Too much of everything

just watch it!

Good concept, poorly executed.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

I watched this film the first night it premiered on lifetime. I was pretty surprised at the graphic rape scene, but this was used to built up your absolute hatred of the villain and cheer your guts out for the victim. It stays interesting throughout and without going into detail, the ending is completely satisfying.I'm sure this film has some low ratings just because of the sensitive subject it highlights, but I've always been a firm believer in showing the dark side so you can see the darkness be vanquished. Also, the more graphic it is, the more you tend to sympathize with the victim and want even more for them to accomplish their goal of getting even.

Tess Thorne (Maria Bello) is a successful writer of the fictional mystery-solving knitting Doreen (Olympia Dukakis). She follows Ramona Norvell (Ann Dowd)'s directions and takes a shortcut going home from an event. Her tires get punctured by boards with nails in the road. There is no phone service. A guy stops to offer help. He ends up raping and almost killing her. She gets left for dead in a culvert with other bodies. She escapes and decides to keep it a secret. Her hallucinations start to drive her to seek revenge.At first, it seems interesting to see a Stephen King book done in a Lifetime movie style. After seeing it, that's enough for me. Bello does the her best but she's really alone in the effort. A lot of it is just a little cheesy. I would like to change Doreen to get away from Murder She Wrote territory. Doreen should really be played by Maria Bello. There are some pretty dark elements but other times, it can't get away from the Lifetime feel. This doesn't quite work.

Good dialog, good story line, good acting. Characters are developed in an interesting way. My husband and I, who generally prefer action flicks, got this because of Maria Bello, and high marks on this site. Maria, as always, does a great job here. Though this is not really an action film, it kept us entertained and we both enjoyed it. A few somewhat "superficial" moments early in the film, but it gets serious soon. And, as in any other film, there are moments when you say "Just do this or that!" and at least one thing is left unexplained, but it does not spoil the film. Great ending, with a vague reference to an earlier Maria Bello film I'm sure you'll recognize.

SPOILER: I always thought a TV-movie meant suitable for all the family. Is it me or has the standard for what is classed a TV movie changed? I really like this movie although to start with, I almost gave up watching it because it looked too perfect ..living the dream etc...not much happening except small dramas, I mistakenly thought it was one of those "TV movies". Then there was some bad language, the rape, attempted murder, dead bodies, and revenge which was all the more entertaining without interference from other parties eg the police. But this message here of not calling the police is surely not a message to tell the masses? I love good revenge films such as this one but this film loses a star for being described as a TV or cable-movie.