This movie has a nice plot of a crazy girl impersonating a former roommate who she used for (likely) years. The acting isn't bad, but a few issues. One the foster family of the real Danica come off as cruel to me and finally the police making an arrest on a woman for no reason also made little sense. So the bad police procedure hurt this
19 Reviews
last 10 minutes
doycesub27 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I was okay with the movie until the last few minutes. The script had the real daughter calling from the group home from the director's office to the mother.
Why didn't the director take the phone and tell the real mother about the imposter? No wonder the mother didn't believe the girl. Also, if the director was suspecting that Samantha was up to no good, why didn't she call law enforcement? That section was a little hard to believe.
I've seen a lot of movies, but few have been worse than this
pessimisticviewership29 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I'd never heard of this movie until I saw it listed on Prime. Normally, I would've passed, but I noticed that Sydney Sweeney was in it and erroneously thought it was newer than it is. I should've looked it up, but decided to watch it today while bored.
I regret wasting my time with it now, despite watching it all. I've watched a lot of movies in the last 36 years - including a number of bad ones - but this is up there with the worst.
To be honest, there's almost nothing redeeming about this mess. It's horribly written, incredibly cheesy, stupid and unoriginal, with poor acting included. In fact, it's not just bad - it's offensively bad.
Sydney Sweeney portrays a young woman who dupes a couple into thinking that she's the woman's daughter. That's an interesting enough premise. However, it's revealed that she's evil, and not just evil but mentally ill! Oh, the humanity!
As someone who's mentally ill, but wouldn't hurt a fly, that was when I started to actively detest this already bad movie. 99.9% of those with mental illnesses, like depression, anxiety, OCD or PTSD (as examples), are very nice people who would never hurt anyone. It's the same with the general population. Being mentally ill does not mean you're evil, and shame on the writers of this atrociously bad movie for insinuating that. I mean, the movie was bad enough without that reveal, but it made things much worse.
Save your time and don't watch this garbage, even if you do like Sydney Sweeney. There is nothing good, or redeeming, about it.
I regret wasting my time with it now, despite watching it all. I've watched a lot of movies in the last 36 years - including a number of bad ones - but this is up there with the worst.
To be honest, there's almost nothing redeeming about this mess. It's horribly written, incredibly cheesy, stupid and unoriginal, with poor acting included. In fact, it's not just bad - it's offensively bad.
Sydney Sweeney portrays a young woman who dupes a couple into thinking that she's the woman's daughter. That's an interesting enough premise. However, it's revealed that she's evil, and not just evil but mentally ill! Oh, the humanity!
As someone who's mentally ill, but wouldn't hurt a fly, that was when I started to actively detest this already bad movie. 99.9% of those with mental illnesses, like depression, anxiety, OCD or PTSD (as examples), are very nice people who would never hurt anyone. It's the same with the general population. Being mentally ill does not mean you're evil, and shame on the writers of this atrociously bad movie for insinuating that. I mean, the movie was bad enough without that reveal, but it made things much worse.
Save your time and don't watch this garbage, even if you do like Sydney Sweeney. There is nothing good, or redeeming, about it.
Misleading Mental Disorder
diamondsrey8 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I made an account just to say that the diagnosis is not representative of schizophrenia. It is actually closer to sociopathy or psychopathy. Hard to believe in 2018 they are still writing movies with negative portrayal of disorders.
Movie is fine otherwise and decent for a light watch. If the director or writer ever reads this, do your research, stop portraying mental health incorrectly.
Movie is fine otherwise and decent for a light watch. If the director or writer ever reads this, do your research, stop portraying mental health incorrectly.
Too many LMN females need to take a ride on the clue bus
hoops-5343620 March 2021
Silly, silly, silly. Two things really bug us about this film- wait, three things; three things really bug us about this film. First, when Samantha knocks out Danica it looks like she just pushed a few books over on her. WTF? Apparently, one of the books must have been "Heavy."
Second, when the real Danica calls Kate- that would not happen in real life. It would have been the woman who runs the home that would make the call....and she was sitting right there.
Third, the ending where Kate talks Samantha out of killing Danica. Nah.
Kate is another LMN who needs to take a ride on the clue bus. Would you not, in real life, do some checking on a girl who claims to be the daughter you gave up 17 years ago?
