Tag: made-for-tv movie

My Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List 2025

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

As Christmas is almost here, it’s time for my yearly Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List! If you’re new to 18 Cinema Lane, this is an annual tradition where I share the movie related things I’d like to receive for Christmas. The list’s format follows the quote; “Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read”. The items on this list, like in past years, are a combination of realistic requests and wishful thinking. So, let’s start 2025’s Christmas wish-list!

Puppies and hearts Christmas wish-list image created by Freepik at freepik.com.

Something You Want

Back in 2018, I saw the 1975 movie, Escape to Witch Mountain. One of the most memorable aspects of that film was an object belonging to Tia, one of the story’s protagonists. Throughout Escape to Witch Mountain, Tia carries a Starcase. This box contains a map that helps her and her brother, Tony, find their way home. But ever since I saw the film, I’ve always felt the term “starcase” was misleading. That’s because I don’t recall seeing Tia putting anything into the case itself, like small toys or trinkets. Despite this, the Starcase is one of the most unique movie props I’ve seen. So, for this portion of my Christmas wish-list, I would like to receive a replica of Tia’s Starcase. But I want a replica that is truly a case where items can be placed inside. Plus, I would like the Starcase replica to feature a purse strap, so the Starcase can be carried either as a purse or a clutch.

Tia’s Starcase images created by Walt Disney Productions and Buena Vista Distribution Company

Something You Need to See

Two years ago, I started my series, Sally Solves a Mystery. In this annual series, I talk about television related mysteries in an attempt to solve them. For my upcoming Sally Solves a Mystery article, I will write about two mysteries related to the same movie. On the forum for Lost Media Wiki, I came across a post about a lost teaser trailer for the 1997 film, Anastasia. While I do love that movie, I personally don’t remember seeing the teaser trailer in question. Another piece of Anastasia media I don’t remember is Anastasia On Ice, an ice skating show based on the film. The only footage of the show I’ve seen are a few television commercials and a behind-the-scenes news segment about the show. Why these lost media mysteries are featured in this part of my Christmas wish-list is how much I’d love to see them solved by November 21st, 2027, which is Anastasia’s 30th anniversary.

Promotional image for Anastasia On Ice found on the Youtube channel, Commerical Collections.

A movie related piece of clothing or accessory I’d want to wear

Looking back on past Christmas wish-lists, I haven’t selected a movie related piece of clothing or accessory that is holiday themed. But that is about to change with the Halloween themed sweater I will now discuss. In the Lifetime movie, Killing the Competition, my eye caught a gray sweater with pumpkins and black cats on it. Even though the sweater was featured very briefly in the film, it stuck in my memory, especially when it came time to create My Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List. As I’m writing this article, I realized this is the second year in a row a sweater was chosen for this portion of my wish-list! With the Halloween sweater boasting a variety of colors, multiple outfits could be created around that sweater.

I apologize if this photo of the Halloween themed sweater isn’t the best. But as I explained in my Christmas wish-list, the sweater was featured very briefly in Killing the Competition. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

A book I’ve read that I’d like to see adapted into a film

When I participated in the Eurovisionathon readathon, one of the books I read was A Prisoner in Malta by Phillip DePoy. It was, honestly, one of the better books I read for the event! A Prisoner in Malta is what would be considered a “page-turner”, as there was never a dull moment. The book contained other strengths like well-written banter between the characters, strong character development, and a mystery that was intriguing as well as complex. With all this said, I would be interested in seeing a film adaptation of A Prisoner in Malta! Based on what I’ve observed of the cinematic side of the mystery genre, historical mysteries seem far and few between. I also can’t think of many movies off the top of my head that are set in the 1580s. So, in my opinion, an adaptation of A Prisoner in Malta would offer something unique to the film-making table!

A Prisoner in Malta by Phillip DePoy book cover found on Goodreads.

What are your thoughts on my Christmas wish list? Are there any movie related things you’d like to receive during the Christmas/holiday season? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun during the Christmas/holiday season!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Night Before the Night Before Christmas Review + 515 Follower Thank You

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

With today being Thanksgiving, I wanted to share my thanks to all the followers of 18 Cinema Lane. I am grateful for having a reason to keep writing and sharing my thoughts on film! For this Blog Follower Dedication Review, I decided to select a movie from one of my recommendations. In fact, the film I chose has been on my Pinterest Film Recommendation board for so long, it has been on the very bottom. That movie in question is 2010’s The Night Before the Night Before Christmas! Suggested by a reader named T. Ann, this is a film I actually recall watching before. Though the only clear memory I had of the movie was the teenage daughter being upset over receiving a hamburger phone for Christmas. This isn’t the first time (nor will it be the last time) I revisited a film from Christmas past. One of my more recent movie reviews was The Christmas Choir, a title I had expressed interest in watching again. But in that review, I shared how I didn’t find the film as strong as I had initially believed. What will my thoughts be on The Night Before the Night Before Christmas? Keep reading my review to find out!

The Night Before the Night Before Christmas poster created by Muse Entertainment Enterprises and Hallmark Channel

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The Night Before the Night Before Christmas is one of those movies where I found it difficult to choose a favorite acting performance. That’s because the cast as a whole was strong! Expressions and emotions appeared genuine. Whether it was Hannah (portrayed by Rebecca Williams) looking forlorn when her younger brother, Toby, runs away or a volunteer named Yolanda (portrayed by Kim Roberts) being surprised when she receives an unexpected donation, the acting performances made watching the story unfold more enjoyable. There were even times when the strength of the acting talents helped characters become more likable. Two great examples are Toby and Nigel. The youngest member of the Fox family, Toby has such a sweet personality. Gage Munroe, the actor who portrayed Toby, does an excellent job showing what’s in his character’s heart through his face. In a scene where Toby and his mom are having a heart-to-heart conversation, Toby’s tear-streaked face and tear-filled eyes present how troubled he’s been over his parents’ decision to prioritize their jobs over their family. Meanwhile, Jordan Prentice’s portrayal of Santa’s head elf, Nigel, was very animated. His liveliness and comedic timing made Nigel one of the most memorable characters I’ve seen in a Hallmark, let alone Christmas, presentation! Out of the films I’ve seen (and reviewed) this year, so far, Jordan’s performance was one of the best.

