Secrets from Her Past (2011 TV Movie) User Reviews (2)

Another Terrible TV Movie

[jonathanruano · 4/10 · 24 August 2011]

"Secrets from her Past," is essentially about an insane middle aged woman Stephanie (Ashley Jones) who is told by a hit man to pay him $200,000 or else he will kill her, her boring husband (Michael Woods), her irritating son (Bobby Osbourne) and her mom. The reason why the hit man targeted Stephanie in particular is because she witnessed a mob shooting back in Chicago and the mob boss wants the hit man to kill her. Of course, the flaw in this plot is obvious. What is preventing the hit man from asking for another $200,000 once Stephanie paid him $200,000? Or what is preventing the hit-man from collecting $200,000 from Stephanie, shooting her, and then returning to Chicago to receive $50,000 for carrying out the hit? The hit man gets $250,000 and his superiors remain happy. I suppose it would asking too much to expect a TV movie to have good actors and large budget. But is it really too much to ask the screenwriters to write a good script? The only plus side for me was taking perverse delight in watching crazy Stephanie scrape as much money together as she possibly could and be reduced to the point of acquiescing to an extramarital affair with a hot, young Dr. Shawn Tessle (Italian-born actor Antonio Sabato)to get $100,000 -- although she adds that she will not enjoy the sex one bit. How noble! Well that makes hot sex with a hot doctor OK, doesn't it? Sabato's character is the most interesting thing in this picture, though before anyone rushes to see this movie, I should add that he is not up against any stiff competition. In fact, Sabato's character is not given much to say or do in this movie and, unfortunately, he's not even one of the villains.

3.5/10

Catch-22

[lavatch · 8/10 · 15 April 2019]

"Secrets From Her Past" has to be one of the better Lifetime films as an especially well-crafted thriller.

The protagonist Stephanie is working as a bartender in Chicago when she witnesses the mob killing of the owner of the establishment, Mo Stefanokis. Because she is able to identify the killer by name and because the killer knows her identity, she flees Chicago, changes her name to Kate, and starts a new life in Philadelphia.

But years later, the mob boss is able to locate her and plans to kill her. Fearing for the lives of her family members, including a doctor and a young son, Kate is in a Catch-22 situation. She can't go to the police out of concern for her family. As a result she is on her own in dealing with the mob and trying to save her life.

This was a taut thriller with good photography, solid performances, effective pacing, and, above all, a script that dotted every "i," crossed every "t," and led the viewer through a logical crime case to a thoughtful conclusion. It was also one of the rare instances in a Lifetime film where the police do not appear incompetent and lazy. Everything rang true in this outstanding made-for-television film.