The Thirteenth Wife (2025 Lifetime Movie)
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Cast: Olga Petsa, Felicity Huffman
Director: Michael Nankin
Writer(s): Anne-Marie Hess
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Lifetime)
Based on a true story. Following a failed attack, Ervil’s rage reaches an all-time high and causes Rena to fear for her life and her daughter’s safety. Determined to protect her daughter and break free from the horrific cult, Rena must navigate her way to safety without falling victim to Ervil’s paranoia or his violent followers. Against all odds, Rena finds the strength to break free from the cult’s grasps and escape with her daughter. Together, they begin a new life, determined to make amends for their role in the cult’s crimes. But will she ever really be able to escape the memory of Ervil?
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Based on a true story
Part 1 begins with some mood-setting shots of guns and religious images, intercut with objects in a home.
Cut to Felicity Huffman, Rena, gardening; her husband shows her a news report of a violent shoot-out with police in Mexico. It was with a cult named LaBaren, an offshoot of the Mormon church. It triggers Rena, and she hides with guns to try to outrun the trauma.
A journalist named Josie shows up with records from the FBI; she wants to interview Josie about her time in the cult.
The movie flashes back to Rena’s childhood in the 70s. Her parents, Thelma and Bud, argue and are proud members of the LDS church. One day, Thelma finds some missionaries at the door. Brothers Jole and Ervil. They convince Thelma to join with her daughters, but keep it a secret from her husband. Jole and Ervil quickly persuade the family to have them marry off Lorna to Ervil. (She is 17, and he is “like 40.”)
The family is moved to Chihuahua, Mexico, to start the La Bria Church. Ervil goes for the hard sell and gives everyone a special role in the new church to get them on board. Bud starts taking plural wives, young Mexican girls who don’t know what is going on. Bud also invested his family’s savings in the church.
Ervil and his brother Jole disagree. They split the church, and Ervil calls a secret meeting with all the women in the church to reinterpret the Bible’s teachings in his own twisted manner. (Killing is okay in Ervil’s church.) He earns the trust of Rena and takes her “shopping.” She picks out anything she wants in exchange for sexual favors.
Teenage Rena makes friends with a girl named Naomi. She also meets a guy she likes, a Vietnam veteran named Dean. He was previously married before joining the church, before following Ervil’s teachings. Rena’s mother and sister tell her not to get her hopes up, and Ervil approves of all relationships. Ervil doesn’t just disapprove; he says Heavenly Father has called Rena to be his thirteenth wife.
Ervil gives the young people of the church guns and sends them to do violent bidding against those who wronged them and the church. Rena is the getaway driver. Anyone who tries to leave the church is executed before they can go to the police.
The church relocates to the USA, and Ervil becomes involved with Rena. Rena’s mother thinks it is a blessing, but Rena wants to protect her daughter in a way her mother didn’t. Things become more urgent when Rena realizes that her brother Mark is a hitman for the church and murdered her pregnant friend, Rebecca.
I’m not sure exactly why, but Rena goes on the run with a select group of church members. They assume fake IDs and rob places for money and take a hit out on a dentist.
That’s it for Part One!
STRAY Thoughts
It’s wild to me that Felicity Huffman is an Academy-nominated actor.
Did this need to be a two-night event? I don’t think so!
Overall rating
Number of Kills: 🔪🔪🔪 (3 knives)
Lifetime Tropes: Cults, bad wigs,
Enjoyment Level (1-5 scale)
🍷🍷 (2 Glasses of Wine)
Should you watch it? I’ll wait till part 2 to decide.
Pour it Up (Give it a shot!)
Put a Cork in it (Skip it!)
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media at @LifetimeUncorked and @patrickmiguel.
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*Photo Credit: © 2025 A&E Television Networks, LLC
Let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments below or @lifetimeuncorked
I keep reading Ervil as “Evil” lol. I guess that’s the point!