Strange Listing on IMDB
Stoshie8 May 2018
I saw this movie with the title "The Wrong Daughter" on Lifetime, and it was a stereotypical Lifetime movie, with all the usual elements. I won't go into them now; anyone who watches Lifetime movies knows what I mean.
I thought the way it is listed here is strange, though. They don't list it as a "TV Movie", though I can't believe it wasn't made as one. This is true especially since it is listed as a Lifetime movie under the "Company Credits" section, if you click on "Production Co: See more". They also don't list the running time, which is unusual.
But the strangest part is that they show it as a "Comedy, Thriller", and there are absolutely no comedic elements to the movie. As I said, it is just a standard Lifetime movie, with a crazy person doing improbable things, and with a typically improbable, predictable ending.
I can only suspect that, since the movie just aired the day before I wrote this, IMDB may not have all the facts straight about the movie yet. Hopefully that will be corrected over time.
Anyway, as far as a review goes, what can I say other than what I already did? It's typical Lifetime movie, no better or worse than what is usually produced for them. If you like those kinds of movies, this will please you as much as any other Lifetime movie does. Just don't expect great acting, or a coherent script without gaping holes in it. But you already know that, if you watch Lifetime movies and know the standard structure that is used to make them. I gave it 6 stars. It probably deserves less, but it gave me exactly what I expected from a Lifetime movie, so I was a bit generous.
I thought the way it is listed here is strange, though. They don't list it as a "TV Movie", though I can't believe it wasn't made as one. This is true especially since it is listed as a Lifetime movie under the "Company Credits" section, if you click on "Production Co: See more". They also don't list the running time, which is unusual.
But the strangest part is that they show it as a "Comedy, Thriller", and there are absolutely no comedic elements to the movie. As I said, it is just a standard Lifetime movie, with a crazy person doing improbable things, and with a typically improbable, predictable ending.
I can only suspect that, since the movie just aired the day before I wrote this, IMDB may not have all the facts straight about the movie yet. Hopefully that will be corrected over time.
Anyway, as far as a review goes, what can I say other than what I already did? It's typical Lifetime movie, no better or worse than what is usually produced for them. If you like those kinds of movies, this will please you as much as any other Lifetime movie does. Just don't expect great acting, or a coherent script without gaping holes in it. But you already know that, if you watch Lifetime movies and know the standard structure that is used to make them. I gave it 6 stars. It probably deserves less, but it gave me exactly what I expected from a Lifetime movie, so I was a bit generous.
Only watch for Sydney Sweeney
chris-j-chuba17 May 2020
If you are a guy and are looking for a lolita type to fill your roster, watch it for Sydney Sweeney. At least the writers picked the prettier of the two girls in the foster home to feature for most of the movie.
The protagonist was needy, her whining repetitive and her goal too modest to hold my interest. I love LFM movies. These movies are supposed to be fun where the protagonist is so clever that they are on the verge of obtaining their ambitious goal just before their plot suddenly unravels (love how that happens). I am not a snob, this movie was just not fun.
Impressively not Wrong.
tomfsloan18 September 2018
For one of the many "Wrong" movies, this one got it right. Hardly any complaints about it at all. The acting was fine, particularly the antagonist. Nothing happened that was outrageously stupid. The very end was a little questionable, but still pleasing and entertaining. The only complaint I have is not really a complaint. Every actress looked more or less alike, attractive blondes with long hair. (Except one was a brunette.) Now, since they all looked good, that's really not a complaint.
Terrible
gianmarcoronconi10 April 2024
This is not a real review, it should be understood more as a collection of impressions on the film.
This film is extremely particular because it is one of the very few films where the beginning is cute, the development is horrendous and the ending is cute, so I recommend seeing the beginning and the end skipping the middle because in the meantime you understand anyway and skip the boredom and terrible annoyance that the central part of this film gives you. So in general I can recommend watching this film with a peace of mind and be prepared for the disgust you will witness because otherwise there will only be terrible annoyance and resentment in seeing this film.
This film is extremely particular because it is one of the very few films where the beginning is cute, the development is horrendous and the ending is cute, so I recommend seeing the beginning and the end skipping the middle because in the meantime you understand anyway and skip the boredom and terrible annoyance that the central part of this film gives you. So in general I can recommend watching this film with a peace of mind and be prepared for the disgust you will witness because otherwise there will only be terrible annoyance and resentment in seeing this film.
