8 reviews
MY FAMILY'S SECRET (TV movie 2010)
3 out of 10 stars Time to Read: 4min
*Warning: Contains a Suicide Attempt (see below)
Not one of Christine Conradt's successes...
BASIC PLOT: Jason Darcie (Dylan Neal) should be enjoying the best time of his life. He's newly married to Lara (Nicholle Tom), a wife he desperately loves, but his past is ever present in his mind. The stress and horrors of his childhood have put a strain on Jason, and the pain has become too much for him. He's tried to commit suicide, and his note said he couldn't live with the secrets of his past any longer. Thankfully his wife Lara, found him in time to save his life. But he still needs long term, in patient therapy, and that costs money they just don't have. Lara decides her only option is to seek out Jason's brother, Grady (Philip Riccio), a man she barely knows, for help. He still lives in the Darcie ancestral home, and Lara wonders if she can convince him to mortgage it, to save his brother.
While staying at the Darcie estate, Lara is uncomfortable with Grady's strange behavior. He seems to change on a dime, and she can't figure out what's wrong with him. But she does convince him to mortgage the house, so Jason can get the help he needs. While she is staying with Grady, Lara discovers several things about the boys' past. Apparently, they had a little sister, Kara Lynn (Gracie Orr), who died under mysterious circumstances. Lara also uncovers their father, Paul Darcie (Peter MacNeill), was more than just abusive, he was a monster.
Can Lara discover the secrets of the Darcie family's past, in time to save their future?
WHAT WORKS: *DYLAN NEAL GIVES THE ONLY BELIEVABLE PERFORMANCE IN THE WHOLE MOVIE Dylan Neal is a good actor. You can stick him anywhere, and he'll be fine. It's no different here, he gives his typical, quality performance, and it's as good as it can be, with a script this bad. He must have really needed the money, or the script looked a lot better on paper.
* Cinthia Burke IS A GUILTY PLEASURE OF MINE No one but true Lifetime Movie fanatics would even know who she is, but she always played the quintessential, ancillary bad girl, in Lifetime movies from this era. Here she plays another side character, Candy Wickson, and as always, there's just something likable about her.
*THIS HAS A COOL MOVIE POSTER That's so rare these days, I feel the need to comment on it. I wish I knew who designed it, so I could give credit.
*THE TRAILER IS W-A-A-A-Y BETTER THAN THE MOVIE If the movie, was half as good as the trailer.... But, alas, it's not.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: *THIS MOVIE IS LIKE WATCHING A BAD COUGH SYRUP COMMERCIAL I kept thinking, over and over, this is like a bad TV commercial. The acting, the actors articulation, the framing of the shots, everything is just like a TV commercial.
*NICHOLLE TOM IS BAD But then Nicholle Tom is always bad, and this is no different. Her portrayal of Lara Darcie is just awful. How she continuously worked on Lifetime is a mystery to me.
*THE CHARACTERS ARE STIFF AND NOT BELIEVABLE These characters are so wooden, and one dimensional, it's hard to watch. It's just bad, and I mean bad.
*THE CINEMATOGRAPHY AND DIRECTING IS DISTRACTING Everything is either too close, or oddly placed , and there are lots of shots that are so dark, you can't see the actor's face. This is all down to director, Curtis Crawford, and cinematographer, James Ransom.
*FOR A THRILLER, THERE'S NO SUSPENSE Maybe it's because there's no real character development, but there's no tension, or suspense in this movie. None.
*THE DIALOG IS BAD I used to be a fan of Christine Conradt (for the most part), but this is not up to par. A matter of fact, I wouldn't recommend any of her work after 2016, AND even though this is older, I would definitely NOT recommend this either. It's plodding, boring, and there's no tension whatsoever. There's not enough character development to make me give a damn about anyone in it, and it's almost unwatchable, even for a time waster.
*JANET-LAINE GREEN CAN'T SAVE AUNT JUNE Janet-Laine Green is a fine actress, but even she can't save this movie from it's terrible script. She plays June Shaeffer, the Darcie boys aunt. She knows their father, Paul Darcie (Peter MacNeill), was disturbed, and she believes he killed her sister. But even with all this insight, she still taunts an unbalanced Grady, when he comes her house. NO ONE WOULD DO THAT!
