This is a low budget "B" grade TV movie thriller. But that's not really an insult because I don't believe the makers probably intended otherwise. The storyline is fairly predictable and the acting is not the best but it's worth a watch if there is nothing else on you fancy.
15 Reviews
Laughable at best
zlarvixen29 April 2020
Basically about a woman, having gone to a school like MIT, who is nowhere near as smart as she looks.
Also, it feels like a child wrote this movie. Any kindergartener could have written up a plot as basic and cliche as this.
Also, it feels like a child wrote this movie. Any kindergartener could have written up a plot as basic and cliche as this.
hold back
SnoopyStyle7 September 2021
Overworked computer programmer Ivy Fisher (Joanne Kelly) faints during a company meeting. Dr. Mark Laurie (Shaun Benson) suggests a restful vacation. He's being accused of sexual misconduct and prescribing unnecessary medication. He changes Ivy's diagnosis to terminal brain tumor. After arranging for a second opinion, he comes to her with an expensive experimental treatment.
The original title for this movie is Second Opinion. That says it all. There are lots of red flags in the story for the main character. I can't dismiss this movie outright since some people would overlook those red flags especially if they think the medicine is working. On a more fundamental issue, I wonder if the story should hold back on the doctor's information. It would strengthen any reveal scenes later in the movie. It would build tension by keeping the doctor a mystery longer. That's probably a better way to go with this.
The original title for this movie is Second Opinion. That says it all. There are lots of red flags in the story for the main character. I can't dismiss this movie outright since some people would overlook those red flags especially if they think the medicine is working. On a more fundamental issue, I wonder if the story should hold back on the doctor's information. It would strengthen any reveal scenes later in the movie. It would build tension by keeping the doctor a mystery longer. That's probably a better way to go with this.
Yawn Yawn
carolynocean5 March 2021
How many times have we seen this set up.......lead female, thick as two planks , cannot see the wood for the trees!!, Best friend steps in ( just as thick) , gets run over , Bla Bla..... need I say more !
Throw into the mix the lead villian,( has physocpath written all over his face ), talking in a ridiculous husky voice like someone in a porn film, and there you go ! Another run of the mill , mundane , low budget movies that should be put into storage !!
Throw into the mix the lead villian,( has physocpath written all over his face ), talking in a ridiculous husky voice like someone in a porn film, and there you go ! Another run of the mill , mundane , low budget movies that should be put into storage !!
Well, I liked it..
olwyn-es25 September 2020
Enjoyable thriller
bri-879 May 2021
Jumped the Shark
Reviewer9920 July 2018
Started of well for the first hour or so then it jumped the shark big time when the lead character's friend decides to investigate on her own and approach the antagonist instead of calling the cops. It was downhill from this point on.
3rd opinion
cidep28 July 2018
rated one to equalize
doycesub16 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I liked it okay until the last 30 minutes or so. No one went to law enforcement or saw an attorney against this "doctor". I rated it a ONE to get the overall average down to a lower number-should be around 4. I encourage others to do the same.
Great Lifetime Psychological Thriller...Moves a Little Slow
vnssyndrome8912 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I don't give away the ending, but I do give lots of info about the opening story. I clicked the *spoilers* button to be safe. I rate Lifetime movies on their own scale, because they're in a class by themselves. This is one of their better offerings, that is if you like calculated, psychological thrillers. If you don't, you might find this a little slow moving.
The story begins : Ivy Fisher, a hardworking M.I.T. graduate has become an entrepreneur, and is working on expansion. She started this business with her best friend Skylar, and they are ready to ask venture capitalist for a cash infusion, so the business can grow to the next level. This is a stressful time for both women, but the stress is affecting Ivy in a more physical way. She's having migraines and panic attacks. Minutes before the big meeting with the venture capitalists, Ivy collapses.
Needless to say, Ivy seeks medical attention, and finds neurologist, Dr. Mark Ryan. He listens to her symptoms, and recommends tests. The results are not what Ivy had hoped for. A few years before, her mother passed from cancer; she knows personally what it can do, and it is her worst nightmare. Dr. Ryan diagnoses her with a glioblastoma brain tumor, and gives her a year to live. It seems her worst fear has come to pass.
