Escondida

I had no idea this was a TV movie when I watched it, it was just something I found on Prime and decided to watch because of Carla Gugino and Jay Karnes. Kevin Alejandro being there was a little bonus, though.

The movie itself was alright, but it could have been better with a bigger budget and better production values.

It's a bit of a stock standard Midday Movie detective story about kidnapped, and tortured/murdered, girls with two survivors who look almost identical, not a great deal of darkness to it really - aside from the perp of course - and some pretty solid performances from the main cast.

You could do worse, even if you just watch it for the cast.

Hide was actually the very first Lisa Gardner book I ever read and while I was reading it I could picture it being a movie, but what they've done here is an abomination. Watchable, sure, but this particular book had the potential to make a damn good theatrical movie.

I read the book before seeing the movie, and I am aware of the fact that the translation of a book into a movie is often a disappointment. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the adaptation of this book. I think it tries to keep the spirit of the book, even when there are some changes, and I really think they did their best to stick to the story and keep things into character. I actually did not know much about most actors, but they were cast well.

My impression was that this was a way to start a series based on D.D. Warren stories. I would like that. She appeared to be a witty, strong character. I think that Bobby was not portrayed as strong as he could be, because a lot of his background story was left out in this movie. I have to admit that some parts of the movie were a bit cheesy, or should I say old-fashioned, or (maybe worse) stereotype, but I could look past that because of the overall story.

My main criticism would be the use of the 'victim' Annabelle. In the book, she has a lot of first-person story, that is not really included in the movie now. Moreover, she appears to be a stronger personality in the book than in the movie. I personally believe that that is a missed opportunity, since they cast someone that could really play a believable strong but vulnerable personality to play Annabelle. Overall, I would recommend to watch this movie.

Very poor attempt at a serial killer film. Bodies found in a graveyard, detectives called to investigate. Then 2 hours of grossly overloaded plot. The players in this movie are sub-standard 'B' picture and it really does show. Meant to be taken from a book but the story is so tedious and convoluted, I used the fast forward. As often happens when the film makers have a boring story they seem to think that having sub text romance in the film will somehow improve it: big mistake especially in this movie.

I am being very generous and give:

2/10

The film Hide concerns the search for a serial killer and is prompted by some kids fooling around on the sight of an abandoned mental hospital. One kid falls through the ground and discovers someone's torture chamber and some preserved remains in plastic bags.

This looks like the work of someone who tried to abduct Bridget Regan years ago and one of the bodies was of someone who had been abducted after Regan's perpetrator died in prison. Is it a copycat or did they have the wrong guy.

Hide's plot is complex and it is gloomy with an overriding sense of fear and tragedy. I will say that Regan had a stalker who was truly demented and obsessed.

I'm disagreeing with the reviewer who said that the added romantic triangle of lead detective Carla Gugino and two of her assistants Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Kevin Alejandro was superfluous. I think it was needed to lighten things a bit in a very heavy and tragic story.

Still the film could have moved a tad faster, but it's a tale well told.