*THIS IS NOT HOW DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER WORKS I know everybody who's seen the movie, Identity (2003), thinks that personalities can kill each other off, but reality is much less dramatic. With DID, the personalities all serve a purpose in the sufferer's life. They might argue, but they wouldn't be able to murder one another, it would go against why they were created in the first place. Also, it is ludicrous Lara (Nicholle Tom) would "figure out" Grady (Philip Riccio)has DID (a man she barely knows), when his best friend, Candy (Cinthia Burke) and his boss, don't know.
TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION: *I cannot in good conscience, recommend this to anyone, even to fans of made-for-tv movies, and melodramas. It's just a fail, and that's too bad, because the premise is interesting, but the execution is terrible. Try another Christine Conradt film instead, like Flirting with Madness (2015) or Missing at 17 (2013), they're much better.
CLOSING NOTES: *I don't believe in trigger warnings, but I do believe in giving people a heads up, when there's something potentially harmful or hurtful to certain people. In this case, there is a suicide attempt, and the audience does witness this, so be aware it's there, if this might be a problem for you. If you, or someone you know, is feeling suicidal, you are not alone!
Dial 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or call 911. To chat: 988lifeline . O r g
*This is a made-for-tv movie, please keep that in mind before you watch\rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.
*I have no connection to the film, or production in ANY way. This review was NOT written in full, or in part, by a bot. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews (less trolls and fanboys), and better entertainment. Hope I helped you out.
Not one of Christine Conradt's successes...
BASIC PLOT: Jason Darcie (Dylan Neal) should be enjoying the best time of his life. He's newly married to Lara (Nicholle Tom), a wife he desperately loves, but his past is ever present in his mind. The stress and horrors of his childhood have put a strain on Jason, and the pain has become too much for him. He's tried to commit suicide, and his note said he couldn't live with the secrets of his past any longer. Thankfully his wife Lara, found him in time to save his life. But he still needs long term, in patient therapy, and that costs money they just don't have. Lara decides her only option is to seek out Jason's brother, Grady (Philip Riccio), a man she barely knows, for help. He still lives in the Darcie ancestral home, and Lara wonders if she can convince him to mortgage it, to save his brother.
While staying at the Darcie estate, Lara is uncomfortable with Grady's strange behavior. He seems to change on a dime, and she can't figure out what's wrong with him. But she does convince him to mortgage the house, so Jason can get the help he needs. While she is staying with Grady, Lara discovers several things about the boys' past. Apparently, they had a little sister, Kara Lynn (Gracie Orr), who died under mysterious circumstances. Lara also uncovers their father, Paul Darcie (Peter MacNeill), was more than just abusive, he was a monster.
Can Lara discover the secrets of the Darcie family's past, in time to save their future?
WHAT WORKS: *DYLAN NEAL GIVES THE ONLY BELIEVABLE PERFORMANCE IN THE WHOLE MOVIE Dylan Neal is a good actor. You can stick him anywhere, and he'll be fine. It's no different here, he gives his typical, quality performance, and it's as good as it can be, with a script this bad. He must have really needed the money, or the script looked a lot better on paper.
* Cinthia Burke IS A GUILTY PLEASURE OF MINE No one but true Lifetime Movie fanatics would even know who she is, but she always played the quintessential, ancillary bad girl, in Lifetime movies from this era. Here she plays another side character, Candy Wickson, and as always, there's just something likable about her.
*THIS HAS A COOL MOVIE POSTER That's so rare these days, I feel the need to comment on it. I wish I knew who designed it, so I could give credit.
*THE TRAILER IS W-A-A-A-Y BETTER THAN THE MOVIE If the movie, was half as good as the trailer.... But, alas, it's not.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: *THIS MOVIE IS LIKE WATCHING A BAD COUGH SYRUP COMMERCIAL I kept thinking, over and over, this is like a bad TV commercial. The acting, the actors articulation, the framing of the shots, everything is just like a TV commercial.
