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Top 5 Lifetime Movies (and Potential Villainesses) That Desperately Need a Sequel

Listing the five Lifetime movies that need a long overdue sequel, and the villainesses who could take center stage

By Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 24 days ago 7 min read
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Earlier today, I went online to search for some upcoming movies for Tubi for the month of June, doing so upon realizing that it's late in this current month. The month of June had an impressive list of upcoming thrillers, but one listing I noticed totally caught my eye: Rock the Boat 2. We are getting a sequel to the Tubi Original that came out last year, which is excellent, because it definitely ended with a sequel tease.

Of course, Tubi has been releasing movies that Lifetime passes on airing, though Lifetime has recently started airing some of Tubi's past originals. And Tubi has been giving us sequels to their films, though they still owe us more sequels. I would love to see sequels to Deadly Cheer Mom, Meet the Killer Parents, and a third Twisted House Sitter film. But at least Tubi is still making an effort to give us the sequels we ask for.

The same cannot be said for Lifetime. Unless it's Albert Beck (Eric Roberts' central character from the Stalked by My Doctor films), we almost never get sequels. Albert Beck had six films, and other than that, we got a sequel to Single Black Female, but not much else. So many of my favorite Lifetime thrillers pretty much opened the door wide open for a sequel, but not a single peep. The announcement of Tubi's Rock the Boat 2 inspired me to devise this list of five Lifetime films that need a sequel badly, along with the villainesses who could take center stage.

5. Chaos on the Farm (Julie)

Clare Kramer as Julie in 2023's Chaos on the Farm

I remember this so vividly. So right before last year's Stanley Cup Playoffs started, we Lifetime movie fans were treated to the film, Chaos on the Farm. It was a cool film with a small cast that included Jake Busey, whose appearance still surprised me to no end. A face I wasn't surprised to see was Clare Kramer, as she had done the Lifetime thing before. However, what she hadn't done in Lifetime was play a villainess, though that changed that Sunday night. After playing the lead protagonist in 2016's The Wrong House and in 2019's Dating to Kill, Clare Kramer turned heel for this film, as her character--introduced as Susan Freeman, the aunt of main protagonist Jessica Freeman--is revealed as a criminal villainess going by the name Julie.

It had been awhile since Clare was on the evil side, but as the film (and the capture) showed, it was just like riding a bike for Clare. The last scene still stays with me; so Julie/Susan is shown in cuffs and in the back of a police car. I expected her to escape, but she didn't, but even so, that (to me) is enough for a sequel tease. I can see a sequel where Julie escapes somehow and goes after Jessica and Sam in a revenge plot, while taking down anyone who is in her way. I hope they do this, because Clare was amazing as Julie/Susan in this film.

4. My Mom's Darkest Secrets (Kelsie Hillman)

Sophie Gendron as Kelsie Hillman in 2019's My Mom's Darkest Secrets

It's been five years since My Mom's Darkest Secrets aired, and there's still one character who I can't help but focus on: Kelsie Hillman. The film's centered on Ashley Beckford, who had reunited with her actual birth mother, Sara Hillman, while also finding herself in the heart of a murder investigation. The victim was Sara's husband, Trevor Hillman, the father of Ashley's half-sister, Amy Hillman, and the film's progression revealed that Trevor was the victim of a vengeful murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by his own brother, Michael Hillman, as he discovered that Trevor was having an affair with Michael's wife, Kelsie.

The half-sisters found out about the affair and confronted Kelsie, who actually voiced her plan to refuse to testify against Michael. The fact that Kelsie was willing to cover for Michael to keep her own adultery hidden shows that she's villainess material. I actually thought up an idea for a sequel to this film, which would take place a few years after the original, with Sara, Amy, and Ashley all living together. And then there's Kelsie. In the years that would pass, Kelsie would still be the subject of gossip about her affair and her husband's actions, and it would drive her up the wall. Eventually, Kelsie fully turns heel and seeks revenge on her sister-in-law and her nieces, as she would blame them for (in her mind) ruining her life, even resorting to murder to fulfill her maniacal vendetta. It's been far too long since Sophie Gendron has played a Lifetime villainess, and a sequel to this film could see Gendron shine big time as an evil Kelsie Hillman.