Decent, Gullible People
lavatch5 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
A sucker is born every day. That is the theme of "The Wrong Daughter" where the orphan Samantha Brown impersonates Danica Tyrell and worms her way into the household of her birth mother. The film unfolds the story of decent, loving people who are taken in by Samantha's con.
The Whitmans, Kate and Joseph, desire to have the perfect family. Kate is starting her new business in opening a restaurant called the Kettle Black Bistro. She has an able assistant in her bestie Melissa (Mellie). But their lives will be thrown into disorder by the young woman claiming to be Kate's daughter, whom Kate gave up for adoption sixteen years ago. It seems like a miracle for the Whitmans because Kate is apparently unable to bring forth babies.
My favorite character is Mellie, who is the first to see through Samantha's scam. The kid hides her gift to Kate in Mellie's purse, giving the impression that Mellie stole the necklace. Then, Samantha goes on a rampage, destroying the garden that Kate and Mellie had worked so hard to make perfect.
The oddest character in the film has to be Ivan, the boyfriend of Mellie. Ivan is the neighbor of the Whitmans, and he video records the session when Samantha had her meltdown in the garden. He then foolishly agrees to delete the video after buying into Samantha's sob story. And for his efforts, he suffers a broken neck when pushed down the stairs by Samantha.
The most sentimental side of the film is the story of the real Danica Tyrell, who is waiting in the wings to be reunited with her mother Kate. The helpless waif eventually discovers that she has been betrayed by Samantha, then seeks out Kate to inform her that she has been duped.
There are a couple of false endings before we have the grand climactic scene in the "Safe Harbor Now" orphanage. There is an effective denouement in a mental asylum where Samantha Brown is getting the care that she needs while in the good hands of her psychiatrist, appropriately named Dr. Hopewell.
The Whitmans, Kate and Joseph, desire to have the perfect family. Kate is starting her new business in opening a restaurant called the Kettle Black Bistro. She has an able assistant in her bestie Melissa (Mellie). But their lives will be thrown into disorder by the young woman claiming to be Kate's daughter, whom Kate gave up for adoption sixteen years ago. It seems like a miracle for the Whitmans because Kate is apparently unable to bring forth babies.
My favorite character is Mellie, who is the first to see through Samantha's scam. The kid hides her gift to Kate in Mellie's purse, giving the impression that Mellie stole the necklace. Then, Samantha goes on a rampage, destroying the garden that Kate and Mellie had worked so hard to make perfect.
The oddest character in the film has to be Ivan, the boyfriend of Mellie. Ivan is the neighbor of the Whitmans, and he video records the session when Samantha had her meltdown in the garden. He then foolishly agrees to delete the video after buying into Samantha's sob story. And for his efforts, he suffers a broken neck when pushed down the stairs by Samantha.
The most sentimental side of the film is the story of the real Danica Tyrell, who is waiting in the wings to be reunited with her mother Kate. The helpless waif eventually discovers that she has been betrayed by Samantha, then seeks out Kate to inform her that she has been duped.
There are a couple of false endings before we have the grand climactic scene in the "Safe Harbor Now" orphanage. There is an effective denouement in a mental asylum where Samantha Brown is getting the care that she needs while in the good hands of her psychiatrist, appropriately named Dr. Hopewell.
Great acting
gavinjackson22226 December 2019
Above Average Made-For-TV Faire...
vnssyndrome893 August 2023
THE WRONG DAUGHTER (TV MOVIE 2018)
BASIC PLOT: Kate (nm122354) and Joseph (Jon Prescott) have almost everything they need to make their life complete. They're in love, successful, and Kate is finally fulfilling her dream to open a restaurant. There's just one thing missing, a child. After multiple unsuccessful IVF attempts, they've finally given up on having a family of their own. But, there's still one possibility, Kate gave up a child at 16. She thought the baby went to a good home, but due to a medical issue, her baby was returned to foster care. Danica (Sierra Pond) has been living in group homes ever since. Unfortunately, she doesn't live there alone. She shares a room with a troubled young woman named Samantha (Sydney Sweeney). Samantha has broken so many rules, she's been asked to leave. On her way out, she steals Danica's laptop, and her identity. If Danica doesn't want to reach out to her birth mother, Samantha will. She's determined to have a family, and will remove anyone who stands in her way, including Danica. Will Kate realize she's brought a homicidal maniac into her life in time to save those she loves?
