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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Slither

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Rating 3


Written and directed by James Gunn

Starring Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rooker, Gregg Henry and Matreya Fedor


This comedy-horror, a kind of homage to films like ‘Invasion Of The Body Snatchers’ and ‘It Came From Outer Space’ with added ‘Critters’-style gore, received almost universal good reviews, although Roger Ebert wasn’t impressed. It was written and directed by James Gunn, the writer of the two ‘Scooby Doo’ films, and was made on a small budget - $15 million, not much more than a third of the cost of ‘Serenity’, as way of a comparison.

The buzz about the film had begun before it was released into cinemas and all the signs suggested it was going to be a box office hit. However, the Internet buzz and favourable reviews failed to translate into an actual audience for the film. It grossed less than $8 million in America and only just scrapped over the $12 million mark worldwide.

I don’t think ‘Slither’ is quite the classic suggested by some of the reviews. The small-town Midwest setting is perfect, although this is no ‘Matinee’. It didn’t impress me like ‘Tremors’. In fact, I probably found ‘Evolution’ funnier, although ‘Slither’ is undoubtedly a better film.

By all accounts, James Gunn has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the genre. I think the visual reference to the David Cronenberg film ‘Shivers’ in the publicity and in one scene in the film itself was a wrong turn. However, it is an enjoyable and quite light-hearted film and it does have some very clever touches, such as the ‘Crying Game’ karaoke moment, that plays as a good-natured parody of David Lynch.

Nathan Fillion and Elizabeth Banks work well together and they are a likeable screen couple. They both have something that hints at the “Golden Age of Hollywood”.



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