She is devastated by this news, but doesn't tell her best friend and partner, Skylar, as she doesn't want to stress her further. Skylar just had to give the big presentation on her own, they got the cash infusion, and with Ivy's health threatened, it's likely Skylar will be handling the business expansion alone. Ivy doesn't want to add anymore stress to Skylar's life, so she keeps her health woes to herself for now.
With her mother gone, and no real friends besides Skylar, the only one Ivy feels she can confide in, is Dr. Mark Ryan. A chance meeting between these two at the grocery store, leads to an after hours meeting at Dr. Ryan's office. Dr. Ryan wants to discuss alternative treatments with Ivy. His receptionist is not happy about this. Ivy arrives, just as she is leaving for the day. The receptionist is so concerned because earlier in the day, another complaint from the American Medical Association against Dr. Ryan arrived. It seems he has had several complaints against him, all from women, and all of a sexual nature. His receptionist doesn't like the look of this latest rendezvous, between Ivy & Dr. Ryan, but there's nothing she can do about it. She's concerned about losing her job if this latest complaint goes forward, but she also seems a bit afraid of Dr. Ryan as well. She offers to stay for this meeting, but Dr. Ryan dismisses her. She has no recourse, and reluctantly leaves these two alone.
The unconventional treatment Dr. Ryan recommends to Ivy, is an non-approved drug from Europe. It will cost thousands of dollars, she can't tell anyone she's on it, or even that she's sick, especially not Skylar. Since it seems this is her only chance of survival, she decides to go forward. Like Dr. Ryan says, "What good is money, if you're not around to spend it? "
When Ivy asks Dr. Ryan why he would put his medical license at risk to get her this non-FDA approved drug, he tells her his late wife also attended M.I.T., and was diagnosed with a similar brain tumor. Ivy reminds him of her, and wants to give her a better outcome. The only thing his late wife's doctors could offer was palliative care, in other words, they just made her comfortable while she died. He won't stand by while another young woman is lost.
Now Ivy believes his motives are honorable, and she begins taking the medication he provides. She also begins altering her diet to healthy foods, and practicing meditation, all under Dr. Ryan's watchful eye.
One night, while dropping off Ivy's medication, they sleep together. Dr. Ryan initially puts up some resistance, but "reluctantly", he gives in. Ivy believes she has found a compassionate, giving man, but has she?
A few days later, while on their first date, the woman who lodged the latest complaint against Dr. Ryan, accosts them at a restaurant. He assures Ivy that she is just an unstable, ex-patient. He also tells her about the complaint, and persuades her that it is unjustified. She believes him. After all, her tumor is shrinking, and she feels better than she has in years, why shouldn't she believe Dr. Ryan?
The next morning, the ex-patient who accosted them the night before, is found floating in the river. The detectives want to know where Dr. Ryan was when she was killed. He assures them he spent the night with Ivy (he didn't), and the woman's death will turn out to be a suicide. He then asks Ivy to lie for him, and give him an alibi. She's afraid if she doesn't, she won't be able to get her life-saving medication. She's also grown to care for him, so when the detectives come to question her, she gives Dr. Ryan a false alibi.
Skylar over hears her conversation with the detective, and knows Ivy was working last night, and NOT with Dr. Ryan. When she confronts Ivy, Ivy tells her the truth about everything, including her illness & the medication Skylar is mortified and deeply suspicious of this man, and believes Ivy is being used. She makes Ivy set up another doctors appointment for a second opinion, NOT one referred and seen in Dr. Ryan's office. She also gets an investigator to begin looking into Dr. Ryan's past. But what will she find? And will Ivy believe her? And in time?
Needless to say, Dr. Ryan is not what he seems, but I will leave it there. There is good, believable, character development, above Lifetime's norm . The acting is also decent, everyone is believable in their roles. Shaun Benson plays a very authentic doctor, even is dressed like one, right down to the shoes. Joanne Kelly is also convincing as Ivy, a brilliant, overworked, computer programmer.