*NICHOLLE TOM IS BAD But then Nicholle Tom is always bad, and this is no different. Her portrayal of Lara Darcie is just awful. How she continuously worked on Lifetime is a mystery to me.
*THE CHARACTERS ARE STIFF AND NOT BELIEVABLE These characters are so wooden, and one dimensional, it's hard to watch. It's just bad, and I mean bad.
*THE CINEMATOGRAPHY AND DIRECTING IS DISTRACTING Everything is either too close, or oddly placed , and there are lots of shots that are so dark, you can't see the actor's face. This is all down to director, Curtis Crawford, and cinematographer, James Ransom.
*FOR A THRILLER, THERE'S NO SUSPENSE Maybe it's because there's no real character development, but there's no tension, or suspense in this movie. None.
*THE DIALOG IS BAD I used to be a fan of Christine Conradt (for the most part), but this is not up to par. A matter of fact, I wouldn't recommend any of her work after 2016, AND even though this is older, I would definitely NOT recommend this either. It's plodding, boring, and there's no tension whatsoever. There's not enough character development to make me give a damn about anyone in it, and it's almost unwatchable, even for a time waster.
*JANET-LAINE GREEN CAN'T SAVE AUNT JUNE Janet-Laine Green is a fine actress, but even she can't save this movie from it's terrible script. She plays June Shaeffer, the Darcie boys aunt. She knows their father, Paul Darcie (Peter MacNeill), was disturbed, and she believes he killed her sister. But even with all this insight, she still taunts an unbalanced Grady, when he comes her house. NO ONE WOULD DO THAT!
*THIS IS NOT HOW DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER WORKS I know everybody who's seen the movie, Identity (2003), thinks that personalities can kill each other off, but reality is much less dramatic. With DID, the personalities all serve a purpose in the sufferer's life. They might argue, but they wouldn't be able to murder one another, it would go against why they were created in the first place. Also, it is ludicrous Lara (Nicholle Tom) would "figure out" Grady (Philip Riccio)has DID (a man she barely knows), when his best friend, Candy (Cinthia Burke) and his boss, don't know.
TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION: *I cannot in good conscience, recommend this to anyone, even to fans of made-for-tv movies, and melodramas. It's just a fail, and that's too bad, because the premise is interesting, but the execution is terrible. Try another Christine Conradt film instead, like Flirting with Madness (2015) or Missing at 17 (2013), they're much better.
CLOSING NOTES: *I don't believe in trigger warnings, but I do believe in giving people a heads up, when there's something potentially harmful or hurtful to certain people. In this case, there is a suicide attempt, and the audience does witness this, so be aware it's there, if this might be a problem for you. If you, or someone you know, is feeling suicidal, you are not alone!
Dial 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or call 911. To chat: 988lifeline . O r g
*This is a made-for-tv movie, please keep that in mind before you watch\rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.
*I have no connection to the film, or production in ANY way. This review was NOT written in full, or in part, by a bot. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews (less trolls and fanboys), and better entertainment. Hope I helped you out.
- vnssyndrome89
- Dec 12, 2023
- Permalink
Admittedly I wasn't expecting a top-shelf title, but boy-o-boy was this an ordinary movie. I think it's fair to say that after about the first 5-10 minutes of any movie, you can pretty much gauge what kind of quality you're in for & with this one I was filled with dread after about 2 minutes.
The movie is a stinker, with Nicholle Thom pretty much the only person who does a reasonable job of acting. The plot could've been interesting, but was destroyed by a shonky support cast & some Swiss-cheese treatment (i.e. holes everywhere).
Wasn't the worst movie I've ever sat through, but it's not far off. I'll be forgetting this one in a real hurry.....I hope.
The movie is a stinker, with Nicholle Thom pretty much the only person who does a reasonable job of acting. The plot could've been interesting, but was destroyed by a shonky support cast & some Swiss-cheese treatment (i.e. holes everywhere).
Wasn't the worst movie I've ever sat through, but it's not far off. I'll be forgetting this one in a real hurry.....I hope.