3. Engaged to be Murdered (Rachel)

Veronica Cormier as Rachel in 2023's Engaged to be Murdered

New Year's Day 2023 gave us Engaged to be Murdered, one of two new films to premiere on that night. The film centered on Olivia Clark, who was engaged to marry wealthy Jack Finley, though his mother, Amanda Finley, was completely against their relationship, and even vented to her friend, Caroline, about Jack and Olivia. Caroline was the mother of Jack's ex, Rachel, and Amanda pleaded with Caroline to help her get them back together. After Olivia is stalked and attacked, and nearly murdered, all evidence points to Amanda, for obvious reasons. As it turned out, Caroline was behind the murder attempt, as after originally claiming to be against Amanda's idea of bringing Jack and Rachel back together, Caroline had actually voiced her feelings for the idea and attempted to kill Olivia after she was attacked. After Caroline was exposed, Rachel approached the couple and expressed her apologies for her mother's crazed actions.

However, in a surprise twist (though I actually saw this coming), Rachel turned heel at literally the eleventh hour, as the final scene revealed that she was a maniacal villainess who had been stalking Jack, and vowed that they would be back together. Within seconds of the movie's end, I tweeted two words in all caps: "SEQUEL. NOW." There's a lot left to be answered. The main thing: were the attacks on Olivia all Caroline's idea, or was Rachel behind the wheel and sent her mother after Olivia? What is Rachel planning next? Because based on that final scene, there's no way Rachel's done. Veronica Cormier played Rachel, and while she was stellar in the few scenes she had, she excelled when it came to Rachel's heel turn. It's been almost a year and a half, and still nothing. We need this so badly; Cormier could definitely excel as a main villainess in this film.

2. Killer Cheer Mom (Amanda Dillon)

Denise Richards as Amanda Dillon in 2021's Killer Cheer Mom

I said this in my review about this character, that Amanda Dillon deserves at least a sequel, if not two more films. Denise Richards definitely has the star power, she is one of the biggest names to play a Lifetime movie villainess, doing so in 2021's Killer Cheer Mom. This was Richards' first time doing the Lifetime villainess thing, and she was so epic and iconic in her role; it made that film one of the best ones released by Lifetime that year.

As a fan of villainesses and as a fan of the Stepfather film series, I could definitely see at least two more films following this one. Richards' Amanda Dillon could easily be portrayed as a madwoman who is desperate for the perfect family life, mainly because that's exactly what she was in this film; she wanted a perfect family life to avoid a murder charge in her past. I can honestly see Amanda returning in the same fashion as Stepfather II: she's in jail, getting proper counseling, and then she kills her way to escaping and getting a new name. Boom, there's your sequel right there.

1. Mommy, I Didn't Do It (Anna Garrett)

Heather Tom as Anna Garrett in 2017's Mommy, I Didn't Do It

Now, while I do have this on the top of my list, and while it is something I've been harping on for at least five years, there are two things that make this stand out above the rest of the movies on the list. For one, this is a threequel request, as 2017's Mommy, I Didn't Do It was actually the sequel to 2013's The Wrong Woman. While the first film saw Ellen Plainview falsely accused, the sequel saw that torch passed to Ellen's daughter, Julie, as she stood accused of killing her teacher, Gene Dutton. The other attiribute that stands is Anna Garrett, played by Heather Tom. Now, while Kelsie Hillman is technically a villainess in her own right in her film, Anna wasn't in hers. However, her daughter was: Sylvie Garrett was Gene's killer, as she was in love with Gene and killed him when he didn't reciprocate, while looking to frame Julie, her own BFF.

While Anna was not a villainess in the sequel, a threequel could see her take that main villainess title in grand fashion. An idea I had is that Anna could enact a sinister revenge on the Plainviews, who she would delusionally blame for Sylvie's actions and her family's downfall. My idea would have her aligned with Gene's crazed wife, Vera Dutton (Jamie-Lynn Sigler in the 2017 film), who was quick to blame and shame Julie and accuse her of killing Gene, and I would also have a third cohort played by Heather's sister, Nicholle Tom. I've only seen Heather Tom as a villainess in the horror film, Little Dead Rotting Hood, and I want that again. She could really do the Lifetime villainess thing very well if given the chance, and a threequel with an evil Anna Garrett would be absolutely delicious!

Again, it's all up to Lifetime to deliver on these sequels, and any others that need to be made. I do hope that we get sequels to the films I listed, and that Lifetime actually responds to sequel teases with actual follow-up films, I would love that very much!

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About the Creator

Clyde E. Dawkins

I am an avid fan of sports and wrestling, and I've been a fan of female villains since the age of eight. Also into film and TV, especially Simpsons and Family Guy.

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  • Philip Gipson24 days ago

    Lifetime should do more with the sequel thing. Yes, I agree. They have the power to go all the way with it.

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