Lifetime Review: 'Kindred Spirits'

Single mom Chloe (Thora Birch) has had a difficult time lately with her teenage daughter Nicole (Sasha Frolova), whose short temper has caused friction between herself and her mother. Things quickly seem to look up, however, when an unexpected visitor arrives: Chloe's younger sister Sadie (Caitlin Stasey), who hasn't seen her sister or niece in a year. With Nicole having always idolized Sadie and Chloe happy to reconnect with her sister, they happily invite Sadie to move in with them.

But as Sadie makes herself at home with Chloe and Nicole, it becomes clear that all is not right with Sadie. Her free-spirited and often immature behavior spirals into unsettling territory, and her schemes put a further strain on Chloe and Nicole's relationship. It soon becomes clear to Nicole that Sadie is not the aunt she remembers her as—and that her twisted mind games have only begun.

Having made its way through the film festival circuit before its premiere on Lifetime, Kindred Spirits shows hints of having been made for different screens, with its' muted swears and considerably more graphic moments of violence than the channel usually sees. With intense drama having always been what Lifetime is well known for, Kindred Spirits' change of tone—as well as its attention to aesthetic—is sure to be more than welcome to viewers. Add to that a well-laid plot and strong cast, you have a film that has found another happy home on the Lifetime Movie Network.

Coming from well-known director Lucky McKee, Kindred Spirits boasts strong focus on aesthetic, with the film's darker and more emotional scenes being given visual flair (a notable example being scenes of Nicole and Sadie alone in her bedroom, lit only by a rotating decorative light fixture). This plays well off the film's brooding mood, a mood which is built up to slowly to where it keeps the audience at keen attention without boring them. This all leads up to an explosive climax in which the film's three primary characters are all at their strongest, with an ending that sets itself up for one conclusion before taking the audience by surprise when it goes a different direction. SPOILER ALERT While some may view the ending as a cop-out, I personally liked how the film sets the viewer up for a Downer Ending, only to subvert things at the very last second. I also like how the film ends on an appropriately bittersweet note: even though Sadie has been arrested, her actions have nonetheless severely damaged Chloe and Nicole's relationship as well as their lives as a whole, and Sadie ends the film having lost whatever scrap of sanity she had left. Spoilers Over

The film's character-driven pacing is carried by the film's trio of leads, with Caitlin Stasey in particular standing out for her faceted portrayal of Sadie. Starting out as the typical "Laid-Back, Cool Aunt" trope to act as a parallel to the more buttoned-up Chloe, Stasey allows for Sadie's psychotic tendencies to emerge with an understated malice, with her delivering Sadie's more unstable moments in either an eerie monotone or in over-the-top, teenage-girl-esque exuberance making for a villainess as unpredictable as she is unnerving. Stasey also plays well off of both Thora Birch and Sasha Frolova (particularly the latter) in her respective roles as adoring sister and fun aunt, making her eventual betrayals and schemes against both of them all the more despicable.

Speaking of, Birch and Frolova are both strong in their own roles, bringing palpable tension to the scenes that put their strained relationship in the spotlight. Birch brings emotion to Chloe as she finds herself struggling to connect with her volatile daughter, with her frustration leading her to make mistakes and fall prey to her sister's machinations. Frolova, meanwhile, brings a zeal to Nicole as she alternates between average angsty teen and deeply troubled young woman, with her issues being worsened by Sadie's influence. Most importantly, while both mother and daughter have their harsh moments towards each other that will test the audience's patience, Birch and Frolova allow for Chloe and Nicole's love for each other to be visible, despite the extreme frustrations that arise between them.

Macon Blair brings a warmness to Chloe's secret boyfriend Alex, with Blair and Birch painting a picture of a couple who deeply loves each other, but find themselves strained due to their complicated situations involving their daughters. Shonagh Smith also does well as Nicole's best friend and Alex's daughter Shay, though the seemingly harbored frustrations Shay has with Nicole after she becomes roped into Sadie's schemes really come out of nowhere. Isai Torres brings sympathy to the role of Nicole's problematic boyfriend Derek, with the script succeeding in keeping Derek sympathetic in a way Hidden Intentions somewhat failed to with Luke. Liam Booth also does well as adorkable teen Kenny, acting as a springboard for Stasey as we see some of the first blatant signs of Sadie's true nature.

While the change in tone will be notable to those familiar with Lifetime movies and how they're usually structured, Kindred Spirits still provides all the thrills and drama that come with a more traditional Lifetime feature. With a strong cast of characters and a stellar villainess who matches the film's sense of dread and suspense, Kindred Spirits comes with high recommendation if you want a film that will keep you glued to the screen.

Score: 10 out of 10 red model airplanes.