THICKER THAN WATER/THE TWISTED SON (TV movie 2019)
5 out of 10 stars Time to Read: 3min
WARNING: Animal violence (see below)
BASIC PLOT:
The Decker family is still reeling from the death of their beloved only son Zach (
Jason Smiley). Paige Decker (
Andrea Roth) is suffering the most, and her inability to reengage with life has begun to create financial hardships for the family. Her husband, Nathan (
Tygh Runyan) decides a compromise is the best solution, and offers up the idea of a boarder, until Paige feels she can return to work. At first, she is reluctant, but ultimately decides it's a better solution than having to face the world again.
A young college student named Brandon Wilcox (
Eric Osborne) is the only person who answers their ad. Because they have a teenage daughter, Addie (
Katie Douglas), they only wanted to take on female boarders, but due to Brandon's dire situation,
and the fact he's taking the same classes in college as Zach was, they agree he can stay for a few weeks, until he can find more suitable lodgings. At first, his companionship gave Paige great comfort. She started coming out of her shell with her family, and even considered going back to work. But Nathan and Addie are jealous of Brandon, and want him to leave, no matter the consequences to Paige. Addie is particularly judgemental of Brandon. She is determined to rid the family of him, and with her best friend Kara (
Kayla Henry), she embarks on a sleuthing campaign, designed to get him out of the house for good. They discover Brandon's past only goes back seven years. Who was he before? Addie's constant beratement of Brandon has added tension in the house, and Brandon's behavior has changed. Is Addie right, is Brandon really dangerous? Can she uncover his true motives in time to save her family?
WHAT WORKS:
*THIS MOVIE PORTRAYS GRIEF WELL For those that haven't experienced grief first hand, Paige's (
Andrea Roth) behavior might seem selfish, but that's not the case. Grief can be paralyzing, to the point of catatonia. She is doing her best, and her family should cut her some slack. However, not wanting to take on a border, or do whatever it takes to help the family financially is selfish of Paige. But again, grief can be isolating, and her feelings are not wrong. People treat you differently when you've suffered a loss, and it becomes more and more difficult to face anyone. Those who don't understand, expect you to "just get over it", or tell you, "your loved one wouldn't want you to feel that way". After a time, your grief becomes unacceptable to others, and so it's easier to just isolate yourself from them, as Paige does in this movie. This is a believable storyline, and
Andrea Roth portrays grief well.
*THERE ARE SOME BEAUTIFUL SHOTS IN THIS FILM There's some lovely filmmaking going on here. There are some hauntingly beautiful shots when Brandon removes obstacles. Also, the grey filter that's used as a visual metaphor is very effective. It's like what actually happens when someone is grieving. All of the bright colors just go out of the world, and you're left with shades of grey.
*THE SELFISHNESS OF THE FAMILY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MOTHER is a believable trope that many women have to deal with every day. No one in the family cares about Paige's feelings. All they care about is their needs not being met, due to her grief. Nathan is more concerned with finances, and his lack of sex, than Paige's feelings. Addie, their daughter, cares about no one but herself. I know she's a teenager, but c'mon! Nathan's enabling of her bratty behavior is disgusting, but it's worse when he doesn't extend the same considerations to his wife. Women are seen do'ers in many families - what can you do for me, not what can we do for each other. This is a believable plotline, although making the family this unsympathetic, creates apathy in the viewer, and that's not a good thing.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK:
*NATHAN & ADDIE BEING UPSET WITH BRANDON ABOUT THE PUZZLE DOESN'T WORK
Paige & Brandon finish a puzzle that she had been working on with her dead son Zach. It was a mother & son activity, that was special to them. Along comes Brandon, and helps her conquer her grief by finishing the puzzle. This causes the rest of the family to attack him! WHY? Attacking Brandon makes no sense! He had no way of knowing the puzzle activity was special, he did nothing wrong, SO WHY ATTACK HIM?! If they'd had grief counseling, they would understand, some times it's easier to share with strangers. And if finishing a symbolic puzzle helps Paige with her grief, her family should be pleased. Up until this point, Nathan was happy with Brandon helping Paige through her grief, so why suddenly would this change? This is where the movie begins to fall apart (at the midpoint). Decent people wouldn't attack a stranger for something he had no way of knowing, especially since he had participated in family activities before. Addie, the daughter, behaves in an atrocious manner to this stranger, from the beginning, BEFORE he does anything to give her cause. She's a selfish, self-absorbed brat, who doesn't seem to CARE about anybody's feelings but her own. If you want me to sympathize with this family, then make them act like human beings, not solipsistic toads. I should never sympathize with the villain more than with the protagonist, but that's exactly what happens here.
*IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO LIGHT YOUR DAUGHTER ON FIRE, YOU KEEP HITTING THEM UNTIL THEY STOP MOVING I have this complaint about lots of movies, they portray woman as useless in a crisis. In actuality, most women would defend their children to the death. No one would use one little hit, and then stop and wait to see what happens.
TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION:
*This movie has some problems, mainly the unlikeability of the husband and daughter. When the protagonists are more unsympathetic than the villain, the movie is bound to have problems. But, if that doesn't bother you, and you're in the mood for a low budget melodrama, you could do much worse.
Andrea Roth's acting is above average for this type of made-for-tv faire, and makes the movie watchable. This is a very average TV movie.
ANIMAL VIOLENCE: I didn't believe in trigger warnings, but I also don't believe in using animal violence, or deaths as a plot device. There are easier ways to show the depravity of the character. In this movie, Brandon, burns up Earth worms with a lighter. Unnecessary, and unwarranted.
CLOSING NOTES:
*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.
