Le cauchemar d'Allison

This movie is great. The acting and the suspense make it hard to look away. I have watched this movie at least 6 times. I would buy it if I could figure out where I could buy it. There just something about this movie that keeps me coming back. Laura Harris and Kim Coates are so opposite that they a magnetic together.

Pretty decent for a Lifetime style TV movie. Laura Harris is super cute. As usual, the writers frustrated the audience several times with characters' unwillingness to defend themselves against baseless accusations. That just drives me nuts and doesn't add anything to the plot in my opinion but frustration. But you see it all the time in these types of movies.

ABOUT MY REVIEWS:

I do not include a synopsis of the film/show -- you can get that anywhere and that does not constitute a meaningful review -- but rather my thoughts and feelings on the film that hopefully will be informative to you in deciding whether to invest 90-180 minutes of your life on it.

My scale: 1-5 decreasing degrees of "terrible", with 5 being "mediocre" 6- OK. Generally held my interest OR had reasonable cast and/or cinematography, might watch it again 7 - Good. My default rating for a movie I liked enough to watch again, but didn't rise to the upper echelons 8- Very good. Would watch again and recommend to others 9- Outstanding. Would watch over and over; top 10% of my ratings 10 - A classic. (Less than 2% receive this rating). For Lifetime Movies for Chicks (LMFC), drop the above scale by 3 notches. A 6 is excellent and 7 almost unattainable.

Following an attempted gang rape, beautiful blonde Laura Harris (as Alison) weds handsome blond rescuer Eric Johnson (as Darris Shaw). Understandably, she's a little skittish, so they move to a small town outside of Toronto and plan a simple, safe life. This being a "Lifetime TV" type of movie, you know it's going to be a bumpy ride. Before things get too weird, we see Mr. Johnson and Ms. Harris are also attractive without their clothing. Johnson looks good wearing nothing but a cowboy hat, on his little pony. Harris looks pretty in petals and putting on her robe. They are sexually compatible. She's an aspiring artist and he's into antique restoration and construction. Right away, he gets a job working with creepy Kim Coates (as David Snow)...

We think Mr. Coates must be the serial killer Harris tells her psychiatrist about in the pre-flashback opening teaser...

"This film is based on a true story," we're informed, by lead character Alison Shaw. It's nice to also learn the story was embellished because some of what we see does not seem entirely realistic. By the time things get too strange, embellisher Michael Amo and director Stuart Gillard have suspended our disbelief. Playing her heroine as borderline bonkers, we are not sure if they're going to eventually tell Alison is imagining things. While the framing suggests she survives to tell her tale, she seems more edgy in the "present" scenes. Also, note she "tells" the story with her hair chopped up like Mia Farrow in Roman Polanski's classic "Rosemary's Baby" (1968). And, don't those other characters act like...

The three leading players are perfectly cast and directed by Mr. Gillard. Cinematography by Manfred Guthe is another strength. Several of Mr. Guthe's scenes are quite beautiful. Yet, he and Gillard do not lose the pace and or let arty camera-work take away from telling what is essentially a formula story. They get as close as they can, but do not color outside the lines. Not too shabby.

****** A Friend of the Family (2/2005) Stuart Gillard ~ Laura Harris, Kim Coates, Eric Johnson, Sabrina Grdevich

I thought the Directing and Cinematography were excellent... The script was very well thought out and written.... The acting was so professional and spot on for each of the characters.. I give it 2 thumbs UP.. So GOOD... It was a tough shoot as we made every shot and performance perfect.. I would work with this Director, DOP, and Operator any time.. The crew were pro's.. The actors were pro's.. Everyone gave it there heart and soul each and every day.. Great directing... The suspense and thriller of it make your mind wonder and it gets you right into the movie.. The movie flows so well and flawless..

Wish Lifetime made more movies like this. I happened to flicking through the channels and caught this one. It is a riveting tale that keeps you wondering, is Alison imaging a lot of the drama and chase she's feeling or is Snow really a serial killer? You have to watch the movie slowly boil to climax and you won't be disappointed. Really excellent pacing and acting, also.