Lifetime Review: 'His Deadly Affair'

Violinist Danielle Turner (Helena Mattsson) is a gifted musician who is the latest protege of conductor James Hart (Max Ryan). Despite this opportunity being her potential big break, Danielle can't help but feel guilty about joining James on his music tour--as her departure left her at odds with her sister Heidi (Danielle C. Ryan). Now that she's back in town, Danielle is hoping to use this as her chance to make up with Heidi and rekindle their connection. Danielle is also enjoying a romantic relationship with James, having been swept off her feet by her handsome and charismatic conductor.

Unbeknownst to Danielle, however, James is not only a married man and a serial adulterer, but his wife Victoria (Gina Holden) is an immensely unstable and vengeful woman on a mission. When Heidi ends up caught in the crossfire of Victoria's revenge, it's up to Danielle to uncover the truth and save her sister before it's too late.

To start this review on a tangent/factoid, this is a rare case in which a Lifetime movie has an alternate title I like less than the one it receives when airing. The original title for His Deadly Affair was the incredibly odd Swipe Right, Run Left--a reference to the fact that a Tinder-esque dating app proves integral to the film's plot. His Deadly Affair also works as a better title given the tense thriller that follows it, as Swipe Right, Run Left sounds like a title more appropriate for a dating comedy.

Going into the movie itself, His Deadly Affair proves to be an attention-grabbing thriller, thanks greatly in part to stellar performances from Gina Holden and Helena Mattsson. In the role of psychotic ex-cop Victoria Hart, Holden brings her all during her character's more deranged moments. As Victoria plots her revenge, using her former occupation among other things to advance her scheme, she does so with an air of confidence--showing that, despite her deteriorating mental state, Victoria is a woman determined to follow through on her plot for revenge.

What's even more impressive, however, is how Holden (and the film) allows a few moments for the audience to feel sympathy for Victoria and let her develop into more than a standard "Woman Scorned" character. In between her ruthless scheming and fits of unbridled rage, we see glimpses of the Victoria she clearly wants to keep hidden: a woman who has been left broken inside by the fact that the man she fell in love with has begun remorselessly betraying her over and over again. Holden brings as much passion to Victoria's poignant side as she does to the ruthless persona we see more of, making for a villainess you sympathize with at the same time as you love seeing her in diabolical action.

Helena Mattsson, meanwhile, takes after Holden's example by bringing deep emotional sincerity to Danielle's emotional arc throughout the film, particularly in regards to her estrangement from Heidi. Mattsson and Danielle C. Ryan share strong chemistry as sisters, making you believe Danielle and Heidi as siblings who both regret their estrangement-sparking argument and want to repair their relationship. It's when Danielle finds out James' true nature and Heidi ends up caught in Victoria's clutches that Mattsson truly shines, bringing a heartwrenching authenticity to Danielle's devastation as she desperately tries to rescue her sister. Ryan brings the same emotional authenticity to Heidi as she goes through her own horrifying ordeal once she becomes entangled in Victoria's web.

As the last major player in the adultery drama, Max Ryan brings an undeniable charm to James Hart. You realize he's a sleazy cad who thinks little of his wife and the women he seduces, yet you can understand why so many women fall for him. Cameron Radice brings chilly malice to Matthew Valence as he transforms from minor character to secondary antagonist, and Tim Fields brings a likable charm in his admittedly formulaic role as Heidi's neighbor and Danielle's eventual ally Ray--SPOILER ALERT though his rushed and superfluous romance with Danielle is harder to forgive. Spoilers Over

In addition to minor faults concerning Ray, His Deadly Affair would have been wiser to put more focus on Victoria than they did, as it would bring both an increase in entertaining drama and more time for Victoria's character complexities to be explored. But on the whole, His Deadly Affair brings quite a bit to the table: strong leading ladies, some solid secondary performances to back them up, a tense plot that provides a consistent flow of thrills, and some eye/ear candy in the form of beautiful cinematography and music thanks to the classic music-infused plot. If you're in the mood for a Lifetime film high on drama and insanity, His Deadly Affair is just what you're looking for.

Score: 9 out of 10 engraved name bracelets.