The Past Come Knocking (2024 Lifetime)
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Cast: Marem Hassler, Karl E. Landler, Tessa Briney, Marlee Carpenter
Director: David Y. Chung, Brandon Villano
Writer(s): Geoffrey D. Calhoun
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Synopsis (via Lifetime)
Former investigative journalist turned professor, Susan Shaw, finds her past catching up with her when the people around her start dying. Fearing for her daughter Autumn’s safety, Susan reaches out to her old friends from her investigative days to try and figure out who’s after her. As she gets closer to the killer and more people close to her die, she will have to do whatever it takes to keep her and her daughter safe. Marem Hassler, Karl E. Lander, Marlee Carpenter, Tess Briney star. (2024)
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Jane is on a jog through the woods. She gets a call from her professor, who has an interesting accent. The professor wants to compliment her on her thesis or whatever. The college co-ed returns to her job before being chased by a psycho with a shovel. The hooded figure smashes Jane to death, and she misses her first day of classes. Pissing off the professor.
Three weeks later, our professor reprimands her teenage daughter for going out for the night. She speaks like she is Katherine Hepburn in a 1930s comedy. The daughter lives on campus and only comes home to do laundry. They might have reason to worry because the neighbor boy, Sam, watches the daughter as she leaves the house.
Professor Susan Straw doesn’t teach theater. She teaches journalism. She has written a famous true crime novel, a la In Cold Blood. She goes to a cafe to get some work done and is recognized by an eager waitress named Zoe. Zoe is very complementary to Prof Straw and audits the class. Susan is down a TA because of the whole murder in the woods thing. She invites Zoe to stay on for the semester and help her out as an assistant.
Professor Susan walks around campus with Zoe. She bumps into another professor with an accent. He is a French econ professor named Thomas Darby. He inappropriately asks Professor Susan on a date in front of her student. They skip the date, and Professor Susan works with Zoe at home. Zoe rudely tells Professor Susan that she expected her home to be bigger!?!? RUDE! Then, when Professor Susan drops Zoe off at her apartment, she returns the insult.
The next day, they are back at it again, working on grading papers or whatever TAs do. Zoe and Professor Susan’s daughter Autumn encourage Susan to accept Prof Thomas Darby’s date offer. Professor Susan gives Zoe a key to lock up the house. The date goes well, but I have no idea what they were saying.
When Professor Susan comes home, she finds that the power has been cut out. There are signs of a struggle. Zoe is nowhere to be found, and her cell phone is still in the house. Professor Susan rushes outside to call the police and notices the weird neighbor boy watching her. She texts Autumn to make sure she is okay.
When the detective arrives, she is hostile and accusatory towards Professor Susan. This is her second TA to go missing after all. With her house now a crime scene, Professor Susan has some explaining to do to her daughter. She also needs to dust off her investigating skills.
INVESTIGATING MONTAGE!!!!! (The creepy neighbor is everywhere Professor Susan goes; it is hilarious.)
Professor Susan is interrogated by detectives because they find Jogging Jane’s blood in her home. Professor Susan is sure she is being framed. She works with her inside source, Brandon, to try and clear her name. Brandon finds out that Zoe was using a fake name. Her real name is Angle Darte. She is the daughter of the subject of Professor Susan’s true crime novel. Zoe’s roommate also turns up dead.
Prof Susan also shares everything with her French boyfriend, maybe too much. Professor Susan is so upset she drinks some whiskey and then sleeps on the couch inexplicably with Prof Thomas Darby. Then they go for a drive and are acting carefree. PEOPLE ARE DYING HERE! YOU ALL SHOULD BE TEACHING STUDENTS!
Autumn is kidnapped and held for ransom. The weird neighbor guy ends up murdered. Professor Susan rushes off to save her daughter. She leaves Prof Thomas to call the police and fill them in.
Zoe/Angel is the bad guy who killed Jane so that she could replace her. She plans to stage Professor Susan’s suicide in the same spot where her father died or kill Autumn if Professor Susan doesn’t comply. Through flashbacks, we see that Zoe/Angel set up everything easily because Professor Susan gave her all access to her life.
In a FURTHER back flashback, we see the day Angel’s father killed himself because of Professor Susan’s reporting. Zoe/Angel has been plotting her revenge for 10 years.
Professor Susan grabs Zoe/Angel’s gun and shoots her in the leg as the police pull up. French boyfriend shows up, and French kisses Professor Susan. The end!
Side Note/Stray Thoughts
Even though this was a bit dull and predictable, I thought it was well filmed and acted.
The WIGS however were atrocious!
Overall rating
Number of Kills: 🔪🔪🔪 (3 knives)
Enjoyment Level (1-5 scale)
🍷🍷 (2 Glasses of Wine)
Should you watch it?
Pour it Up (Give it a shot!)
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked & @patrickmiguel.
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*Photo Credit: © 2024 A&E Television Networks, LLC
Your synopsis was better than the actual movie. Prof and her boyfriend had weird Euro accents.
Loved, loved, loved your recap! Super entertaining! I knew Zoe/Angel was wearing a wig (not a good one either) but I too was shocked by the short blonde hair. She went from a neurotic nerd to a badass just by ditching the wig!
The female detective in this was kinda creepy.
I loved having the lead have an accent, but as a former journalist, she was very blind to what was right in front of her. The economics professor who liked her was adorkable. The date was hilarious, because like you I needed wine, because I had no idea what was going on and didn’t really care. But I really liked his quirky personality throughout. I was actually nervous for him, with those tight pants, I wasn’t sure how his self-defense skills were. Zoe-right off the bat gave creep vibes. I clocked that bad wig right away. Overzealous and energetic people like her set off my red flag meter. Please, for the love of all that is good, stop giving folks you just met full access to your life/home. The detective’s question about giving Zoe the key was valid. But she still was weird and annoying. Don’t get me wrong, the always creeping around was creepy, but love his eyes. As a non-creeper, I am sure he is cute. lol. (R.I.P.) Detecting and leaving your phone in the car…not smart. So much happens in the daylight in these suburban neighborhoods and you are telling me no one is looking out their window? Got 21 Jump Street vibes. A fun ride