- brettie2608
- Oct 29, 2010
- Permalink
- scattiee-1
- Sep 18, 2010
- Permalink
I saw this movie on Lifetime and it actually felt like a lifetime trying to watch it. Bad acting from all the actors. And the main character Laura was just irritating. She was just doing too much of unnecessary stuff if your husband needs medical attention just do what you have to do to get with going to his family whom he had already told her to stay away from. She caused the Auntie to get killed made the brother who was schizophrenia have a bad episode. Went and caused the dad at the nursing home and caused him to get upset even though it's obvious he's dealing with dementia or Alzheimer's she is doing all while corresponding with the doctor whose egging her own. For some strange reason she couldn't figure the brother was schizophrenia. I understand she wanted to help her husband but she put to much time and effort in getting in her husbands family when she should have respected her husband and do like he told her before they got married leave his family. He said that when he told her that they would be better off by not inviting them to the wedding.
If this movie was based on actual events then all the characters should be in a mental asylum including the shrink.
If you can avoid this movie please do.
If this movie was based on actual events then all the characters should be in a mental asylum including the shrink.
If you can avoid this movie please do.
No masterpiece but not bad. The piece promises more than it delivers, the denouement leaves one wishing for more substance.
At the start,troubled Jason Darcie(ex-soap hunk Dylan Neal)tries to commit suicide. It has to do with family secrets revolving around the mysterious death of Jason's sister, long time ago.He is interned seeking treatment, and his concerned wife Lara(Nichole Tom)goes back to his home town looking for financial help and perhaps some answers to Jason's emotional trauma.Jason's dad Paul(Peter McNeill) is senile and in a home,his brother Grady(Philip Riccio)is timid and disturbed,and doesn't offer much, but in her research around town Lara gets closer to Grady and the awful events in the Darcie subconscious.
It's no secret to us from the start that Grady suffers from dissociative identity disorder(DDI),aka multiple personality disorder.Shortly after Lara meets him, the audience, not Lara, is gradually introduced to his 5 or 6 personalities, ranging from murderous hood,assertive regular Joe, passive introvert, to innocent black girl. One recourse is to show them in his mind's eye,by showing actor Riccio convincingly talking to himself in different voices, then cutting to the different personalities together over a white background.Another way is by having the actor show a personality transformation within the scene, as when a hostile personality comes to timid Grady's defense and violently pushes away a very surprised offender, Jake(Chris Cogllis). Philip Riccio as Grady, whose looks and acting style reminds one of actor Edward Norton, pulls it off beautifully.
Nichole Tom as Lara is good in her role as the involved and worried wife,and Dylan Neal appealing as her troubled husband. The supporting cast is interesting and suitable, but the multiple personality role is an opportunity that actor Riccio uses well to outshine all others.His is a detailed and impressive performance, his mood changes are compelling.
Expectations are sky high when the theme of multiple personality(DDI) is involved in a film, and this script treatment falls short of expectations.This is certainly not "Sybil",a classic TV film about DDI as manifested in Sybil,brilliantly played by Sally Field with no less than Joanne Woodward playing her psychiatrist. Joanne won an Oscar in the fifies playing a DDI victim in "Three Faces of Eve", a pioneering film study on the disease which garnered lots of attention. "My Family's Secret" is just a thriller,not focusing on the disorder but on the mystery secret and using a character with DDI to add more interest to the story.Even so,as thrillers go this is not that well crafted or exciting, and the secret not that surprising.No fault of the actors, though.
This no Sybil, it wasn't meant to be, but as a thriller it's no Hitchcock either.
At the start,troubled Jason Darcie(ex-soap hunk Dylan Neal)tries to commit suicide. It has to do with family secrets revolving around the mysterious death of Jason's sister, long time ago.He is interned seeking treatment, and his concerned wife Lara(Nichole Tom)goes back to his home town looking for financial help and perhaps some answers to Jason's emotional trauma.Jason's dad Paul(Peter McNeill) is senile and in a home,his brother Grady(Philip Riccio)is timid and disturbed,and doesn't offer much, but in her research around town Lara gets closer to Grady and the awful events in the Darcie subconscious.