This movie can be a bit slow in places, and that is my only real criticism. If you like psychological thrillers, and Lifetime movies, then I recommend this one.
The story begins : Ivy Fisher, a hardworking M.I.T. graduate has become an entrepreneur, and is working on expansion. She started this business with her best friend Skylar, and they are ready to ask venture capitalist for a cash infusion, so the business can grow to the next level. This is a stressful time for both women, but the stress is affecting Ivy in a more physical way. She's having migraines and panic attacks. Minutes before the big meeting with the venture capitalists, Ivy collapses.
Needless to say, Ivy seeks medical attention, and finds neurologist, Dr. Mark Ryan. He listens to her symptoms, and recommends tests. The results are not what Ivy had hoped for. A few years before, her mother passed from cancer; she knows personally what it can do, and it is her worst nightmare. Dr. Ryan diagnoses her with a glioblastoma brain tumor, and gives her a year to live. It seems her worst fear has come to pass.
She is devastated by this news, but doesn't tell her best friend and partner, Skylar, as she doesn't want to stress her further. Skylar just had to give the big presentation on her own, they got the cash infusion, and with Ivy's health threatened, it's likely Skylar will be handling the business expansion alone. Ivy doesn't want to add anymore stress to Skylar's life, so she keeps her health woes to herself for now.
With her mother gone, and no real friends besides Skylar, the only one Ivy feels she can confide in, is Dr. Mark Ryan. A chance meeting between these two at the grocery store, leads to an after hours meeting at Dr. Ryan's office. Dr. Ryan wants to discuss alternative treatments with Ivy. His receptionist is not happy about this. Ivy arrives, just as she is leaving for the day. The receptionist is so concerned because earlier in the day, another complaint from the American Medical Association against Dr. Ryan arrived. It seems he has had several complaints against him, all from women, and all of a sexual nature. His receptionist doesn't like the look of this latest rendezvous, between Ivy & Dr. Ryan, but there's nothing she can do about it. She's concerned about losing her job if this latest complaint goes forward, but she also seems a bit afraid of Dr. Ryan as well. She offers to stay for this meeting, but Dr. Ryan dismisses her. She has no recourse, and reluctantly leaves these two alone.
The unconventional treatment Dr. Ryan recommends to Ivy, is an non-approved drug from Europe. It will cost thousands of dollars, she can't tell anyone she's on it, or even that she's sick, especially not Skylar. Since it seems this is her only chance of survival, she decides to go forward. Like Dr. Ryan says, "What good is money, if you're not around to spend it? "
When Ivy asks Dr. Ryan why he would put his medical license at risk to get her this non-FDA approved drug, he tells her his late wife also attended M.I.T., and was diagnosed with a similar brain tumor. Ivy reminds him of her, and wants to give her a better outcome. The only thing his late wife's doctors could offer was palliative care, in other words, they just made her comfortable while she died. He won't stand by while another young woman is lost.
Now Ivy believes his motives are honorable, and she begins taking the medication he provides. She also begins altering her diet to healthy foods, and practicing meditation, all under Dr. Ryan's watchful eye.
One night, while dropping off Ivy's medication, they sleep together. Dr. Ryan initially puts up some resistance, but "reluctantly", he gives in. Ivy believes she has found a compassionate, giving man, but has she?
A few days later, while on their first date, the woman who lodged the latest complaint against Dr. Ryan, accosts them at a restaurant. He assures Ivy that she is just an unstable, ex-patient. He also tells her about the complaint, and persuades her that it is unjustified. She believes him. After all, her tumor is shrinking, and she feels better than she has in years, why shouldn't she believe Dr. Ryan?
The next morning, the ex-patient who accosted them the night before, is found floating in the river. The detectives want to know where Dr. Ryan was when she was killed. He assures them he spent the night with Ivy (he didn't), and the woman's death will turn out to be a suicide. He then asks Ivy to lie for him, and give him an alibi. She's afraid if she doesn't, she won't be able to get her life-saving medication. She's also grown to care for him, so when the detectives come to question her, she gives Dr. Ryan a false alibi.
