Circle of Deception (2021 TV Movie) User Reviews

I don't think this is a Lifetime movie

[deedrala · 6/10 · 14 March 2021]

This can't possibly be a Lifetime movie because:

1) the two lead actresses weren't built like anorexic pre-teens - they actually looked like real women, old enough to be the mothers of the usual little girl lead actresses that star in most all LMN movies

2) the houses of the characters weren't massive mansions that looked more like fancy hotels/resorts than homes

3) there were several appropriately placed curse words that sounded like real people actually talk

4) it wasn't the usual over-the-top formula LMN 'psycho stalks and terrorizes and manipulates clueless good girl/guy' flick

5) it was well-acted all around and well-directed

I realize it was a true crime story and it was done as thoroughly as possible, given the complexity of the case and plethora of details in the actual case that had to be trimmed down to an hour and thirty-six minutes, so a lot of the details had to be left out. Surprisingly, though, it was still pretty riveting and held my attention to the end. Kudos to the female director - we need more women directors!

6 out of 10 / Grade C

Bad mystery movie!

[Chartreuse1 · 4/10 · 14 March 2021]

The book was much better than the movie! Too many plot holes and continuity skips makes this one a hard sell to watch. Diane Neal;'s performance was quite over the top but better than all of the Canadian actors combined!

Pretty Poison

[lavatch · 6/10 · 5 January 2023]

The characters in "Ann Rule's Circle of Deception" were such a motley crew that it appeared that their toxicity rubbed off anyone they contacted. They released a smell of pretty poison that was rank and base in every sense of the word.

The central relationship is that of Peggy Sue Thomas and Jim Haden. This pair of rogues is bankrupt financially and spiritually. Peggy Sue feels sorry for Jim because he had an abusive step-father that he wanted to murder. But she then encourages him to act out his fantasy by killing what is the most likable character in the film, Russell Douglas.

Russell's wife Breanna displayed her amoral temperament by showing no emotion when the police informed her that her husband was murdered. She raced to cash in on his life insurance policies, then squandered the proceeds. This was the father of her child Sally, yet she showed no compassion for this decent, goofy man.

In the film's closing credits, there was the astonishing implication that this film was inspired by true events. If that is the case, our civilization is in a sorry state indeed.

Terrible acting

[carol_discenza · 2/10 · 9 September 2021]

Very disappointing movie. The story line was good but acting was horrible.

Not up to LMN Standards

[chrsmil16747-673-109480 · 5/10 · 25 December 2023]

Interesting that Diane Neill, who used to start in law and order, is in this I understand that she's bigger now, but what I truly disliked about that movie and she's a lot bigger now but that's not the issue. What I'm talking about is she has a very good friend, business partner, who is actually smaller weight wise than her, but she said to her, I used to be a chubby chunker too , really somebody who is whining in real life about her weight. Now it has to do with medication she was on the head steroids in it, and then a car accident where she supposedly broke her spine and that's why she gained weight but then she's snot at others about weight at least 100 pounds when she was on law and order. It's truly a disgusting movie.

Very Entertaining

[perfectioneludes · 10/10 · 20 March 2021]

This is the first Lifetime movie we have watched and were unfamiliar with the true story or book. We quite enjoyed the movie and plan to watch others. Diane Neal did a good job.