Emphasis on giving: One of the interconnected conflicts in The Night Before the Night Before Christmas is the disappearance of Santa’s sack of presents. This particular conflict could have produced one of two types of stories; a villain stealing Santa’s sack in order to ruin Christmas or a selfish character taking the sack of presents for themselves. Instead, Santa’s sack of presents is mistaken for donations to those less fortunate. The recipients of the gifts and the volunteers of various non-profits are surprised and even grateful for the “donations” received. This decision in story-telling helps emphasize the movie’s major theme of giving. Toward the beginning of the film, Toby tells Hannah if they want Santa to give them presents, they should consider giving presents to others. What Toby said, as well as the movie itself, frames Santa in a way I hadn’t really thought of before; someone who has a reputation for giving. These two examples show the clever and thoughtful ways the creative team behind The Night Before the Night Before Christmas remind their viewers of an important component of the Christmas season!

How Christmas activities were incorporated: In Hallmark’s more recent Christmas offerings, activities related to the holiday feel like they’re incorporated into the story just for the sake of completing an unspoken checklist. This creative decision contributes to the network’s Christmas projects feeling repetitive. But in The Night Before the Night Before Christmas, whenever a Christmas activity was featured in the movie, it was there to compliment the story itself as well as the themes of the film. Santa losing his memory is the movie’s major conflict. In order to help Santa reclaim his memory, the other characters partake in activities like decorating a Christmas tree and baking cookies. Before the tree is decorated, Hannah and her mom talk about choosing a very tall tree because it looked similar to a tree the family had years prior. The activity of picking out a Christmas tree expresses one of the story’s main themes of sharing and keeping memories. What I selected as the examples for this review show how the creative team behind The Night Before the Night Before Christmas put effort and thought into how the aforementioned activities were included in the script.

Adorable Santa image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/christmas-background-with-funny-santa_1324597.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A drawn-out sense of urgency: As I mentioned earlier in my review, the major conflict in The Night Before the Night Before Christmas is Santa losing his memory. What gives the film a sense of urgency is how Santa must reclaim his memory before Christmas Eve so he can successfully deliver presents. While this conflict was eventually resolved, it ended up being drawn-out. The drawn-out nature of the conflict was caused by the story trying to divide its time between Santa searching for his memory, the whereabouts of his missing sack of presents, and the Fox family learning to reconnect. At one point in the movie, Nigel, as well as the other characters, frantically search for Santa’s sack of presents. The search then becomes interrupted by the characters’ attempts to help Santa get his memory back. These attempts last for about fifteen to twenty minutes, with the characters going back to looking for the sack of presents. This balancing act between the main conflict and subplots stretched out the story’s sense of urgency as well.

Things that don’t make sense: Christmas movies, like any fictional story, require the audience to suspend a certain amount of disbelief. But in The Night Before the Night Before Christmas, a few things didn’t make sense, sometimes requiring more than enough disbelief to be suspended. Like I said earlier in this review, Toby runs away. Santa and Toby’s mom find him riding on a carousel. As Toby’s mom and Santa are about to share a heart-to-heart conversation with Toby, the carousel is still moving. This raises the question of how Santa and Toby’s mom got on the carousel while it was still in motion?

Mrs. Claus’ minimal involvement: At the beginning of The Night Before the Night Before Christmas, Santa shares a heartfelt moment with Mrs. Claus. The on-screen chemistry between R.D. Reid and Marcia Bennett was so sweet and adorable, they effectually sold the idea of the loving relationship between Mrs. Claus and Santa. This aforementioned moment with Santa and Mrs. Claus is one of the few times she appears in the movie, as she is only featured in two scenes within the hour and twenty-eight-minute film. Personally, I found Mrs. Claus’ minimal involvement in the story disappointing. She could have played a larger role in helping Santa regain his memory sooner or locating his sack of presents faster.

Image of Thanksgiving dinner created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

In the introduction of this review, I said The Night Before the Night Before Christmas was suggested by one of my readers. Looking back on the 2010 picture, I can honestly say I’m glad it was recommended to me! The Night Before the Night Before Christmas is, in my opinion, one of Hallmark’s better films, especially among their collection of “older” titles! The acting alone helped make my movie-viewing experience enjoyable, as every actor and actress gave a solid performance. How Christmas activities were incorporated into the story was a breath of fresh air. They ended up complimenting the story itself and the film’s themes instead of trying to complete an unspoken checklist. The story’s emphasis on giving was woven into the script in clever and thoughtful ways as well. Even though The Night Before the Night Before Christmas has its flaws, it felt like the movie’s creative team got more right than wrong. A film like this one makes me wish Hallmark went back to creating titles that didn’t rely too much on a formula, tropes, and/or cliches.

Overall score: 8 out of 10

Have you seen The Night Before the Night Before Christmas? What “older” Hallmark Christmas movie would you like to check out this Christmas/holiday season? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun on Thanksgiving!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Christmas Choir Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

November’s theme for Genre Grandeur is “Movies about Music or Musicians”. As I was looking for a potential title to review, I remembered how this is the time of year when I write about Christmas movies. This then led me to recall my list of the top five Hallmark films based on a true story, where I brought up the 2008 movie, The Christmas Choir. Since I expressed interest in revisiting the film, I selected it for this month’s Genre Grandeur! In that aforementioned list, I stated my surprise over how The Christmas Choir isn’t a Hallmark Hall of Fame production. That’s because the story of a choir forming in a homeless shelter seems like perfect material for the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. Though when it comes to Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations, I have wondered what the criteria is for a story or script to be chosen. While that topic would make a great editorial or list article, that will have to wait for another day. For now, let’s begin this review for 2008’s The Christmas Choir!

The Christmas Choir poster created by Muse Entertainment Enterprises, Towers Pictures, and Hallmark Channel

Things I liked about the film:

The cast’s on-screen chemistry: In my list of the top five Hallmark films based on a true story, I mentioned how the quality of the acting talents in The Christmas Choir allowed the characters to come across as realistic and endearing. To further articulate my point, the on-screen chemistry among the cast helped create interactions that felt believable. One of my favorite examples is when Juan (portrayed by Luis Oliva) sang for the first time. A rule for staying in the choir is to come to practices and performances sober. Hector (portrayed by Roc Lafortune) is not happy about this rule, angrily throwing the sheet music and storming toward the door in a huff. The other members, like Bob and Fred, and even the choir’s director, Peter, plead with Hector to stay. Worry, concern, and even disappointment are reflected on the men’s faces and in their voices. When Juan begins to sing, however, the look of surprise on everyone’s faces appears genuine. This is because, at the homeless shelter, Juan had a reputation for remaining silent. As Juan finds a nearby can and turns it into a makeshift drum, that surprise turns into joy, lifting the men’s spirits and boosting choir morale. Juan’s voice ended up becoming the glue that held The Christmas Choir together!