Skylar over hears her conversation with the detective, and knows Ivy was working last night, and NOT with Dr. Ryan. When she confronts Ivy, Ivy tells her the truth about everything, including her illness & the medication Skylar is mortified and deeply suspicious of this man, and believes Ivy is being used. She makes Ivy set up another doctors appointment for a second opinion, NOT one referred and seen in Dr. Ryan's office. She also gets an investigator to begin looking into Dr. Ryan's past. But what will she find? And will Ivy believe her? And in time?
Needless to say, Dr. Ryan is not what he seems, but I will leave it there. There is good, believable, character development, above Lifetime's norm . The acting is also decent, everyone is believable in their roles. Shaun Benson plays a very authentic doctor, even is dressed like one, right down to the shoes. Joanne Kelly is also convincing as Ivy, a brilliant, overworked, computer programmer.
This movie can be a bit slow in places, and that is my only real criticism. If you like psychological thrillers, and Lifetime movies, then I recommend this one.
Terrible and terribly predictable
lars-viebrock18 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Poorly acted, poorly written, boring and predictable. At best, this movie is highly infuriating. If our supposed MIT graduate didn't have an IQ of sub 55, all of this could have been avoided.
Google a doctor before you give hundreds of thousands to a perfect stranger.
Question anything a perfect stranger tells you.
Call the police before you go into a Mans house to threaten him (this also goes for your friend)
With a lead this stupid, it is really hard to care about her.
A few goofs:
Maybe not worth an Oscar, but worth several Darwin awards.
A few goofs:
- The scene with the friend Being run over by a car is just hilarious. The way she smiles as she starts riding and then the cut to where she is run over, which is clearly not near her house, but around a factory site, is just awesome.
- The friend only being able to utter enough words to say *he danger, be aware, away you run!* - but not something useful like *google him* is great comedy
- Our villain walks into a public hospital to poison her, when he is obviously being filmed and also doesn't even double check if someone walks in on him... okay...
- the nut allergy scene was mega predictable, and is just so stupid. Cliché AF, and she didn't call the cops on him, because she might lose her job. Well then.
- the lead has a friend who can Analyze drugs on their ingredients. They couldn't have written it, that it was clear that she is given placebos, instead of making up something so F*ING convenient, again?
- when ever anyone confronts the villain (police, lead, lead's friend, drug addict, other victims) they are always alone. Why do they never have weapons on them or have someone to help them?
Maybe not worth an Oscar, but worth several Darwin awards.
Getting it
kosmasp4 March 2021
I reckon because this is movie made for TV, others are cutting it some slack too. I do many times anyway, TV movies or not. This has quite the clueless and gullible main character in it. Accept that and you are on your way. You don't have to be too suspicious to know something is ... fishy.
Thrillers of its kind are not new, the actors do their best I reckon, but I don't think you'll be too excited watching this. I would be surprised if you were that is. Predictable in every which way ...
Thrillers of its kind are not new, the actors do their best I reckon, but I don't think you'll be too excited watching this. I would be surprised if you were that is. Predictable in every which way ...
Mal-Practice Makes Perfect
lavatch8 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Dr. Mark Laurie cannot be faulted for not trying to make his patients feel better. In the best scene in "Prescription for Danger" (a.k.a., "Second Opinion") Dr. Laurie delivers a long monologue to his lawyer in which he lays out his defense strategy in front of the AMA board for a major medical malpractice suit. After listening to the doctor's rationale for flirtation and boosting his patients' sense of aliveness, the lawyer says succinctly, "We can use that."
In this film, the focus of attention for the slick and diabolical Dr. Laurie is a patient who is a successful entrepreneur, Ivy Fisher. We watch with fascination and horror as the doctor intentionally misleads Ivy and extorts tens of thousands of dollars from her for placebos. He also commits multiple homicides of former patients who became fed up with his scams and threatened to blow the whistle on a charlatan.
