Silent Night, Fatal Night (2023 Lifetime)
📺. Stream/Watch the Movie (Ad): Watch or Steam this Lifetime Movie Now
Cast: Alex Camacho, Matthew Pohlkamp, Hailey Rutledge
Director: Peter Sullivan
Writer:Robert Dean Klein, Adam Rockoff, Jeffrey Schenck, Peter Sullivan
➡️ Check out our Youtube Channel: Lifetime Uncorked: Lifetime Movie Reviews
🎧 Listen to the Lifetime Uncorked Podcast: Listen Now
🍷 Support the show with a $5 tip: https://ko-fi.com/patrickserrano
Accused: The Karen Read Story, Katie Cassidy, and Turtleboy? – Lifetime Uncorked
- Accused: The Karen Read Story, Katie Cassidy, and Turtleboy?
- It's A Wonderful Lifetime Preview, Brandy Norwood, Vivica A. Fox, and Airplane Movies?
- If I Run Lifetime Movie, Kat Graham, and Prayer Requests?
- Ice Road Killer Lifetime Movie, Christmas Thrillers, and Truckers
- You Better Watch Out, Christmas in July, and Bramblefest?
- The Nanny Sees All 2025 Lifetime Movie, Child Actor of the Year, and Golden Madison?
- I'm Your Biggest Fan Lifetime Movie, Hailey Duff Directs, and Beverley Mitchell?
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Lifetime)
Mallory Dearborn (Alex Camacho) is one of the best-selling mystery writers in the market. Against the wishes of her manager Michael (Matthew Pohlkamp), she’s decided to end her long-running detective franchise and focus on more personal matters. Desperate for a big payday, Michael takes her prisoner and, convincing the world she’s passed away, forces her to write a new, posthumous novel. Now, Mallory will spend the holidays writing her most thrilling story yet: her own escape.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
The movie begins with a red-headed woman creeping around on a stormy night in the 1940s or something; what is this woman wearing? She searches through a home with a flashlight while electric candles glow around the dark rooms. Then, a man with a knife chases her around, and we see these are just characters in a story, Gideon’s Family Runion, by famed author Mallory Deerborn.
Mallory and her book agent, Michael, host a book signing and a super fan named Carrie Addison. (Who hosts a podcast about the book series and an aspiring mystery novelist.) Michael rushes Carrie off. She is not deterred and adds the signed copy to her shrine of others before sitting down to write like her hero.
Unsatisfied with her success, Mallory wants to write a book outside the successful series. The agent, Michael, wants a commission and isn’t interested in her other ideas. Mallory eventually talks him into it, and Michael reluctantly agrees. Mallory plans to take the holidays to think up her next idea. (She has no idea about an advance that Michael stole from her.)
Michael lies, tells Mallory that she has been approved to write her new book, and even offers to give her his cabin so she can focus. (He insists she NOT tell anyone where she is going.) Since Mallory appears to have no family or friends, she agrees to go!
Mallory arrives at the cabin and calls Michael to tell him it is perfect. She puts on Christmas music and settles down with a book before someone sneaks in and chloroforms her. SILENT NIGHT FATAL NIGHT!
Meanwhile, Carrie continues to write on her laptop and gets a push notification that Mallory Deerborn is dead!!!!
Michael proposes a toast after watching a news story before heading downstairs to the basement, where he has her gagged and tied. He shows her a tracking device he has placed on her ankle. He pitches it as a writer’s retreat and will force her to write the next Gideon Snow novel. She can move about the house, and the phone lines/Wifi have been removed from the cabin.
Mallory tries to leave, but the ankle bracelet beeps. She reluctantly goes back to the kitchen and eats a sandwich Michael prepares. Then he shows her where she will be writing, and it even had a Christmas tree! She offers to pay the advance he stole if he can just let her go. Bargaining doesn’t work.
While they talk, a hiker wanders outside the cabin. Michael pulls out a gun and ties Mallory back up. Then he answers the door and meets Grant. Grant asks to come in to warm up and use the bathroom, but he goes into the wrong room, and Michael stabs him to death. (It isn’t the BEST writing environment.)
Since this is a Lifetime movie, we have to have a Sheriff. A hang-up 911 call came from near the cabin, and the Sheriff went up to investigate. Michael invites the Sheriff in and makes excuses for the banging noises he hears. Michel is so damn charming that he sends the Sherriff off with no issue.
Mallory starts writing about Gideon being kidnapped, and things start flowing. She is halfway through writing when Mallory asks for a steak and wine dinner. While Michael does the cooking. Mallory freshens up in the bathroom, but REALLY, she is crushing up pills to slip into his wine. She waits for him to drink the drugged wine with anticipation. Michael is onto her and dumps his wine glass on the table before sending her back to work on the book.
Next, Mallory tries to ask Michael for internet, and he flat out says no, but she does steal a letter opener! Mallory later syncs up with Michel’s iPhone and looks up new stories about herself instead of getting help.
Superfan Carrie starts to feel something is off and watches old interviews. She notices that news reports of a manuscript don’t add up because Mallory takes a month off between books. Carrie calls a bunch of people who knew Mallory and asks the simple question… DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW MALLORY DIED?!?!?
Mallory tries to stab Michael with the letter opener. He stops her, and she dumbly admits that she connected to his phone wifi but didn’t call for help. Mallory knows he is going to kill her, and he suggests she could have faked her own death. (Antagonising your captor is not the BEST idea.)
Michael drives back to the city for a meeting, and while he does, he listens to jaunty Christmas music. He forgets his wallet and heads back, unaware Mallory has broken out of her restraints. She rushes back and pretends to be asleep.
Carrie talks to Wendy, the publisher, and Wendy thinks she is insane. Then Carrie pretends to be a cake delivery person and talks Wendy’s assistant into giving her Michael’s cabin address.
The Sheriff returns after a call comes into the station reporting Gabe a missing person. This time, Michael sends him off by bribing him with one of Mallory’s books. When he brings the book back to the station, his receptionist tells the Sheriff that the author has died. This doesn’t match the story Michael told him earlier.
Mallory finishes the book, and she and Michael celebrate with champagne. Mallory dumps the booze and offers to read the ending to Michael. As Mallory reads, she tells him how she outsmarted him and smashes his head in with her laptop. Then she pulls a gun on him.
Michael takes back the gun, and Mallory rushes to call for help. Before she actually dials, she goes to flip off the power at the circuit breaker. She finally calls 911, and the phone is left on while she struggles with him.
Carrie shows up and helps Mallory stop Michael until the Sheriff arrives and arrests him.
Mallory’s latest book about being kidnapped is a huge success, and Carrie is now her book agent. Mallory greenlights Carrie to write the next book in the series.
Side Note/Stray Thoughts
Matthew Pohlkamp always be playing a bad guy!
The wine-pouring scene is my NEW FAVORITE!
Overall rating
Pour it up
Put a Cork in It
Christmas Feels
🎄 (1 Christmas Tree)
Enjoyment Level: 🍷🍷🍷 (3 glasses of wine.)
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked
📺. Stream/Watch the Movie (Ad): Watch or Steam this Lifetime Movie Now
➡️ Check out our Youtube Channel: Lifetime Uncorked: Lifetime Movie Reviews
🎧 Listen to the Lifetime Uncorked Podcast: Listen Here
🍷 Support the show/blog with a $5 tip: https://ko-fi.com/patrickserrano
Inquiries | podcast@lifetimeuncorked.com
🍾 Your Support is appreciated. Donate today to keep the website going! Thank you.
*Photo Credit: © 2023 lifetime