Incorporating Christmas’ religious elements: I said in my list of the top five Hallmark films based on a true story how it’s been years since I saw The Christmas Choir. Because of that, I had forgotten about Christmas’ religious elements woven into the film. Most of the songs performed by The Christmas Choir are religious. In fact, the only secular Christmas song the choir sings is ‘Deck the Halls’. Sister Agatha will occasionally quote the Bible and bring up Biblical examples when the situation calls for it. Even one of the movie’s overarching themes is serving as Jesus would have. Personally, I liked The Christmas Choir’s incorporation of Christmas’ religious elements because they’re not often found in Hallmark’s Christmas movies. This creative decision also allows The Christmas Choir to form its own unique identity!

The messages and themes: As I just mentioned in this review, one of the overarching themes in The Christmas Choir is serving as Jesus would have. Other themes and messages sprinkled throughout the story perfectly fit the Christmas season as well. When Peter gives a monetary donation to the homeless shelter, Sister Agatha tells him that while money is appreciated, what the homeless shelter really needs is for people to give their time. Sister Agatha’s words inspire Peter to utilize his time (and talents) to form The Christmas Choir. The conversation between Peter and Sister Agatha alone is such a perfect example of how money doesn’t always solve a problem, especially when it comes to being charitable. This overarching theme actually encourages the film’s audience to think outside the box in the season of giving.

Three Wise Men themed wish list paper image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/christmas”>Christmas vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Too many conflicts: Within my review’s introduction, I brought up how The Christmas Choir is about a choir forming in a homeless shelter. While this is the movie’s main conflict, other conflicts like Peter’s issues with his father and The Christmas Choir competing for a permit are included in the script. As I watched the film, however, it felt like the creative team behind The Christmas Choir tried to squeeze as many conflicts as they could in an hour and thirty-minute timeframe. This choice made the movie overwhelming and the runtime feel longer. Though the 2008 movie is based on a true story, I’m not sure which parts of the script are based on fact or creative liberty. Therefore, the script should have focused on one main conflict with at least two subplots.

Sister Agatha’s inconsistent personality: When Sister Agatha was introduced in The Christmas Choir, she had a friendly personality with a bit of spunkiness. As I mentioned earlier in this review, Sister Agatha occasionally quotes the Bible and brings up Biblical examples when the situation calls for it. But as the story progressed, she became pessimistic and discouraging toward Peter and The Christmas Choir. Sister Agatha eventually returns to her spunky, friendly personality by the end of the film. However, the inconsistency of her personality is a flaw I couldn’t unsee. Rhea Perlman, who portrayed Sister Agatha, did a good job with the acting material provided. This mistake, though, lies with the screenwriter.

Things that don’t make sense: Sometimes, there were things in The Christmas Choir that didn’t make sense. One example happened at Peter’s office building. While at work, Peter’s colleague, Rita, tells Peter there are a group of homeless men singing in the office building’s lobby. Those “homeless men” were The Christmas Choir. Several scenes prior to this impromptu performance, however, Rita saw The Christmas Choir singing on television while at work in the aforementioned office building. Wouldn’t she have recognized The Christmas Choir when they spontaneously showed up in the office building’s lobby?

String of musical notes image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/pentagram-vector_710290.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a> <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com. 

My overall impression:

By revisiting The Christmas Choir, I was reminded of the film’s aspects I had forgotten about, like the inclusion of Christmas’ religious elements. This is one aspect of the movie I liked, as religious elements associated with Christmas are not often found in Hallmark’s seasonal presentations. I was also made aware of the flaws I overlooked. This is not a bad movie, but it wasn’t as strong of a picture as I initially believed. The abundance of conflicts in The Christmas Choir’s script made the film overwhelming and the runtime feel longer than an hour and thirty-minutes. There were not only some things in the story that didn’t make sense, Sister Agatha’s personality was also inconsistently written. But as I said in my list of the top five Hallmark films based on a true story, the 2008 picture is one of Hallmark’s more unique Christmas titles. This is due to the movie not following a formula or containing a certain set of Christmas movie tropes and cliches. What works in The Christmas Choir’s favor as well is the on-screen chemistry among the cast and the messages and themes stitched throughout the story. If you’re looking for a Christmas film from Hallmark that stands out within their festive collection, I’d recommend checking out The Christmas Choir.

Overall score: 7 out of 10

Have you seen The Christmas Choir? Are there any “older” Hallmark Christmas movies you’d love to see reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker Review

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Last year, I reviewed Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker. At the time, I knew there would be people interested in the film, as Great American Family has found its audience over the past few years. But I was shocked by how popular that review became. In a year’s time, my review of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker has garnered over 6,000 views and counting! When I learned a sequel was on the horizon, I immediately made plans to write about it. Now that review has come to fruition, as I have recently seen Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker! In my review of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker, I said it looked like this series had the potential to tell many more stories. From exploring another artisan avenue to progressing Ainsley and Jake’s relationship, the sequel proved my statement right. But how does it compare to its predecessor? Keep reading my review to solve this mystery!

Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker poster created by Candy Rock Entertainment, Happy Accidents, Syrup Studios, and Great American Family

Things I liked about the film:

The chemistry among the cast: If you’re creating a book, tv, or movie series, it’s important to maintain chemistry among the characters. If this chemistry is believable, interactions and relationships between characters become more enjoyable to watch unfold. A lot of the same cast members from Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker returned in the sequel. That worked in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker’s favor! The chemistry among the cast was so strong, it not only made every situation between the characters feel realistic, it also made their connections seem genuine! One of the best examples is the friendship of Jake and Ryan. Ainsley’s brother, Ryan, carries a serious, “business comes first” attitude due to being a police officer. Meanwhile, Jake’s personality is laid-back and a bit sillier. These characters’ differences allowed their friendship to be complimentary, especially when it came to Jake and Ryan’s comedic timing. This friendship was, honestly, one of the best parts of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker!