The success of the film was in stringing the viewer along for more than half of the movie as we are drawn into Dr. Laurie's orbit and charm, until we realize that he is a monster. This was a film with a set of nicely developed secondary characters, including the Ivy's faithful friend, Skylar, the observant secretary, Lillie, and the detective shadowing the nefarious doctor.
The filmmakers even came up with a clever denouement that served as karma for Dr. Laurie. It was fascinating to see the tables turned on the doc, as he was wheeled around the psycho facility by Ivy in his incapacitated state. His fall was a swift and as stunning as Lucifer's.
In this film, the focus of attention for the slick and diabolical Dr. Laurie is a patient who is a successful entrepreneur, Ivy Fisher. We watch with fascination and horror as the doctor intentionally misleads Ivy and extorts tens of thousands of dollars from her for placebos. He also commits multiple homicides of former patients who became fed up with his scams and threatened to blow the whistle on a charlatan.
The success of the film was in stringing the viewer along for more than half of the movie as we are drawn into Dr. Laurie's orbit and charm, until we realize that he is a monster. This was a film with a set of nicely developed secondary characters, including the Ivy's faithful friend, Skylar, the observant secretary, Lillie, and the detective shadowing the nefarious doctor.
The filmmakers even came up with a clever denouement that served as karma for Dr. Laurie. It was fascinating to see the tables turned on the doc, as he was wheeled around the psycho facility by Ivy in his incapacitated state. His fall was a swift and as stunning as Lucifer's.
2 stars because I suffer-, I mean finished it.
CranberriAppl2 January 2023
I am so over idiot main characters. Male and female. First off, everythign about this guy was slimy, evasive, and sinister. He literally had nothing redeemign about him. To the movie's credit, though, he was clearly the villain the entire time. So that's not a spoiler.
In what world do you just take medication that is given to you or start treatment without a second opinion? It was so ridiculous that the deus ex machina was Ivy's college friend who worked in a lab. Why would you take experimental drugs that you've been convinced to pay cash for and not check them out?! Why did she not go to a second doctor? She never even visited a hospital. Her lack of common sense, sixth sense, and the "gift of fear," really made this movie annoying. I had bronchitis last year, and I looked up every medication the doctor prescribed.
The guy has a patient who she has seen before end up dead, and with barely any hesitation, she provides him an alibi. Do people with nothing to hide ask you to lie? Her friend couldn't even convince her that she shouldn't have done it.
As for the villain, this movie had too much going on. In my opinion, the correlation between his guilt over his wife's illness and not being able to save her (and transferring that to Ivy) and his sleeping with his patients was non-existent.
Silly ending as well. I'm sure we're supposed to "hear her roar" with the ending, but for an MIT grad, she was a moron the entire movie. She didn't actually earn that strut she did at the end. In fact, her refusal to even acknowledge her friend's concerns almost got the friend killed.
Not worth watching at all.
In what world do you just take medication that is given to you or start treatment without a second opinion? It was so ridiculous that the deus ex machina was Ivy's college friend who worked in a lab. Why would you take experimental drugs that you've been convinced to pay cash for and not check them out?! Why did she not go to a second doctor? She never even visited a hospital. Her lack of common sense, sixth sense, and the "gift of fear," really made this movie annoying. I had bronchitis last year, and I looked up every medication the doctor prescribed.
The guy has a patient who she has seen before end up dead, and with barely any hesitation, she provides him an alibi. Do people with nothing to hide ask you to lie? Her friend couldn't even convince her that she shouldn't have done it.
As for the villain, this movie had too much going on. In my opinion, the correlation between his guilt over his wife's illness and not being able to save her (and transferring that to Ivy) and his sleeping with his patients was non-existent.
Silly ending as well. I'm sure we're supposed to "hear her roar" with the ending, but for an MIT grad, she was a moron the entire movie. She didn't actually earn that strut she did at the end. In fact, her refusal to even acknowledge her friend's concerns almost got the friend killed.
Not worth watching at all.
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