House of Secrets (2014 TV Movie) User Reviews

Whole basis illogical

[caa821 · 5/10 · 27 February 2015]

I agree with other reviews regarding predictability of this typical and mediocre Lifetime flick. But (although probably necessary for story to continue) I found it hard to imagine the whole business of selling the house until remaining work was fully-completed was not possible - in view it turned-out this necessary work constituted about 1 or 2% of value of this multi-million-dollar dwelling. and was being completed by a handyman type rather than even a small construction firm.

And the thought of any woman of intelligence even considering stating there until some time passed from the unpleasant divorce, completion of said work, and establishing some real home security to preclude nut-case ex-husband from possible intrusions.

But if these Lifetime stories and their characters acted with logic. how many fewer of their movies would then be made? - 10% of current number is a generous estimate.

This Property Condemned

[rmax304823 · 3/10 · 18 January 2014]

If anyone didn't want to make a decent thriller, this is a good way not to do it. Poor Bianca Lawson, recently divorced from a sadistic husband, has moved into this minor-league mansion and since the decorator/electrician seems to have quit in the middle of the job, she allows her young neighbor, Brendan Fehr, to come in and work on the wiring.

But something is amiss. Someone -- somehow -- is beginning to visit her house when she's asleep, leaving tell-tale signs. They grow more ominous. And whoever it is also seems to know what she's doing at home every minute of the day and night. So far, it sounds like another TV movie, "Through the Eyes of a Killer," but it also lifts shots or scenes from "Psycho" and other productions too numerous to name.

It's a woman-in-jep movie. The threat may come from her ex spouse, from the helpful young neighbor who is described as the perfect love interest because he's "handy and ultra-handsome." As usual in these tales, the police take her seriously but are mostly dismissive. Girls living alone imagine all kinds of things, you know.

The plot has more holes than a sieve but is far less interesting. Lawson has the usual female confidante, but we know from the moment we meet her that she's going to wind up friend a l'orange. (Viz., "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.") There are a few times when the plot runs down and has to be wound up like an ancient gramophone. So Lawson make a false move in the attic and her body falls through the ceiling and she's handing on only by the tip of one fingernail. Or a dead body tumbles out of nowhere.

Lawson herself is cute in a Kewpie doll sort of way, with neotenous features that start with a wide forehead, encompass great big brown eyes that roll closed when you lie her on her back, and a tiny chin, like a child's. She's all woman though, and when she crawls around the attic in her tight slacks she puts a good deal of bilateral symmetry on display. It's a shame she can't act.

Stupid movie

[bikealounger · 18 January 2014]

May have been good in a half hour show, but way too little plot and too long of time. Things that would never happen, doesn't make sense stuff. For example the woman can get into an attic with a three rung step stool yet it looks like she just walks right up? Fancy expensive house with melamine shelving and no security system. The woman gets freaked out and still stays day after day. Just dumb. I could guess what was coming next, classic events. The best part of the movie was I didn't have to pay too much attention since it was so drug out. I could surf on my netbook and get up and do housework. My advice is if there is nothing else on, go ahead and watch it and read a book at the same time.

Would be unbelievably terrible if it weren't a Lifetime movie

[tedphx · 1/10 · 1 January 2014]

I'm a big fan of "Get the Bitch" movies - where the woman finally does something so amazingly stupid that you start rooting for the maniac, so films in this "genre" have to be extra stupid before I complain.

That said, this one has to get serious consideration as one of the worst movies ever. I know it has enormous competition, but the reasons favoring this one are many. Here are a few that come to mind, enough in themselves for this picture to merit the honor, I feel:

1) She lives in an enormous newer house that has no security system.

2) When she hears strange (and loud) noises, she doesn't get out of the house or call 911, she goes exploring... on more than one occasion.

3) When she discovers a guy dead in the attic whom we know has been there for some time (and apparently didn't smell), she calls a detective working on the case. When he doesn't answer, she... resumes her exploration.

4) When she discovers who's been watching her, she attempts to commit manslaughter. He lives so that she can kill him better, and more justifiably, later.

If that's not bad enough, the ending has two people supposedly in love, but totally lacking in chemistry, merely mouthing lines... and each other.

Update: there are presently two reviews, both negative, and our total rating stars = 4. Seven others have voted, and the overall rating is currently 6.9. That means those other voters have given this stinker an average 8.3 rating for something that, to be charitable, sucks the "life" out of "Lifetime."

House of Secrets should remain a Secret!

[xcitenlady · 3/10 · 1 January 2014]

I now know why actors who star in movies have to produce them also. It is because no one else would. This movie is predictable and so is the acting. I have no problem with the interracial theme, but this woman has no black people in her life at all. And she does not fit the part of a wealthy ex wife at all. More like an ex cheerleader type and her acting is cheerleaderish and totally valley girl technique. The trip to Tyler's boat just threw me for a loop, his try for a kiss with no buildup at all, it was so awkward and out of place. It has been on over 1 and 15 minutes and is moving very slow. I thought this would be a good suspense thriller. This movie needed a stronger lead actress, Ms. Lawson can still produce but shouldn't have starred in it.

Huge plot hole! I am disappointed.

