Mariage mortel

This movie is like most of the Lifetime "he/she seems nice but is really a psychopath" types that are entertaining and good for a laugh. There are some familiar Lifetime actors, including Shannon Sturges, who overdoes her phony sweetness, and Perry King and William R. Moses, both probably underrated because of their association with Lifetime movies. Michelle Greene adds spice in the scene outside the kitchen at the brother's funeral. I just wonder, since there are no goofs listed, if anyone else wondered, in one of the movie's early scenes, why Greta the housekeeper is complaining that the new wife has been mistreating her for three months, when the happy couple has returned from their honeymoon just minutes ago.

From Lifetime, we have "The Perfect Wife," a 2001 movie starring Perry King, Lesley-Anne Down, William R. Moses, and Michele Greene. Dr. Robert Steward, who stops at the site of an accident to help the victims. One of them, a man, is dead, but he is able to save the woman. When the man's sister, Leah Tyman (Shannon Sturges) identifies her brother's body, she vows vengeance on anyone who played a part in his death. It's a long list since it includes anyone within three feet of them.

Before we know it, Leah Tyman is now Liz Steward, married to Dr. Steward, who is divorced from Helen (Lesley-Anne Down). Leah/Liz goes to work getting rid of people, all the while going to her little jewel box and talking to a photo of her brother.

Typical Lifetime, with a psycho that several people in the story know is insane and his or her spouse has no clue, despite the bodies falling all around.

I've always loved Lesley-Anne Down and thought she was incredibly beautiful. For me she was the only saving grace here. However, I knew what I was getting into. That's one thing about Lifetime movies - they have about six plots and you know you'll get one of them.

In THE PERFECT WIFE, Lesley Anne Down stars as a divorcée whose ex-husband has married a gal half his age and with something more in mind than matrimony. Turns out the new wife is seeking revenge in the death of her brother, and she believes the doctor had something to do with his death. Down starts to figure things out about halfway through, but no one will listen to her. Perry King plays the doctor, and Shannon Sturges is the new wife. No one exactly knocks themselves out in the acting department, and the plot tends to drag. Save this one for a rainy night. If you're me, you sometimes watch these things to see how much a given actor has aged.

THE PERFECT WIFE was pretty suspenseful for a television movie. Shannon Sturges made one bitchy psycho, and Perry King was good as her husband. It had a lot of tension, but it was sometimes hard to watch because the husband was so oblivious to what she was doing. At times I just couldn't believe he was missing things and would yell things out to him, as if it would help. But that's what a good thriller does, making us care about the person who's the victim even though they themselves don't know they are. A tad slow at times, but the final hour was pretty tense, and the performances helped sell the standard revenge plot. Not bad for a TV movie.

Seems some made for TV movies are enjoyable. Yes, the husband is a bit of a dim bulb but Perry King doesn't overplay his naivete. In fact, that's a large part of the movie's appeal. No one overacts. Music is kept to a minimum. The plot is driven by competent acting on all parts. Good mystery. Will have you rooting for the good guy to win.