courtships.

She has serious game when it comes to guys. Prettier or younger rivals will not only never be able to compete, they won't even know where to begin. Many won't want to because she just seems so nice. They can find another man and would hate to lose her as a friend. Those not dissuaded by that tend to have fatal accidents.

In any alias she is extremely camera shy - good thinking for a serial murderer but it goes deeper than that for her. She genuinely dreads her own image no matter how many times she changes her hair, make-up, wardrobe etc.

Far from taking pride in and feeling confident about her ability to beguile men this individual has an intense self-loathing. Looking at her reflection in a mirror she rants aloud (the voice inside her head is seemingly not quite loud enough or harsh enough) about how stupid and ugly and desperate she thinks she is or appears.

This is her true perceived self image and that cruel voice she subjects herself to speaks with a disdain she dreads hearing from men enough to murder them at precisely the high point of the relationships - the honeymoons, before things even get a chance to deteriorate.

This particular monster in the guise of a human being has neither a proper understanding of death nor a full connection with real life. Her childhood with extremely abusive parents remains the defining issue of her psyche though it is comprised of bad memories made decades earlier.

Killing or even dying if it comes to that are preferable to feeling unworthy of love. Her psychosis is that severe and Jane Seymour is very convincing in portraying it.

I could not believe when I saw this movie, that Jane Seymour was the bad in this movie. She was really good in this role. I like when some actresses who play the goody too shoes in movies play the bad . You would never suspect that jane can pull this one off.

This is such an underrated film made for TV. A villain bride prays on men with the purpose to marry them and kills them. Okay without going into too much spoilers, the dresses and jewels are beautiful, the food looks appetising and the rest is classy. Jane Seymour plays the killer and she does it really well.

PRAYING MANTIS stars Jane Seymour in the role of Linda Crandell, who follows up her very lovely wedding with a very short honeymoon, poisoning her new groom, and leaving him dead on the hotel room floor!

Linda's been at this sort of thing for a while.

Enter handsome, eligible widower, Don McAndrews (Barry Bostwick). Don's a great guy, the perfect type for Linda's plans.

Oh No!

He's got company, with his son and sister in-law, Betty (Frances Fisher) living with him! Of course, we know from early on that Linda's a ball of seething rage, out to ensnare and terminate every rich. Male boob she can dupe! She's not going to let a couple of pests stop her.

Ms. Seymour is fantastic in her lethally looney role, devouring the scenery only when necessary. Much of this movie's enjoyment is derived from watching her play such a blatantly wicked role. Linda is sort of the anti-Dr. Quinn!

One of the better films in its sub-genre...