Popular horror novelist Eric Roberts (as Michael Ryan) is disgruntled at the reception given his latest effort, a non-horrific attempt at serious literature. Fans want more of the old stuff. They give Mr. Roberts a unanimous thumbs down. Drenched in alcohol, Roberts lashes out at his haggard wife Tracy Nelson (as Christie) and their mature-looking teenage daughter Remington Moses (as Miri). Remi looks like her mom. Mother and daughter move out of their Connecticut home and go into hiding, with Ms. Nelson hoping to make it on savings and work as a professional photographer. She takes headshots of swarthy actor David Winning (as Harrison Reese) while Ms. Moses gets chummy with high school senior Colin Chase (as Kyle Lang)...
Mysterious stuff happens and we wonder if psycho papa Roberts has found his runaway family and is causing trouble...
This lugubrious "Lifetime" TV movie misses the mark in several instances, with the most obvious being a plot twist that strains credulity to the breaking point. The plot point in question is something that works best in comic books. If handled differently, it could work in TV movies; it certainly doesn't work in this production. Age inappropriateness ranges from a few years to a few decades. Transitional shots of waterfalls and babbling brooks may symbolize a story unraveling. Of the cast, Roberts is the most convincing. He could probably hit his marks while sleeping. The man has experience. With Roberts in the opening "book signing" scene, director James Camali and photographer Ronnee Swenton get their most intriguing angles.
*** A Fatal Obsession (2015-03-12) James Camali ~ Tracy Nelson, David Winning, Eric Roberts, Remington Moses
