Since this is actually based on a true story (and not just Lifetime insinuating that it is), they should have taken five minutes to show more about how they realized Javier (Julio) was actually murdered. One line by the sheriff doesn't cut it. They could have talked to the coroner or done some courtroom scenes. Something. They didn't even take a moment to confirm the time of death which the sheriff mentioned they needed early on. I believe the guy ended up confessing so they could have read some court transcripts or something and fleshed it out in the script. It was like they were running out of time or budget and just wrapped it up. I also found it curious that as close as mom and daughter, and in-laws (Javier's parents) seemed to be, did no one find it strange that they hadn't heard from them in 5 days? Nearly a week? This seems like a basic question that would have been answered within the investigation or eventual trial. From the movie, it seems like neither parents sensed anything was wrong. I don't remember any dialogue about the camping trip being planned for several days. Another thing that bothered me was I knew I'd read an article that said both Sam (Thomas) and Robin (Candra) passed a polygraph and yet the movie goes with Robin failing. That's a detail that is so obviously false, and it undercuts the story in my opinion. The movie changing it for dramatic license undercuts the whole Stockholm Syndrome aspect that was a part of it. She believed what he told her until her memory came back to her. Not a good change.
Wouldn't watch again, although the acting from Robin and Sam was good. It's just a really disturbing story to me, so it's not one I think I'll want to see multiple times. I really believed Robin's actress' shock and fear. She truly did look very young so that made the story even more terrifying. The mom was ok and the sheriff was trying a bit too hard to be steely. Yes I know she was on L&O but it seemed like she was channeling someone else's performance. Also the movie goes btwn sheriff and chief and even on imdb here it calls her Chief. Sheriffs and Police Chiefs are not the same....
Was surprised to see Amber Benson wrote it and Robin Givens directed it, so good for them.
Wouldn't watch again, although the acting from Robin and Sam was good. It's just a really disturbing story to me, so it's not one I think I'll want to see multiple times. I really believed Robin's actress' shock and fear. She truly did look very young so that made the story even more terrifying. The mom was ok and the sheriff was trying a bit too hard to be steely. Yes I know she was on L&O but it seemed like she was channeling someone else's performance. Also the movie goes btwn sheriff and chief and even on imdb here it calls her Chief. Sheriffs and Police Chiefs are not the same....
Was surprised to see Amber Benson wrote it and Robin Givens directed it, so good for them.