The Familiar Stranger

Also known as "The Familiar Stranger."

Lifetimes type movie starring Margaret Colin.

A woman's husband commits suicide. Some years later, social Security wants $56,000 in survivor payments paid out to her children returned. That's because he's alive.

The wife soon learns he is living in another state under another name, and is very well liked and respected in his community. Needless to say, she is not too happy about this and is determined to find and confront him.

This is a very derivative story with some excellent acting. I saw Margaret Colin on stage - she has made several Lifetime movies, and I think she deserves better.

At the end of this movie, I commented that the acting was excellent. I felt that I had watched a real family in action.

Margaret Colin was new to me, but I see she has numerous credits. That is understandable. She is exceptionally lovely, and her expressions come across as quite genuine.

The plot develops with all the intrigue of a mystery story, yet the melodrama is not overplayed.

This is one of those movies I just happened upon one evening on TV, and I am glad I did.

Certainly I will remain on the lookout for other Margaret Colin movies.

I thought this was an interesting true story. Margaret Colin did an excellent job of "evolving" with the character. The husband sure was an S.O.B!! How someone could put their family through such torture is hard to understand. I hope he got his in the end in the real story.

Really enjoyed this film on prime. I thinks it's early 2000, big it gave me all the 90s movie feels. The actress is great, so convincing. I loved their early lives, it all felt so quintessentially American and idyllic with their sons. Before things went start to go south. The story was really intriguing and enjoyed the actors. I need to watch more movies like this!

This is such a great movie with excellent performances. Margaret Colin is good in everything she does and this is no exception. I won't add spoilers, but suffice to say this story grips you from the very beginning. It's a true story. Jay O. Sanders plays the husband and man he is so good in the role. Really a gem.