Petals on the Wind (2014) (DVD Review)
Directed By: Karen Moncrieff
Starring: Heather Graham, Rose McIver, Wyatt Nash
Rated: UR/Region: 1/16:9/Number of disc: 1
Available from Lionsgate
A decade after Cathy, Christopher, and Carrie escaped from their grandparents’ attic at Foxworth Hall, Petals on the Wind continues to follow the twisted plight of the family as they attempt to put their sordid past behind them, but soon discover certain secrets can’t be left behind. When Cathy finds herself in an abusive relationship with a fellow dancer, Julian, Christopher and Cathy are forced to face the forbidden feelings they developed for one another while coming of age during captivity. But when tragedy strikes the Dollangangers once again, Cathy returns to Foxworth Hall to confront her grandmother and seek revenge on her mother with a plan to seduce her husband Bart. When Christopher runs to Cathy’s side, the two are determined to start over again – together.
This is the Lifetime movie based off the second book pinned by the same author who wrote Flowers in the Attic. This is also its sequel for anyone keep track at home. Of course if you have seen Flowers in the Attic you’d know there are a few things that don’t connect well with this and makes a flow of the two impossible. Getting some entertainment from this film, however, isn’t that impossible. I found it to be good enough and I’m all for seeing Heather Graham on screen regardless of the role. Things in the movie do feel a bit rushed at time. I’m sure this was because they were trying to toss as much from the book into this movie as possible. That is about the worst of it, because the rest might not spectacular, but it at least isn’t that bad at all.
The acting here is about as solid as they come. It might sound silly to say, but if you are dealing with some of the themes that are hinted at here in this movie you do need good actors to pull this type of thing off and for the most part I’d say this one does a fine job of that. I mean let me be honest here, there are moments that you could call a bit cartoony, especially from the antagonist side of things, but it still does a fine job of making you stick around from start to finish and that is really about all you can ask for a made for TV Lifetime movie.
- Trailer