Inclusion of humor: As I watched Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker, I took note of how the film’s creative team improved upon the flaws of the previous movie. One of those improvements was the inclusion of humor. Sprinkled throughout the story, humor was woven into the dialogue. How this humor was written and delivered prevented the story from becoming too dark. One great example is when Gladys, one of the members of the “book club”, is being questioned by the police. Because Gladys knew Ellie Mitchum (the murder victim), she is considered a potential suspect. During her interrogation, the police ask Gladys if she was aware of any allergies Ellie might have had, as allergies are ruled as a likely cause of death. In a sassy yet matter-of-fact way, Gladys tells the police, “She was allergic to being a nice person”. To me, this was one of the funniest lines in the movie, as it was a great comeback to the question!

Ellie Mitchum’s house: Ellie Mitchum is a successful businesswoman who visits her former school in Sweet River, Texas. But, unfortunately, she becomes the murder victim in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker. Ellie’s funeral reception takes place at her house, where Ainsley, Jake, and Ryan attend. While not much of the house’s exterior is shown, it did contain an impressive stone porte-cochùre (covered entryway). That entryway made the house look like a castle. One of the interior spaces presented in the movie was the foyer. This space was circular, featuring intricately designed stained-glass windows, stone railings with carved designs, and a deep cherry-stained wood floor under an ornate rug. Even the house’s deck, though only shown in one scene, had a stone arch framing a beautiful view of the luscious green backyard and what appeared to be a lake. I wish more scenes had taken place at Ellie Mitchum’s house, as it was so gorgeous.

Heart of yarn image create by macrovector at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Learning very little about the protagonist: In the second movie of a film series, the project’s creative team can present more information to help the audience learn more about the protagonist. Whether in the form of dialogue or flashbacks, this information can expand the protagonist’s backstory, give them extra motivation to solve a problem, or provide an overarching component of a story. But in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker, very little new information was revealed about Ainsley McGregor herself. While her reason for leaving Chicago was given, Ainsley didn’t share this until almost an hour into the movie. That means the audience had to wait a long time to learn anything new about the titular character. Had more information been provided about Ainsley, the story would have become a bit more enriched.

Not enough George: When I reviewed Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker, I talked about how much I liked Ainsley’s dog, George. He played a larger role in the first movie, giving that film a more unique identity. While watching the sequel, Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker, I noticed George’s screen-time was reduced. Though I recognize how difficult it can be to incorporate an animal into a film production, I was disappointed by this creative decision. In my opinion, George steals every scene he’s in. Plus, times when Ainsley talks with George give the audience light-hearted moments that take a break from the heaviness of the murder mystery. Without George, the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series wouldn’t be the same.

Limited time spent with the “book club”: I mentioned in my Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker review how Ainsley’s book club turns into an investigation club. The dynamic shared between Ainsley and these members is what encourages her to solve the mystery in the first film. Even though the “book club” still holds their meetings in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker, Ainsley didn’t consult with them as much as she did in the first movie. In fact, there were only two scenes where a “book club” meeting was featured. In the sequel, Ainsley relied more on Ryan and Jake to help her solve the case. I hope Ainsley finds a balance between turning toward Jake and Ryan and discussing the mystery with the “book club” in future films, as each perspective makes a positive impact on the story.

Magnifying glass image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/magnifying-glass-with-fingerprint-in-flat-style_2034684.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/flat”>Flat vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

In some film series, the second chapter is better than the first one. Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker is a movie where that statement holds true! The sequel improved upon some of the flaws of its predecessor, such as including humor. Strong chemistry among the cast has become a consistent strength of this series, with Jake and Ryan’s friendship being one of the best parts of chapter two. While I won’t spoil the second film, I will say I liked how there were no obvious choices for the mystery’s culprit. That creative decision leaves the audience guessing whodunit. Though I liked Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker more than the first chapter, there is still room to grow. I wish the sequel gave the audience more information about Ainsley and showed George in a few more scenes. This film series is based on a book series, with one of those books titled A Case for the Toy Maker. Perhaps we could get a Christmas mystery movie from Great American Family?

Overall score: 7 out of 10

Have you seen Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker? Would you like to see Great American Family create a Christmas mystery movie? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Jobs are Cut at Hallmark and Lifetime in Pursuit of New Directions

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Two weeks ago, I published a Word on the Street story about Michelle Vicary returning to Hallmark as the company’s head of programming. But this is not the only recent change happening at Hallmark. Lynette Rice, of Deadline, reports how the company “eliminated 30 jobs on Wednesday”. The desire “to “transition our workforce to meet the needs of the business today”” was the provided reason for the cut jobs. Jimmy Holcomb, who was Hallmark’s Vice President of Production, is one of the laid off employees. His role at the company was overseeing “the physical production of MOWs, series, and specials for Hallmark Media’s broadcast channels”. He is “credited for creating new ventures for Hallmark Media throughout the world” as well. Meanwhile, Peter White, also from Deadline, reports how Lifetime “cut the majority of its non-scripted team”. The article states the reason for the cut jobs is “Lifetime is focusing more on its television movie business”. Affected by this decision is Nicole Vogel, who was the network’s VP for Programming and Development. At the time of the article’s publication, “The only remaining member of the unscripted team is now Brie Miranda Bryant, SVP, Original Programming”.

Illustration of woman quitting her job created by stories at freepik.com. Office vector created by stories – www.freepik.com

When I wrote about Michelle Vicary coming back to Hallmark in my last Word on the Street story, I addressed the network’s declining viewership. At that time, two Hallmark Channel films, A Machu Picchu Proposal and Providence Falls: Chance of a Lifetime, attracted less than a million viewers. Five movies in a row have received under a million viewers at the publication of this Word on the Street story. These newer titles are Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise (592,000 viewers), Providence Falls: Thief Of Fate (592,000 viewers), and Mystery Island: Play for Keeps (350,000 viewers). Similar to what I said in my last Word on the Street story, I’m not surprised Hallmark is making decisions like cutting jobs, especially when no movie in 2025, so far, has seen two million viewers or more.

Employee leaving job image created by rawpixel.com at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/business”>Business vector created by rawpixel.com – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Though I haven’t seen many Lifetime movies this year, most of the ones I have seen have been decent. However, I am aware of Lifetime’s reputation for distributing a large quantity of films with poor quality. Almost every year, at least one Lifetime movie ends up on my end of the year worst movies list. In 2024, three movies were placed on that list; Revenge Best Served Chilled, My Life Is on the Line, and Boy in the Walls. With this recent prioritization of made-for-tv movies, I’m hoping emphasis is not only placed on quality over quantity, I’m also hoping production value is raised as well.

