A DAUGHTER’S DECEPTION

US, 2019, 85 minutes, Colour.
Jade Harlow, Rusty Joiner, Kennedy Tucker, Breanna Gage, Max Gray Wilbur, Jordan James Smith, Marland Burke.
Directed by Devon Downs, Kenny Gage.

This is a brief thriller made for the television audience, an undemanding entertainment.

The opening is graphic as a young girl gives birth, her mother concerned. Then the plot moves, 20 years later, and the discovery that the child was taken away instantly for adoption but here is the mother, Laura, now happily married with her husband and daughter.

Which daughter? Which deception? Suddenly a young woman turns up at the door claiming to be the initial birth child. She ingratiates himself into the family – but the husband, and the audience, are somewhat suspicious. This is enhanced when she defends her younger sister against bullies at school, quite violent. Then we hear that her grandparents had died in a carbon monoxide accident. While the birth mother is delighted at the discovery, there are various suspicions leading to some brutal murders.

However, there is an intriguing twist at the end as regards to who is the daughter.

1. A popular drama/melodrama for a television audience? The popularity of this kind of storytelling?

2. The setting, the town, the homes, streets, school, barbecues…? The musical score?

3. The title, the nature of the lies, the twist of Jessica impersonating Bree? The motivations?

4. The opening, the difficult birth, Laura and her age, her parents’ reaction, taking the child from her? Laura severing relationship with her parents for 20 years?

5. Laura, happy marriage, daughter, a satisfying life? Her husband knowing the truth? Not revealing it to her daughter? Home life, school life, Mike and his work and friends?

6. Bree coming to the door, her return, her telling Laura about herself, finding out the information, tracking down the family? Laura, her joy, welcoming Bree? The introduction to Mike? His welcoming but hesitations? The introduction to Skylar, her reaction, a touch wary, the bonding with a scene with painting fingernails, Skylar liking Bree?

7. Skylar and Bree, together, at school, Skylar being bullied, Bree and her reaction, assaulting the young woman? The later visit of the father, the stands against him and his daughter? Bree telling the truth?

8. Mike, wary, his work with Gareth? Wanting more information? Laura accepting everything?

9. Mike talking with Gareth, getting him to investigate? The barbecue, the presence of the lawyer and his wife, promising to investigate, finding all the details accurate? Bree overhearing Gareth, his accosting her, her killing him?

10. The presence of the detectives, the news of Laura’s parents, carbon monoxide in the car? The suspicions, return? Bree killing the detective?

11. Skylar, going to visit the Hogan family, the talk, the real Bree entering? Skylar and her concern, the return home, Bree tying up Laura?, The explanation of her motivation, her being Jessica, the natural daughter, the parents and their giving more attention to Bree and Jessica’s jealousy, rage, murders?

12. A satisfying a twist for the audience, and the reality of the deception?