In Her Mother’s Footsteps

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Rating 1¾


Directed by Farhad Mann

Written by Steven A Finly

Starring Emma Caulfield (Kate Nolan), David Orth (Bobby Nolan), Matreya Fedor (Emma Nolan), Daryl Shuttleworth (Detective Garcey), Jody Thompson (Gina Byrnes), Tracy Waterhouse (Janet Cuccini), Adrien Dorval (Lucas Portwell ) and Mackenzie Gray (Carl Brookes)


Kate Nolan learns that her estranged father, who she has not seen for many years, has died, leaving her a fortune worth eleven million dollars. He had also bought a large house for her, which he was in the process of renovating when he died. Kate moves into the house with her daughter Emma and husband Bobby, but soon she is having a serious of disturbing dreams and visions, suggesting a repeat of the breakdown she suffered when her first husband, Emma’s father, died three years earlier. Her fragile state of mind is further compromised when she accuses her dead father of committing several murders in the house and becomes the focus of the police investigation into the alleged crimes.

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‘In Her Mother’s Footsteps’, which is also known as ‘Deadly Inheritance’, is a 2006 psychological horror mystery film made for the Lifetime Movie Network. The story covers very well worn ground and is told in an instantly familiar style. There is nothing here that has not been done many times before. The narrative is somewhat unfocused and both the screenplay and the direction would have benefited from being sharper. The twists and deceptions in the story are not particularly accomplished and the dénouement, if given too much thought, is silly and implausible.

Having expressed these criticisms, the film has the merits typical of Lifetime productions. It is easy and enjoyable to watch, avoids the pandering and nastiness that blights some horror films and psychological thrillers made for cinema or DVD release, and boasts a competent and watchable cast. The lead role is taken by the likeable Emma Caulfield, who was memorable in the role of Anya in seasons three through to seven of Joss Whedon’s acclaimed television series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. She was also excellent in the under-appreciated 2003 horror film ‘Darkness Falls’.

You know what you are going to get with a Lifetime film and there are rarely if ever any surprises in store. As such, potential viewers are likely to already know if ‘In Her Mother’s Footsteps’ would be for them. I make no great claims for it, but I wanted to watch it and I am glad to have had the opportunity to do so.

Review posted 23 August 2009



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Darkness Falls

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Rating 3


Directed by Jonathan Liebesman

Written by Joe Harris, John Fasano and James Vanderbilt

Starring Emma Caulfield, Chaney Kley, Lee Cormie, Grant Piro, Sullivan Stapleton, Steve Mouzakis, Peter Curtin, Joshua Anderson and Emily Browning


It would be very easy to find all kinds of faults with this film and that is precisely what the critics did. 120 reviews collected at Rotten Tomatoes result in a horrible 8% rating.

“The tagline reads, ‘Evil Rises, Darkness Falls,’ but they clearly forgot the third caveat: ‘Slumber Ensues’.”
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing

It’s not original. It isn’t scary. It follows tried and tested patterns already well established for modern day “popcorn” teen horror films – although it began life as a vehicle for Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It could be easily argued there is no reason for this film to exist, but that presumably goes for any film that is not deemed to be a classic of paramount artistic merit. Who is to judge what films belong in this category? I have no time at all for any of the ‘Star Wars’ films (not that I’ve actually seen all of them), but the original one, in particular, is widely acknowledged as a classic. I can’t understand why, but that is of no great consequence. These things are subjective. Each time I’ve watched ‘Darkness Falls’ I’ve enjoyed it more. It’s the kind of horror film I like.

I guess it’s true to say that modern “chillers”, horror films that seek to be creepy rather than gore-fests, are failing in their intent when compared to the old classics like ‘The Spiral Staircase’, ‘The Haunting’ and ‘Village Of The Damned’. This might go some way towards explaining the brief fascination with so-called “J-Horror”, a genre that harks back to an older era. Part of the success of those older films and many others like them is the black and white photography, which lends them an immediately eerie feel.

‘Darkness Falls’ might not be the best film in the world, but I think it works rather well. Emma Caulfield is a strangely undervalued and underused actress, although I suppose that could be said of many other actresses – and, indeed, actors – in Hollywood. The first time I watched the film I wasn’t especially impressed by Chaney Kley, but each time I’ve watched it again since then I have become more taken by his nervy, jittery performance. It suits the role and his character’s backstory very well. It’s sad that he had died so young – just 34 years old.

The film, which wasn’t exactly a budget-breaker, grossed $47.5 million at the box office.



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