It's no secret to us from the start that Grady suffers from dissociative identity disorder(DDI),aka multiple personality disorder.Shortly after Lara meets him, the audience, not Lara, is gradually introduced to his 5 or 6 personalities, ranging from murderous hood,assertive regular Joe, passive introvert, to innocent black girl. One recourse is to show them in his mind's eye,by showing actor Riccio convincingly talking to himself in different voices, then cutting to the different personalities together over a white background.Another way is by having the actor show a personality transformation within the scene, as when a hostile personality comes to timid Grady's defense and violently pushes away a very surprised offender, Jake(Chris Cogllis). Philip Riccio as Grady, whose looks and acting style reminds one of actor Edward Norton, pulls it off beautifully.
Nichole Tom as Lara is good in her role as the involved and worried wife,and Dylan Neal appealing as her troubled husband. The supporting cast is interesting and suitable, but the multiple personality role is an opportunity that actor Riccio uses well to outshine all others.His is a detailed and impressive performance, his mood changes are compelling.
Expectations are sky high when the theme of multiple personality(DDI) is involved in a film, and this script treatment falls short of expectations.This is certainly not "Sybil",a classic TV film about DDI as manifested in Sybil,brilliantly played by Sally Field with no less than Joanne Woodward playing her psychiatrist. Joanne won an Oscar in the fifies playing a DDI victim in "Three Faces of Eve", a pioneering film study on the disease which garnered lots of attention. "My Family's Secret" is just a thriller,not focusing on the disorder but on the mystery secret and using a character with DDI to add more interest to the story.Even so,as thrillers go this is not that well crafted or exciting, and the secret not that surprising.No fault of the actors, though.
This no Sybil, it wasn't meant to be, but as a thriller it's no Hitchcock either.
A man called Grady suffers from multiple personality disorder.Is it schizophrenia,personality disorder or is he feigning to be an impostor?. Honestly,I found this movie quite interesting,the acting is wonderful,the atmosphere,the music is simply stunning.Concerning the story,it is almost new and not monotonous . Movie Synopsis: JASON DARCIE (Dylan Neal), tries to commit suicide and leaves a secret piece of information for his wife LARA DARCIE (Nicholle Tom), stating that the death of his little sister years ago wasn't really a coincidence or merely an accident of fate and destiny.He sadly wrote that he unconsciously may be responsible for this crime,but does not know how and why?.He even can not remember he had ever done any harm to his beloved sister.Mystery and suspense abruptly surges when his wife Lara feels curious to know about
more about her husband's mysterious past and the unresolved secret that led him to commit suicide!. Lara goes back to the small town where Jason was raised. There,surprising she meets his weak senile father in a nursing home who has enough!. Jason's younger brother GRADY (Philip Riccio) struggles to solve the inexplicable confession in Justin's note. Unfortunately, Lara doesn't know that Grady suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder). Lara's investigation of the brothers' controversial childhood caused Grady to be aggressive, yet repressing his outrage. The shocking truth is that Grady wanted to keep the past and was ready to do anything to hide a certain secret. When Lara starts to reach the mysterious truth,she puts herself and her closest relatives to danger. Believing after some facts released that Grady's dual personality is in control Lara has got to do something to save herself and others from meeting the same destiny as Grady's sister.
more Unexpected mysterious and shocking secrets are revealed in the end of this masterpiece EXCELLENT 10/10 movie.
more about her husband's mysterious past and the unresolved secret that led him to commit suicide!. Lara goes back to the small town where Jason was raised. There,surprising she meets his weak senile father in a nursing home who has enough!. Jason's younger brother GRADY (Philip Riccio) struggles to solve the inexplicable confession in Justin's note. Unfortunately, Lara doesn't know that Grady suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder). Lara's investigation of the brothers' controversial childhood caused Grady to be aggressive, yet repressing his outrage. The shocking truth is that Grady wanted to keep the past and was ready to do anything to hide a certain secret. When Lara starts to reach the mysterious truth,she puts herself and her closest relatives to danger. Believing after some facts released that Grady's dual personality is in control Lara has got to do something to save herself and others from meeting the same destiny as Grady's sister.
more Unexpected mysterious and shocking secrets are revealed in the end of this masterpiece EXCELLENT 10/10 movie.
- american218
- Dec 15, 2010
- Permalink