What are your thoughts on these pieces of movie news? What other changes do you think are in store for Lifetime and Hallmark? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

References in this article:

Deadline articles: https://deadline.com/2025/08/hallmark-eliminates-30-jobs-1236493506/, https://deadline.com/2025/08/lifetime-layoffs-unscripted-1236493483/

Viewership numbers for Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise: https://programminginsider.com/saturday-ratings-fox-and-nfl-network-share-leadership/

Viewership numbers for Providence Falls: Thief Of Fate: https://programminginsider.com/saturday-ratings-nfl-network-continues-to-lead-cable-with-preseason-football/

Viewership numbers for Mystery Island: Play for Keeps: https://programminginsider.com/sunday-ratings-buffalo-bills-chicago-bears-posts-fox-networks-most-watched-nfl-preseason-game-in-four-years/

Take 3: Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Face to Face Review

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Any time I receive the opportunity to review a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, I try to prioritize titles that are either VHS exclusive or harder to find. This decision has been made to help give those titles more recognition, as well as encourage more people to check those films out. One of these films is the 1990 picture, Face to Face! As far as I know, this Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation was not released on VHS or DVD. It also premiered months prior to the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Caroline?, which I have reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane. The synopsis is what intrigued me toward seeing Face to Face, as the story (according to IMDB) is about “an American paleontologist and a British miner get in a conflict over who has the rights to dig on a site in Kenya”. A conflict about two differing parties at odds over a shared problem isn’t often covered within the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. In fact, the only movies I can think of that fit this description are The Summer of Ben Tyler and Sweet Nothing in My Ear. Face to Face’s Kenyan backdrop also provides a unique element to the movie. Africa is a setting that is rarely incorporated in Hallmark Hall of Fame’s films.

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Face to Face poster created by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Robert Halmi, and CBS

Things I liked about the film:

The scenery: As I mentioned in this review’s introduction, Face to Face takes place in Kenya. The creative team behind the film took advantage of the Kenyan landscape by featuring long and medium shots of the story’s natural surroundings. One example is an establishing shot of a sunset. Half the shot is engulfed in an orange and yellow sky, with a grey mountain at the sunset’s root. Nearby trees adopt a black hue, standing out against the sky’s bright colors. The ground appears to be a mix of rustic red and brown, warmed by the light’s glow. This establishing shot is so gorgeous, I doubt pictures would do it justice.

The dialogue: In my recent review of 1973’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, I praised the film’s dialogue. I mentioned how some lines were so well-written, they became a memorable part of the movie. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Face to Face shares the same strength! The film’s dialogue was not only witty and clever, it was also, at times, thought-provoking. During one evening, Face to Face’s protagonists, Diana and Tobias, are listening to the sound of a flute. This music is created by a young man named Enjoro, who works with Tobias. Impressed by Enjoro’s talent, Diana says “Just think what he could do with an education”. Tobias quickly replies by asking “Isn’t what he’s doing enough”? This conversation is a great example of how good intentions may be quite different from what a person wants or needs. Earlier in Face to Face, Diana’s arrival in Kenya is met by a colleague named Dr. Brinkman. On a nearby map, Dr. Brinkman is trying to locate Diana’s dig site. As he’s searching for the site, Diana says to Dr. Brinkman “You’re close”. When he asks her “How close”, she matter-of-factly tells him, “Got the right country”. The exchange between these two characters showcases the wittiness found in Face to Face’s script!

Enjoro’s subplot: Like I just said in this review, the flute music is created by a young man named Enjoro, who works with Tobias. But music is not his only passion. Enjoro is also a talented artist, with his drawings impressing Diana so much, she gives him an art set. Unfortunately, these artistic passions are frowned upon by his village, who would rather see Enjoro become a warrior. This personal struggle between village tradition and personal pursuits provides a subplot in Face to Face. A conflict like Enjoro’s is rarely incorporated in Hallmark Hall of Fame’s movies. In fact, I found Enjoro’s part of the story more interesting than the main plot. Had this film focused primarily on Enjoro’s personal conflict, I think the overall movie would have been more compelling.

Illustrated African landscape image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. Background vector created by macrovector – www.freepik.com

What I didn’t like about the film:

An unlikable protagonist: I recognize the creative team behind Face to Face was trying to utilize the “enemies to lovers” troupe when it came to Tobias and Diana. I also acknowledge they were trying to give Diana and Tobias an “opposites attract” dynamic. Unfortunately, these parts of the story were not as effective as they could have been. One reason lies with how unlikable Diana was. For the majority of the movie, she was a static character; close-minded, stubborn, and entitled. When Tobias offered a compromise or tried to make peace with her, Diana shut down his offers and even saw him as beneath her. Even though Diana and Tobias eventually develop romantic feelings for each other, that attraction felt abrupt. If Diana’s change of heart had been more gradual, not only would she be a more likable character, the build up between her and Tobias’ attraction would have been stronger.

The audio: Face to Face premiered in 1990. Therefore, I’m aware of how film-making technology back then was not as advanced as it is today. But one of the signs of these times was the bad audio heard in the Hallmark Hall of Fame film. Most of Face to Face takes place outdoors. This means not only were the cast’s speech picked up by microphones, background noises were picked up as well. The collection of sounds sometimes made it difficult to understand what the characters were saying. Face to Face could have benefitted from using ADR (automated dialog replacement).

The “insta-love” troupe: When I talked about how unlikable Diana was, I brought up the “enemies to lovers” troupe Face to Face’s creative team tried to utilize. I also brought up how Diana and Tobias’ attraction for one another felt abrupt. This was caused by Tobias and Diana remaining “enemies” for more than half the movie. So much time was spent showing Diana and Tobias bickering, disagreeing, and being negative toward each other instead of the protagonists building a romantic bond over time. When Tobias and Diana eventually fall in love with one another, the “insta-love” troupe unnecessarily makes an appearance in Face to Face. Having the protagonists stay “enemies” for too long also made Elizabeth Montgomery and Robert Foxworth’s on-screen chemistry seem weak.

Image of male lion created by Wirestock at freepik.com. Animals photo created by wirestock – www.freepik.com

My overall impression:

With the publication of my Face to Face review, I have now seen all three Hallmark Hall of Fame movies released in 1990. Out of these films, I find Caroline? the best one. As for Face to Face, I thought it was just ok. This is one of those movies where a better story idea was buried within the presentation Hallmark Hall of Fame gave its audience. I honestly wish Enjoro’s story had been chosen as the main plot. His personal conflict between village tradition and personal pursuits provided a compelling narrative. I also wish Tobias and Diana had spent more time developing a romantic relationship and working together to solve their shared problem. These creative decisions would have prevented flaws like the appearance of the “insta-love” troupe. Face to Face features merits such as the dialogue and the scenery. But I can think of better movies also featuring these merits. Though there are interesting ideas woven into the script, I can kind of see why Face to Face became lost to time.