WHAT WORKS: *This is a decent melodrama, with only one major plot hole. It's well acted, well paced, and is an enjoyable ride, for the most part.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: *Knocking a few books off a bookshelf at someone, wouldn't knock them out. That's a bit ridiculous.
*It is a ludicrous plot device to have the police arrest Melissa (Kelsey Griswold) for breaking down in grief when she finds Ivan's (Jesse Pepe) body. It would open the police up to false arrest charges, and lawsuits. I fast forwarded through the cops speech about assaulting an officer, as it was the officer who assaulted Melissa. This movie was a great melodrama, up until this agregious plot hole. Jesenia Ruiz and Carlee Malemute know how to write quality melodramas, so why add a plot hole so big, they fall in it? They needed a plot device to delay Melissa from reaching Kate. Fine. There are a million ways she could be delayed that do not suspend my disbelief. She could be sedated, have to wait for Ivan's parents, anything but a false arrest. In this litigious day and age, police air on the side of caution. They would check out Melissa's story, and treat her with the respect most police officers give the grieving.
TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION: *I would recommend this to people who understand and enjoy the art form of melodrama. This is a step above the usual made-for-tv movie faire, so enjoy!
CLOSING NOTES: *This is a Made-For-TV movie, please keep that in mind before you watch\rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.
*I have no connection to the film, or production in ANY way. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews. Hope I helped you out.
BASIC PLOT: Kate (nm122354) and Joseph (Jon Prescott) have almost everything they need to make their life complete. They're in love, successful, and Kate is finally fulfilling her dream to open a restaurant. There's just one thing missing, a child. After multiple unsuccessful IVF attempts, they've finally given up on having a family of their own. But, there's still one possibility, Kate gave up a child at 16. She thought the baby went to a good home, but due to a medical issue, her baby was returned to foster care. Danica (Sierra Pond) has been living in group homes ever since. Unfortunately, she doesn't live there alone. She shares a room with a troubled young woman named Samantha (Sydney Sweeney). Samantha has broken so many rules, she's been asked to leave. On her way out, she steals Danica's laptop, and her identity. If Danica doesn't want to reach out to her birth mother, Samantha will. She's determined to have a family, and will remove anyone who stands in her way, including Danica. Will Kate realize she's brought a homicidal maniac into her life in time to save those she loves?
WHAT WORKS: *This is a decent melodrama, with only one major plot hole. It's well acted, well paced, and is an enjoyable ride, for the most part.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: *Knocking a few books off a bookshelf at someone, wouldn't knock them out. That's a bit ridiculous.
*It is a ludicrous plot device to have the police arrest Melissa (Kelsey Griswold) for breaking down in grief when she finds Ivan's (Jesse Pepe) body. It would open the police up to false arrest charges, and lawsuits. I fast forwarded through the cops speech about assaulting an officer, as it was the officer who assaulted Melissa. This movie was a great melodrama, up until this agregious plot hole. Jesenia Ruiz and Carlee Malemute know how to write quality melodramas, so why add a plot hole so big, they fall in it? They needed a plot device to delay Melissa from reaching Kate. Fine. There are a million ways she could be delayed that do not suspend my disbelief. She could be sedated, have to wait for Ivan's parents, anything but a false arrest. In this litigious day and age, police air on the side of caution. They would check out Melissa's story, and treat her with the respect most police officers give the grieving.
TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION: *I would recommend this to people who understand and enjoy the art form of melodrama. This is a step above the usual made-for-tv movie faire, so enjoy!
CLOSING NOTES: *This is a Made-For-TV movie, please keep that in mind before you watch\rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.
*I have no connection to the film, or production in ANY way. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews. Hope I helped you out.
Some people may rate this film highly... One of the many mysteries of the universe.
madcerealspiller5 January 2024
This movie was awfully bad. It isn't the worst movie. However, it is far from a decent movie. What I have gathered, from other reviews, it appears to be based on a true story. I don't know the events that this movie was based upon, but I assume that it is loosely based on said events. It was underwhelming, and rather hard to believe.