[imcperez-22-313184 · 3/10 · 1 May 2018]

Possible SPOILER ALERT! Who tied the dog to the tree AND how did her necklace get in Tyler's truck?? These things were never explained. The dog, especially...that should have been explained!

Predictable - bad story

[phd_travel · 1/10 · 8 September 2014]

This is a below the usual Lifetime standard thriller.

The characters are unsympathetic. Bianca Lawson plays a recent divorcée. Her abusive ex insists on giving her an uncompleted house worth millions as part of the divorce. Her character doesn't ring true. She is made up and dressed like some college coed amidst her "unwanted" trappings of wealth. Along comes a handyman to help fix her house. But things start to go mysteriously wrong with a shockingly high body count! The end has no twist just what you knew all along.

All those bodies for the sake of her? I don't think so. Not worth watching at all.

Dumb film, folks

[geoffox-766-418467 · 1/10 · 23 October 2014]

Such a stupid concept and badly acted by not so good actress. Not that good looking and boring to watch. Plus she needs to get a haircut. The long ringlets don't work on her. Who picks these actresses? Thought at least the male cast was better and wonder why they all go ape over her. Lives in a house that scares her and doesn't leave. You kind of wish someone would waste her. Has stupid attitude and calls herself an artist but never paints. I found this film good for one thing, I can catch up on sending emails and doing work at my desk. When I would check back at the film she was still walking around with this dumb look on her face. Will somebody tell her to get a haircut?

House of Secrets ***

[edwagreen · 8/10 · 8 February 2014]

It may have been predictable but we still have an exciting story here where we soon discover why a divorcing husband wants his wife to have the magnificent home he has built for her in Beverly Hills.

In a sense, you would think there would have been more than a tie in when our divorcée conveniently meets a contractor who can finish her house. More doubt is cast on him when her missing necklace is found in her car.

The movie deals with a husband who just wouldn't let go, 1000% in control of any situation, insanely jealous, and who would do just about anything to get his way.

House of big tunnels

[nightroses · 1/10 · 15 May 2018]

This was a really dull film. It was slow, wooden acting, and so predictable. There was no big mystery at all. It was so obvious who was behind all the creepy goings on: the British accented ex husband. It's so typical of casting guys with posh British accents as the villains in every single American movie today, it's so boring. The ex wife, Julie, was so stupid, and ran off jogging for goodness knows how long and left her cellphone at home when she's expecting urgent calls. She wasn't acting very well as someone suffering true claustrophobia, as she crawled through tunnels instead of calling police. She didn't behave like someone living alone in a big house full of weird noises and stuff going missing. I also wonder what the point was in having the intern being so mean to her and the new boyfriend who was suspicious. The film makes you think there was a grand conspiracy involving many characters but no, it was a story about a bitter ex husband with posh British accent sneaking around and killing people. I don't understand why the dog seemed relaxed with him, lol.

Entertaining

[carollaw51-41-56256 · 8/10 · 30 June 2017]

I've just read some of the other reviews and was really surprised how many people have many negative things to say about this film.

okay it may seem very strange and illogical that the main character Amy would take on the massive house that her and her ex abusive husband were having built together.Its even more illogical that she still wants to live there on her own when things start mysteriously disappearing,and she becomes aware that someone is creeping around the house?. Why does she still live there ,i don't know

But that aside i found this film very entertaining and there was a lot going on to keep you guessing who the stalker might be,was it the ex husband ,the contractor ,her boss,even the police etc The acting was quite good also,and there were some good jumpy parts. The body count piles up towards the final and to be honest i was a bit surprised as to who the killers identity was as i was expecting some other sort of twist from somewhere.But never mind. I rate this film 8/10 because i was entertained and the location was beautiful.

Where was this movie Filmed

[najla_maxberry_2 · 8/10 · 8 September 2014]

I was able to see this movie for the first time not to long ago. I like the movie it was full of suspense even though it was a little easy to figure out what would happen next. Bianca Lawson is one of my favorite actresses, I grew up watching her. I thought her her acting in this movie was one of the best acting I have ever see seen her do. The guy who played her ex husband was good also. The plot of the movie reminds me of another story that happened here in my city. A couple got a divorce and everything that happened in the house of secrets happened to this couple, the only thing that was different is that the movie ended differently then the real life case. Do anyone know where this movie was filmed?

It'll past the time

[ivegonemod · 15 February 2014]

I thought the movie was OK. Julie was a bit slow, if you ask me. I don't think I would ever be able to go to sleep if I knew one of my doors kept popping open. So many of the things she did in the movie were just mind-boggling. It's hard to believe anybody could be that dim, and she seemed a little spaced out.

There was the one review that mentioned the interracial aspect and the fact that Julie didn't have any black people in her life. I really don't see what that has to do with anything. Sometimes they will cast a movie based on who they liked for the role, and if a black person gets it, they are not going to cast friend and boyfriend roles with the same race just so the character can know some black people. I am also sure that there are plenty of black people out there who may not know any black people outside of their family, does it really matter when you're talking about a low-budget Lifetime movie?

Bianca has always had the same acting style in everything I have seen her in since the 1990's, at least she's consistent.