Overall score: 6.1 out of 10

Have you seen Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Face to Face? Are there any Hallmark Hall of Fame films you’d like to see reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Updates on Three Upcoming Fall Movies for Hallmark Channel!

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Back in June, a third movie in the Haul Out the Holly series was announced. According to an article from the blog, It’s a Wonderful Movie, the film is Halloween themed, as two “spooky new neighbors”, Luna and Marvin, move to the neighborhood of Evergreen Lane. At the time of the announcement, no release date had been revealed. However, the official IMDB page for the third chapter, titled Haul Out the Halloween, has the release date listed as October 15th, 2025. As of the publication of this Word on the Street story, Hallmark has not confirmed this date. If Haul Out the Halloween will indeed premiere on October 15th, this could indicate when Hallmark Channel’s ‘Countdown to Christmas’ line-up will begin. With October 15th falling on a Wednesday and with the first Christmas films of 2024 and 2023 premiering on October 18th and October 20th, I speculate 2025’s first ‘Countdown to Christmas’ film could premiere as early as October 17th.

Cute Halloween border created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/halloween-background-with-fun-style_1310632.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

On Hallmark Channel’s website, a new movie has received a September 27th release date. The film is titled Adventures in Love & Birding, with Andrew Walker and Rachel Boston co-leading. The movie is about the following:

“A single mom agrees to be the partner of a bird enthusiast for a birding competition but misunderstands the assignment and tells everyone she’s his new girlfriend instead of just his teammate.”

Because the phrase “misunderstands the assignment” is included in this synopsis, I wonder if Rachel Boston’s character is a teacher? Maybe she is teaching her students about birds, leading to her involvement in the competition?

Image of crow at sunset created by Rayudu NVS at freeimages.com. Photo by <a href=”/photographer/rayudu238-57835″>rayudu NVS</a> from <a href=”https://freeimages.com/”>FreeImages</a&gt;. Image found at freeimages.com.

Back in May, I wrote a Word on the Street story about two new films in the Mystery Island series; Mystery Island: Play for Keeps and Mystery Island: House Rules. At the time, the fourth movie, Mystery Island: House Rules, had not received a premiere date. But Hallmark Channel’s website has now chosen September 14th as the film’s date of release. The movie’s official synopsis is the same on both its IMDB page and its Hallmark Channel page. Plus, Hallmark Channel revealed a collection of promotional photos for Mystery Island: House Rules as well. This fourth installment comes a month after Mystery Island: Play for Keeps, which premieres August 17th.

Tropical island image created by Brgfx at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/island-background-design_1020626.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Brgfx – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on these pieces of movie news? Are you looking forward to either Haul Out the Halloween, Adventures in Love & Birding, or Mystery Island: House Rules? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

References in this article:

Haul Out the Halloween‘s official IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37212241/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_haul%2520ou

Article from It’s a Wonderful Movie: https://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2025/06/breaking-lacey-chabert-and-wes-brown-star-haul-out-the-halloween-hallmark-channel.html

Hallmark Channel’s official page for Adventures in Love & Birding: https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/adventures-in-love-birding

Hallmark Channel’s official page for Mystery Island: House Rules: https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/mystery-island-house-rules

Take 3: Saving the Titanic Review

On By 18cinemalane11 Comments

When it comes to the Titanic, the sinking of the “unsinkable” ship and the tragedy that followed are the two most emphasized parts of the watercraft’s history. During the one hundred and thirteen years since the infamous disaster, multiple survivors (either real or fictional) have shared their stories through various forms of media. However, I have observed how the majority of these recollections have been from the perspectives of the passengers. While the passengers’ point of view is important, it seems like the media rarely captures the perspective of Titanic’s employees. This is the reason I chose to review Saving the Titanic for The Titanic In Pop Culture Blogathon. Whenever I participate in a blogathon, I will sometimes review a made-for-TV film. This decision is made because television movies are rarely included in blogging events. I also try to write about a subject that presents a blogathon’s theme in a more unique way. As I already mentioned, Saving the Titanic addresses a point of view that seems less frequent. So, without further delay, let’s begin my review of the 2012 TV production.

Saving the Titanic poster created by Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion, Tile Films, and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Things I liked about the film:

How the lower budget was utilized: Made-for-TV movies have historically received lower budgets. According to IMDB, the estimated budget for Saving the Titanic was €1,600,000 (or $1.8 million). Despite the limited funds, the creative team behind the 2012 television production saw this aspect as a challenge instead of a hinderance. The story revolves around the Titanic’s electricians, engineers, and “firemen” (those who feed fire to the ship’s boilers). Because their roles take place below deck, there’s only a few locations where the employees either reside or work. This allowed the movie’s creative team to recycle sets, featuring a handful of locations in multiple scenes. Medium and close-up shots of the employees and the ship’s machinery not only encourage the audience to focus on how the Titanic operated, they also show how frugal the creative team was with the space they were given. Because of the clever ways the budget was utilized in Saving the Titanic, it was easy to forget how low the budget was.

Use of mixed media: If I had to classify Saving the Titanic, I would call it a “docudrama”. While the majority of the film is a dramatization of the events surrounding the Titanic, the movie features mixed media, which is sometimes found in documentaries. From time to time, blueprints of the Titanic would appear onscreen as a voice-over explained the significance of each featured area. Real-life photographs emphasized how actual lives were impacted by every aspect of the ship. Even the Titanic’s first distress call was typed out on screen, giving the audience an idea of what nautical communication looked like in the 1910s. The inclusion of mixed media created an enriching viewing experience. That element highlights how the Titanic is as multi-faceted as the stories surrounding it.

Learning something new: Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about the Titanic. From discovering the ship did, indeed, have a swimming pool to what the last dinner was served in first class, I thought I knew a satisfying amount of information. But by watching Saving the Titanic, I learned even more about the titular ship, partly due to the perspective of the employees. The fourth funnel on the ship was fake. However, this design choice was a blessing in disguise for one of Titanic’s crew members. A greaser named Alfred White refuses to climb to the top of the fourth funnel due to his fear of heights. Later in the movie, he is ordered by Joseph Bell to report everything happening above deck. This order helps Alfred overcome his fear and accomplish his task, as he had to climb up the same funnel he refused to climb before. Had it not been for Alfred’s part of the story, I might have never known only three of Titanic’s funnels were functional.

