Kept Woman - Rapita

After a frightening apartment robbery, attractive graphic designer Courtney Ford (as Jessica "Jess" Crowder) and her handsome fiancé Andrew W. Walker (as Evan Crowder) move into a picturesque suburban house. They are immediately welcomed by quirky-looking neighbor Shaun Benson (as Simon), a professor in "Men's Studies." He comes from a 1950s "traditional background," having a father who worked and a mother who cooked. Also an amateur crime investigator, Ms. Ford does not cook. She doesn't watch "Lifetime" TV Movies, either, or she would have known better than to get too chummy with quirky neighbors...

"Kept Woman" follows the formula for making these television movies fun. A great looking cast in an abduction fantasy, with some subtle humor; it's marvelously played. Michel Poulette's direction and the cool set design are quite nice, so stay tuned. The opening scenes are not strong, but they move the story along quickly. It would have been nice to build up more suspense between Ford and Mr. Benson, who is positively delicious as the male chauvinist professor. The "family" formed by Benson could have been further developed, also. Still, it's better to leave viewers expecting to see more, than wanting to see less.

****** Kept Woman (2/28/15) Michel Poulette ~ Courtney Ford, Shaun Benson, Andrew W. Walker, Rachel Wilson

I was pretty surprised at this one, it was much better than I was expecting for a TV movie. Story was good with a couple clever tricks up it's sleeve. It kept my attention and was entertaining with a solid cast. Everyone did a great job especially the leading lady. I wish as a whole it was a tad darker and creepier but, again, it was a made for TV movie. Give this one a shot, I would recommend.

A good b grade level thriller which holds you until the end . The villain Simon is well played by Shaun Benson . The film has a few twists : it did remind me of a few real life cases where someone was kept in the basement against their will.

Alrighty then! This is a glossy, well-made gem of a film about the psychopath next door. Who has a basement dungeon a-la 'Fifties-style and a fetish for pretty young ladies drawn - rather irrationally - from his inner social circle. Which makes him a suspect after each disappearance.

Fortunately for our goody-goody bad guy - Shaun Benson (as Simon) - he's super smart, super slick and super nerdy. It's the nerdy part that throws you. 'Cause, you know, nerds are supposed to be weird but meek.

This guy is weird and potentially murderous. So, when Courtney Ford (as Jessica Crowder) and Andrew W. Walker as (Evan Crowder) move next door, they have no idea that their skippy little bowtie-wearing neighbor has had Rachel Wilson (as Robin Simmons) imprisoned in his basement for years! Enjoy Troy Blundell (playing Tyler Haynes) as a thoroughly professional and equally menacing policeman-friend who, in cahoots with Jessica's rotund detective-wannabe pal - Jesse Camacho (as Oscar Garrett) - will ultimately... well... just watch!

Dig the 'Fifties stokes, y'all and try not to see Ted Bundy in Mr. Benson's fine performance. That way, you won't see him coming! Redrum! Redrum! Redrum!

The first few minutes almost swayed me away - the robber sucked at acting. But despite being a made for a TV movie, this had some thrills and chills throughout.

I thought the two leads (Jessica & Evan) and the neighbor (Simon) played their roles with tenacity. Simon's character had a dark and ominous aura to him, specifically with the voice that he used.

The limitations were that the viewer doesn't fully understand Simon's motivations for entrapping women into his basement and making the room into a 1950s atmosphere. Also Evan and the police officer (Tyler) each entered Simon's home without any backup. They had substantial evidence that Simon was sadistic and creepy, and yet they just mosey on into his home without a care in the world.

Ultimately it was a decent movie, slightly gory but with a strong script.