The action of "My Mother's Stalker" spins off a class reunion from hell. Bethany is surprised to meet an old beau from high school named Paul Cavanaugh. In their senior year, Bethany dumped Paul and married Dan in a marriage that ended in failure. But Paul has come to the reunion expressly to see Bethany, and he has his sights set on reclaiming her. An underdeveloped theme of the film was weighing of the importance placed in leaving home or staying put in the place where one has roots. Like the lesson gleaned by Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," there appeared to be a strong message that "there's no place like home."
A major shortcoming of the film was the screenplay. The dialogue and the situations were often preposterous as a woman is murdered at the class reunion and Bethany is the improbable suspect. The local detective Amy had an axe to grind against Bethany because Amy was in love with Dan. Apparently, it is now payback time for the vindictive detective.
Another strange apparition is Dan, who returns after gaining sobriety. He too seems to be seeking to reclaim Bethany and the daughter he has not seen in over a decade. Dan is lurking around, breaking and entering Bethany's home, and making himself conspicuous in his white car. His appearances were often more comical than they were sinister.
Another deficiency in characterization was that of Paul Cavanaugh. As Paul became more and more assertive, his character became less and less believable. One might understand why Bethany's young daughter Mel was taken in by Paul's charm. But the more steady and clear-thinking Bethany was wary of Paul's aggressiveness from the start.
While the acting was good and there was a decent variety of character types, the drama lacked an essential degree of realism. It was not credible that Bethany and Mel would be residing in an enormous home at a time when Bethany had just received her realtor's license and had no discernible source of income for such a home.
The mother and daughter were leading such a hardscrabble life that they could not afford a vacation. Yet somehow they are residing in a palatial manor!
A major shortcoming of the film was the screenplay. The dialogue and the situations were often preposterous as a woman is murdered at the class reunion and Bethany is the improbable suspect. The local detective Amy had an axe to grind against Bethany because Amy was in love with Dan. Apparently, it is now payback time for the vindictive detective.
Another strange apparition is Dan, who returns after gaining sobriety. He too seems to be seeking to reclaim Bethany and the daughter he has not seen in over a decade. Dan is lurking around, breaking and entering Bethany's home, and making himself conspicuous in his white car. His appearances were often more comical than they were sinister.
Another deficiency in characterization was that of Paul Cavanaugh. As Paul became more and more assertive, his character became less and less believable. One might understand why Bethany's young daughter Mel was taken in by Paul's charm. But the more steady and clear-thinking Bethany was wary of Paul's aggressiveness from the start.
While the acting was good and there was a decent variety of character types, the drama lacked an essential degree of realism. It was not credible that Bethany and Mel would be residing in an enormous home at a time when Bethany had just received her realtor's license and had no discernible source of income for such a home.
The mother and daughter were leading such a hardscrabble life that they could not afford a vacation. Yet somehow they are residing in a palatial manor!