The Titanic In Pop Culture Blogathon banner created by Rebecca from Taking Up Room

What I didn’t like about the film:

No explanation for surviving crew members: Toward the beginning of Saving the Titanic, a small group of Titanic’s surviving crew members are at the White Star Line Office. Two of those crew members are featured throughout the film, Alfred White and Frederick Barrett. On screen text revealed the movie was “based on testimonies from surviving crew of RMS Titanic”. So, I was curious about what happened to Frederick and Alfred after they arrived in New York. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t address this information. Instead, the end of the film acknowledged the deceased crew members, such as Joseph Bell. Even though recognizing the crew members who persisted is important, I wish the crew members who survived were recognized as well.

Thick accents: When I reviewed Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch last year, I pointed out how difficult it was to understand characters who spoke with thick French accents.  Saving the Titanic has a similar issue. A voice-over explains how the majority of Titanic’s employees came from Southampton. This means the ship’s crew members spoke to one another with English accents in varying degrees of thickness. For employees with thick accents, I, once again, found it difficult to understand what they were saying. While this wasn’t a consistent issue, it was enough for me to point it out.

Frederick Barrett’s “plot twist”: For this part of my review, I will spoil Saving the Titanic. If you have not seen this movie and are planning on watching it, skip ahead to the part of my review titled “My overall impression”.

Throughout his time on the Titanic, Frederick Barrett is very secretive about his past. When he is asked about his life before boarding the famous ship, his answers are vague. In a tense moment while the Titanic is sinking, Frederick explains to Joseph Bell how his wife cheated on him. He wanted to kill his wife and her lover, but chose to join the Titanic’s crew instead. As I mentioned earlier in this review, Saving the Titanic was “based on testimonies from surviving crew of RMS Titanic”. Therefore, the crew members featured in the film were actual people. The way the aforementioned part of Frederick’s story was presented felt like the movie’s creative team wanted to include a plot twist in a real-life story. Not only was this delivery unnecessary, I, personally, think there were better ways to write facts about Frederick’s life into the script.

Since I’m reviewing a movie about the Titanic and its history, I thought including a picture of That Fatal Night: The Titanic Diary of Dorothy Wilton was appropriate. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

My overall impression:

At the beginning of Saving the Titanic, Frederick Barrett is being interviewed about the Titanic disaster. Members of White Star Line tell Frederick they want to reassure the public of White Star Line’s nautical quality by bringing up heroes who helped rescue lives on that infamous April night. But, later in the film, Frederick calls out White Star Line’s members for trying to find heroes to fit the company’s narrative. He also refers to himself as a survivor, not a hero. The story of the Titanic is wrapped in tragedy, fear, and cruel irony. So much emphasis is placed on these aspects of the Titanic’s history, it may be easy to forget there were, indeed, people boarding the ship who were heroes in someone else’s eyes. Whether they are known or not, these people guided someone toward a lifeboat, fetched a life vest for a passenger who might not have received one, or simply tried to ease a frightened crew member’s anxiety. Saving the Titanic brings up some of those names and allows their stories to be told. Like I mentioned in my review’s introduction, the 2012 television presentation addresses a point of view that seems less frequent, which is Titanic’s employees in this case. Though the movie is flawed, I am thankful a production like this exists. It not only teaches viewers about the Titanic from a different perspective, it also shares a side of the story that seems rarely covered in media.

Overall score: 7.1 out of 10

Have you seen Saving the Titanic? Are there aspects of the Titanic’s story you’d like to hear more from? Please tell me in the comment section.

Have fun at the movies.

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

As I looked at the blogathon schedule for the rest of 2025, I discovered how few events were announced. This includes my upcoming blogathon, The Food & Film Blogathon. Despite the limited amount of blogathons, I wanted to provide more blogathon related content to my readers. So, I have decided to participate in Genre Grandeur! I have written reviews for this year-long blogathon before. However, the last time I participated in Genre Grandeur was October 2023, when I reviewed Christmas at Castle Hart. With July’s theme being “Movies Featuring Weddings”, I knew there were a lot of options at my disposal. But I wanted to talk about a movie that was more off the beaten path. When I learned there was a Perry Mason film revolving around a wedding, I knew I found the perfect title! Some of the movies from the Perry Mason TV film series have been covered on 18 Cinema Lane. These pictures have received likable reviews, as I have enjoyed them to varying degrees. How will this film, Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride, compare to those other entries? Keep reading my review to solve this mystery!

Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride poster created by Fred Silverman Company, Viacom Productions, Dean Hargrove Productions, National Broadcasting Company, and Viacom

Things I liked about the film:

Stand-out performances: In a mystery film, there is sometimes that one actor or collection of actors whose performance shines the brightest. That kind of performance came from Merle Kennedy, Brian McNamara, and Heather McAdam in Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride! The film’s titular bride is a pop star named Kaitlynn Parrish. From her style to her songs and even her dance moves, everything about Kaitlynn’s celebrity persona feels very Madonna-esque. But throughout the movie and also at the wedding, Kaitlynn’s personality is quite different. Heather McAdam portrays her character as a sweet, down-to-earth woman who hasn’t let fame and fortune get to her head. Instead of becoming a self-centered “bridezilla”, Kaitlynn shows concern for her dad’s legal situation. When Kaitlynn’s dad receives a phone call from a commissioner, the smile she had on her face as she walks into the room immediately melts into a look of worry. As she talks to her dad about the commissioner’s call, Kaitlynn’s tone of voice is filled with concern and there’s even a sad look in her eyes. She also suggests asking Perry Mason for help. Kaitlynn eventually goes back to appearing happy when her dad is in a better mood. Scenes like the one I described present a good example of how, sometimes, an entertainer’s real-life persona is quite different from what they present in the spotlight.

Brian McNamara portrays Sam Wald, a groomsman in Kaitlynn Parrish’s wedding. Merle Kennedy stars in the movie as Suzy Richards, a fan of Kaitlynn’s. What both Merle and Brian have in common is how their performance was charismatic! It also helps how their ability to adapt from scene to scene was effortless! Because of how strong Brian’s and Merle’s performance was, it allowed Sam and Suzy to be more intriguing. These elements made me look forward to seeing the characters appear on screen. I honestly wish Merle and Brian were given more material to work with in this movie.

