Ever since Nikki and Carly Willen were split up as children following the brutal slaying of their mother by their abusive father, their lives have been defined by new beginnings. After growing up in separate foster homes, the two sisters appear to have drifted apart. But the film demonstrates that in fact that the sisters had stayed in close touch, and even after Nikki's tragic death, Carly felt the presence of her sister due to her sensitivity and love.
"Who Wants Me Dead?" (a.k.a., "Long Lost Sister") develops a good set of characters, a couple of whom are defined by their ambiguity. Nikki's widower, Corey Evans, was unfaithful to her in life, and he may have had some role in her untimely death. April Stevens works as the store manager for Nikki's successful Bardwell's Florist. But what were her motives for integrating herself into Nikki's life?
While the filmmakers successfully dangled clues about possible suspects and motivations, the film remained a by-the-numbers thriller. The predictability was such that there was the obligatory murder of the nosy neighbor and the surprise revelation of the villain. There was even a mild-mannered "nice guy" character in the contractor Dave McGarland, who is attracted to Carly.
In the climatic struggle that is the film's most intricate action sequence, there was sloppy editing work in the handling of the drinking class with the poisoned liquid held by Carly. One brief segment may or may not have been intended as a flashback sequence. It was surprising that more attention was not paid to continuity in this scene.
The glue that held the film together was Carly's love for her niece Zoey and the enduring love for her sister Nikki. Across the generations, those characters all felt the inextinguishable bond of love as they constantly were faced with embarking on new beginnings.
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