User Reviews

It's just what you expect out of lifetime television. It wasn't necessarily a bad movie. It's just I didn't really care for the ending. I am just feel like the movie gave itself away a little bit too much with who the stocker was at the beginning. What really throws a movie off from the get-go was the detective. I don't know if the actors playing her is related to some head honcho that was in charge of this movie or was she cast because the fact that she was the mean kid obviously in school that had to have a way all the time. Try to show all of us in life that if your main person this is what you end up turning into. I just know that her and pardon me for saying that because I'm not trying to be pointing the woman's age out but she seems like she's the same age as the victims mother. Not someone who is going to their 20th High school reunion. Also didn't like the fact that the woman acted like she was the one had a right to be angry to the point she was very high and mighty about it. If anyone has a right to be angry it was the main character. I was really hoping for the ending where the detective was trying to frame this woman and she got busted. I'm highly disappointed that the doctor ended up being the one that was actually to kill.

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!

Once every blue moon, a director produces a film which brings together some of the world's most talented actors, a gripping storyline and a fully believable plot and with 'My Mothers Stalker', David DeCoteau has delivered a truly modern masterpiece which sets the benchmark by which all films should be judged.

All the actors are at the top of their game.... Clayton James is in outstanding form as Dr Paul Cavanagh and one can only wonder as to why the viewing public haven't seen him in other cinematic tour de forces. Emmanuelle Vaugier is an actress of great talent and never disappoints but even she is overshadowed by the wonderful Diane Verhiel as the detective. It is a rare thing to have the pleasure of experiencing such an outstanding thespian bringing authenticity and believability to a role but Ms Verhiel carries it out with huge aplomb.

I won't spoil your viewing pleasure by regurgitating the plot as other less discerning reviewers have already done so but needless to say, you will be delighted, intrigued and terrified in equal measure.

Although all the lead thespians deliver truly memorising performances, mention should be made of Howard Markson as Dr Berg who is obviously an actor of undoubted talent but wasn't given enough screen time to showcase his acting credentials.

Ultimately, this silver screen smorgasbord should act as a precautionary tale for middle aged attractive ladies to avoid high school reunions at which their former childhood sweethearts attend and for psychopathic doctors/aviators to avoid the propellor blades of light aircraft.

Hugely recommended!