The wardrobe: The Perry Mason TV movies are “contemporary” mysteries grounded in reality. This means the characters’ wardrobe not only runs the risk of appearing mundane, it also runs the risk of becoming overlooked. In Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride, however, some of the female characters’ wardrobe stood out to me. One of my favorite outfits appeared toward the beginning of the film. When Suzy is first introduced in the movie, she wears a red suede jacket with matching shiny red Doc Martin boots. Her outfit also includes a white shirt, black shorts, and black knee-high socks. My favorite piece was a black, cross-body purse with a silver buckle and silver corners. From what I could see, the purse looked like a mini trunk. The outfit I described was not only a great contrast from the other characters’ wardrobe, it also wonderfully represented Suzy’s personality! These results helped outfits like Suzy’s be memorable!

The set design: When I reviewed Perry Mason Returns and Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love, I talked about the set design as one of the strengths of both films. The exterior and interior of the highlighted spaces effectively visualized how well-off the characters are. Kaitlynn and her fiancĂ©, Gary’s, wedding in Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride takes place in a large mansion. This mansion appears built out of warm-stone brick with cream borders around the windows and main door. To the left of the mansion is a multi-paneled cylinder, making the building look like a castle. With manicured foliage in front of the mansion, one might mistake the structure as a dream out of a fairytale! Later in the film, the office of a music producer named Jake Lubin is shown on screen. This space has a high ceiling, large windows, and a massive indoor balcony. Metal support pillars and frosted glass railings give the office a modern industrial style. Platinum and gold framed records represent Jake’s success as well as compliment the cream, silver, and gold color palette. Once again, the set design of Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride provided visual clues for the characters’ social status.

Wedding couple with cameras image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/original-cards-for-wedding-photography_913021.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/logo”>Logo vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Lack of urgency: The Perry Mason television film series doesn’t rely on suspense or adrenaline. But the mysteries provide intrigue to keep the viewers invested in what’s happening on screen. The mysteries also provide characters with a sense of urgency, as they race against the clock to solve the case. However, Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride lacks that sense of urgency. Perry, Della, and even Ken meanderingly take their time building a legal case and questioning suspects. These characters act as if they don’t have a deadline or limited time frame to work with. This lack of urgency sometimes made the movie boring, as well as sucked the energy out of the story.

Things that don’t make sense: Ken Malansky suspects he’s being followed. Yet he doesn’t lock his car doors when he leaves his car to follow a lead at a music club. As Ken questions the music club’s owner, someone plants a recording device inside Ken’s car phone. When Ken eventually drives away from the music club, the car that was following him can clearly be seen through the front window of Ken’s car. That’s because the car following Ken was parked a few feet away from Ken’s vehicle. Decisions like Ken leaving his car doors open and ignoring the suspicious car created parts of the story that didn’t make sense.

Missed creative opportunities: My reviews for the Perry Mason TV movies have addressed the creativity each story had to offer. These creative choices helped give the movies a unique identity that was memorable. But Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride was a lackluster film because of the creative opportunities that were missed. Gary, Kaitlynn’s fiancĂ©, has a sister named Hannah. After her music career failed, Hannah decided to pursue a legal career. She even tells Perry how she will soon take the bar exam. This career shift could have provided a subplot where Hannah either assists Perry in solving the case or where the script explores the concept of a celebrity taking their career in a different direction. Sadly, Hannah’s new career plan has little to no bearing over the story of Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride.

Courtroom image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/isometric”>Isometric vector created by macrovector – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

As I mentioned in my review of Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride, some of the female characters’ wardrobe stood out to me. There were outfits I really liked, with Suzy’s aforementioned introductory attire being one of them. But similar to what I said in the past about a film’s scenery, this movie’s wardrobe couldn’t save the film. Out of the titles from the Perry Mason TV movie series I’ve seen and even reviewed, Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride was an under-cooked and uninspired entry. While there were stand-out acting performances, they weren’t truly given a chance to shine. That’s because the actors’ respective characters did not have consistent enough appearances in the story. The movie featured so many creative opportunities that were missed, not allowing the story to be memorable or unique. It also doesn’t help that the picture lacked a sense of urgency. With any movie series boasting over ten titles, there’s going to be at least one “bad day at the office”. Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride was one of those days for the fictional detective.

Overall score: 5 out of 10

Have you seen Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride? Are there any films from the Perry Mason television movie series you’d like to see me review? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Hallmark Mystery’s ‘Mystery Island’ Series Receives Two More Chapters

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

In the 2020s, mystery series have become less common on Hallmark Mystery. Murder, She Baked/Hannah Swensen, Curious Caterer, and Signed, Sealed, Delivered are, currently, the only mystery series with three or more movies. But Hallmark looks to be changing that by adding two more films to the series known as Mystery Island. According to IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base), Mystery Island: Play for Keeps and Mystery Island: House Rules have been given official pages. On the page for Mystery Island: Play for Keeps, June 5th is the scheduled release date. The official page for Mystery Island: House Rules simply states the film is “completed”. The synopsis for both movies is the following:

Mystery Island: Play for Keeps: “Mystery Island hosts a corporate retreat with a guest being Emilia’s ex-fiancĂ©. Old feelings become complicated, tensions run high, and allegations arise when a guest is found dead.”

Mystery Island: House Rules: Mystery Island success raises plans of expansion, and the Island team meets their Mystery Mountain counterparts for a friendly murder game, but the fun ends with a murder in plain sight”.

Magnifying glass image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/magnifying-glass-with-fingerprint-in-flat-style_2034684.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/flat”>Flat vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Just in 2025 alone, some of Hallmark’s creative choices have been questionable. Their decision to create two more films in the Mystery Island series is one of them. If you look at the IMDB page for Mystery Island, you’ll see most of the reviews are negative. The sequel, Mystery Island: Winner Takes All, received fewer reviews on IMDB. This indicates less viewers watched the second movie. However, all of these reviews are negative. With that said, it makes me wonder why Hallmark would give so much time, energy, and resources to a series that has gotten decreasing viewership numbers and consistently poor reviews?

Travel suitcase image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/water-color-travel-bag-background_1177013.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Are you looking forward to the continuation of the Mystery Island series? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

The IMDB pages referenced in this article:

Mystery Island: Play for Keeps: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36415104/?ref_=tt_mlt_t_11

Mystery Island: House Rules: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36415198/?ref_=tt_mlt_i_1