The acting: 3/10. I am far from an actor. However, I believe that I have potential to reach the height of acting portrayed in this film.
The plot: 5/10 It isn't a terrible plot, and with a different cast and production team, it could have been okay.
Some people have rated this film with 8 stars... those are people I hope will never plague my day-to-day life. I don't know what could be worse ; watching this film again, or befriending a person that rated this film above six stars. This film has a higher rating than it deserves, in my opinion. Often, many poor reviews stem from a bandwagon of single celled organisms, that dishonestly rate films based on a dishonest popular opinion... I don't do that ; this film is legitimately terrible.
Although, I have seen worse, and it gets four stars for not being the worst film that I have endured.
The acting: 3/10. I am far from an actor. However, I believe that I have potential to reach the height of acting portrayed in this film.
The plot: 5/10 It isn't a terrible plot, and with a different cast and production team, it could have been okay.
Some people have rated this film with 8 stars... those are people I hope will never plague my day-to-day life. I don't know what could be worse ; watching this film again, or befriending a person that rated this film above six stars. This film has a higher rating than it deserves, in my opinion. Often, many poor reviews stem from a bandwagon of single celled organisms, that dishonestly rate films based on a dishonest popular opinion... I don't do that ; this film is legitimately terrible.
Although, I have seen worse, and it gets four stars for not being the worst film that I have endured.
Horrible
lwebb2645616 May 2020
Danica's adoptive parents
kimsmithers15 May 2021
I Was Not Convinced !
carolynocean6 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It just could not happen in real life that this could be , I mean, a girl just claiming " out of the blue " to be someones biological daughter , without a lot of official checks being done, be it social services, or through the adoption / foster care agencies.
I know it is based on true events, but that usually means that a story is changed a lot , especially when making a made for TV movie.
It was'nt the worst movie that I have seen , but It did seem a little frivolous , considering it was such a serious topic
And , I have to say , when we see Kate at the end , very pregnant , I laughed, because any woman ( or man ) will see straight away ,that that was just a pillow stuffed inside her dress !
Most unconvincing pregnancy prop ever !
But , am I the only one who had any sympathy for poor Samantha , who obviously had a horrible and sad life to this point , I felt sad for her .... after all she just needed some help and understanding , and affection .
I know it is based on true events, but that usually means that a story is changed a lot , especially when making a made for TV movie.
It was'nt the worst movie that I have seen , but It did seem a little frivolous , considering it was such a serious topic
And , I have to say , when we see Kate at the end , very pregnant , I laughed, because any woman ( or man ) will see straight away ,that that was just a pillow stuffed inside her dress !
Most unconvincing pregnancy prop ever !
But , am I the only one who had any sympathy for poor Samantha , who obviously had a horrible and sad life to this point , I felt sad for her .... after all she just needed some help and understanding , and affection .
An average thriller featuring a familiar face
lisafordeay1 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Before Sydney Sweeney was in Anyone But You and the critically panned Marvel film Madame Web,she starred in this 2018 thriller as Samantha Brown a delusional teen who steals a girls identity named Danica Whitman(Sierra Pond). So Samantha (posing as Danica) meets Kate Whitman(Cindy Busey) who is the real Danica's mother as she gave her up for adoption 17 years ago,and claims to be the real Danica. But will the real Danica save her birth mother from the delusional Samantha?.
Overall this film was below average. You know exactly how its going to end. The real reason I watched this film,was because of Sydney Sweeney(who I first saw in the 2023 rom com Anyone But You opposite Glen Powell).
If you like these kind of films then check it out.
Overall this film was below average. You know exactly how its going to end. The real reason I watched this film,was because of Sydney Sweeney(who I first saw in the 2023 rom com Anyone But You opposite Glen Powell).
If you like these kind of films then check it out.
Not bad
nicholls_les5 February 2019
Not bad movie, it is hard to believe this is based on a true event but it was OK.
April Bowlby was a revelation in this drama, I had no idea she could act after only seeing her before in 'Two and a half men' as Kandi.
Brilliant Thriller
maxmcgoldrick26 April 2021
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
