Con Mum: il prezzo della fiducia

Con Mom had potential - the story is wild, the production isn't bad, and it's the kind of show that should pull you in easily. But there's one thing I just couldn't get past: Heather Kaniuk.

She plays one of the main characters, but her voice is so painfully forced - like this fake, low, raspy tone that sounds like she's trying way too hard to be intense or mysterious. It's not natural, it's not engaging... it's just ugh. Every time she speaks, it completely takes me out of the story. It feels like a parody of a true crime character rather than a believable performance.

I'm sorry, but it's genuinely one of the most irritating and frustrating vocal performances I've ever heard on a show. It's killing the vibe entirely.

I wanted to like it, but I just can't sit through it with that voice constantly dragging things down.

Oh wait, they don't mean convention? Dang it - no pun intended of course. And all kidding aside - because this is serious stuff. As you can imagine (more than me I assume or if not before then now), this is about someone taking advantage of another human being.

The constellation may be interesting and quite a few things had to go wrong (or right from her perspective) ... it's kind of crazy that people still fall for stuff like this. Mostly either someone gullible or someone who gets way over his (or her) head ... good people also mostly, so I am not trying to put anyone down here ... well done and really well edited. I assume some things have been re-recorded - other than that, really gripping if you let yourself immerse ... and go on this wild ride ... we're outside and can judge differently ... still you would hope some people would fight back more .. anyway let this be a warning!

While the villain here is obviously the mum, the real villain to me is the son. Like his mum, Graham exhibits no real joy or anger or any genuine emotion. His cold retelling the story, his limp excuses, his emotionless expression, his negligence of his wife and son are all that needs to be told. Like so many people bordering on sociopathy, Graham tells a good tale and the doc makes it seems like he's a good guy, a victim. But he's not. Heather and his son are the real victims.

While the documentary on the surface is kind to Graham, underneath you being to feel the creepiness of the man. It's not just that he and his mum look alike, they are alike in most ways. And that's the true value of the documentary. Unfortunately, not everyone will see through Graham and that's the shame.

(Same could be said for the woeful Peng. He shows this documentary is also a story of the toll of avarice coupled with naivete has on people who put themselves first.)

Well. This is a toe-curlingly agonising watch!

Con Mum is an above average con story documentary.

A vulnerable man and his partner are expecting a baby, when an old woman comes into their lives seemingly out of nowhere. What unfolds is a story of mind-boggling amoral manipulation, greed and financial destruction. No spoilers.

The power of this show comes from the honesty of the real-life protagonists in front of the cameras. All of them, except one. We really feel for those on the receiving end, especially and particularly the vulnerable man and his family. It's appalling to watch. Shredding. Chilling.

Even so - we learn a whole lot about one of our human conditions: the need we have to want to believe. Once a scammer knows this vulnerability about us - they have us.... That's what's happened here in Con Mum.

Recommended.

In this gripping film, the intricacies of deception unfold as it reveals how the scammed were, in many ways, willing participants in their own downfall. The direction is sharp, effectively showcasing the receipts of their misplaced trust. One can only hope that the total amount lost pales in comparison to the film's production costs. The narrative cleverly highlights that those scammed were ultimately biding their time, anticipating a payoff upon her demise. While I don't condone scamming, this story serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating that sometimes, those seeking a quick gain get exactly what they deserve. A thought-provoking watch!