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The Rival

  • TV Movie
  • 2006
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
4.4/10
361
YOUR RATING
The Rival (2006)
CrimeMysteryThriller

A couple unable to have children enlist the aid of a surrogate, only for the wife to be driven to insanity and murder by her paranoia.A couple unable to have children enlist the aid of a surrogate, only for the wife to be driven to insanity and murder by her paranoia.A couple unable to have children enlist the aid of a surrogate, only for the wife to be driven to insanity and murder by her paranoia.

  • Director
    • Douglas Jackson
  • Writers
    • Mark Castaldo
    • W.T. McCoy
    • David DeCrane
  • Stars
    • Tracy Nelson
    • Linden Ashby
    • Heather Tom
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.4/10
    361
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Douglas Jackson
    • Writers
      • Mark Castaldo
      • W.T. McCoy
      • David DeCrane
    • Stars
      • Tracy Nelson
      • Linden Ashby
      • Heather Tom
    • 5User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos2

    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast19

    Edit
    Tracy Nelson
    Tracy Nelson
    • Alice Miller
    Linden Ashby
    Linden Ashby
    • George Miller
    Heather Tom
    Heather Tom
    • Jennifer Adams
    Barbara Niven
    Barbara Niven
    • Linda Zeller
    Jenna Wheeler-Hughes
    Jenna Wheeler-Hughes
    • Sarah
    Anna Ferguson
    Anna Ferguson
    • Aunt Estelle
    Sophie Gendron
    • Lisa Kennedy
    Neil Napier
    Neil Napier
    • David Browning
    Tyrone Benskin
    Tyrone Benskin
    • Detective Martin
    Shannon Gamble
    • Stacie
    Luigi Saracino
    Luigi Saracino
    • Young Male Assailant
    Lynne Adams
    Lynne Adams
    • Dr. Aitchinson
    Kate Drummond
    Kate Drummond
    • Woman at Bar
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Finnigan
    • Restaurant Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Jessica Gaffney
    • Waitress
    • (uncredited)
    Claude Huard
    • Lounge Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Kathy Logan
    • Restaurant Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Mercedes Papalia
    • Waitress
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Douglas Jackson
    • Writers
      • Mark Castaldo
      • W.T. McCoy
      • David DeCrane
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews5

    4.4361
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10aocsincher

    Tracy Nelson and Heather Tom, 1, 2 Knockout punch

    Gripping from the start to the finish. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The story was also very twist filled. An easy 10er.
    5caa821

    Crazy as a loon

    Tracy Nelson's character is nuttier than the proverbial fruitcake. Of course, these Lifetime flicks largely rely upon a whacked-out lead character who makes others miserable, commits mayhem and murder, and provides a dark shroud which largely dominates the story.

    Tracy and her hubby need a surrogate, and finally find one who suits them and is willing to live in their spacious house during the nine-month pregnancy. Tracy seems to be obsessed with this live-in arrangement, and then makes everyone miserable with her jealousies, and the musings of her aunt, who is as crazy and sociopathic as she is. She offs Auntie, as well as her therapist, who becomes suspicious -- but the aunt continues to push her even further into total lunacy from the dreams and visions which appear throughout.

    As par for these flicks, the husband, while apparently a successful and authoritative businessman, schleps around like he has doubled his dose of downers, and as perceptively as if he possessed an IQ in two digits.

    All-in-all, it's hard to care an iota about any of these folks, and Tracy's paranoiac and bipolar rantings, interspersed with whiny pleadings, are about as annoying as anything ever put on film. The rest of the cast does little or nothing to lessen this annoyance. In fact, the aunt only compounds it.

    The only minor positive aspect in watching this flick was a minimal fascination from its awfulness overall, coupled with watching Tracy and the aunt gnaw the scenery like a bevy of hungry beavers, amidst their thoroughly laconic fellow cast members.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jenna Wheeler-Hughes's debut.
    • Connections
      References Murder in My House (2006)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 9, 2006 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Lifetime TV
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La rival
    • Filming locations
      • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Outrage Productions 6 Inc.
      • S.V. Thrilling Movies 3 Inc.
      • Sound Venture Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 26 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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