Lifetime Review: 'A Murder to Remember'

When Robin Rivera (Maddie Nichols) first set off on a camping trip with her husband Javier (Kevin Rodriguez) for their anniversary, she never imagined it would end with Javier dead and her in a police station with a stranger. That stranger is one Sam Turner (T.C. Matherne), who tells Sheriff Watkins (Leslie Hendrix) that he met Robin and Javier while hunting and that Javier was accidentally killed when his rifle went off. At first glance, it appears to be an open-and-shut case.

But as the days go on, Robin begins to remember new details about what happened in the woods. As her memories come back to her, Robin begins to realize that happened to her and Javier was no accident--and Sam was responsible for all of it. Over the course of Watkins' investigation, disturbing truths about the events surrounding Javier's death will come forward. And along the way, the deeply traumatized Robin will have to rely on all her strength to recover her memories--and bring the man responsible to justice.

The second premiere of Lifetime's recent string of Ann Rule-inspired thrillers, A Murder to Remember is based on another book from her Crime Files series: Empty Promises and Other True Cases. In a departure from the first premiere Sleeping with Danger, A Murder to Remember takes on a slow boil and a less linear plot progression. Instead, much of the story's meat is told in flashback, with the film's present events dedicated to the aftermath of what happened to Robin. This storytelling style is likely not to work for everyone, especially those familiar with the true story behind A Murder to Remember. But regardless of whether or not you have that foreknowledge, A Murder to Remember's spectacular cast is more than enough to keep you invested in the twisted story it recounts.

Maddie Nichols is an exceptional lead as Robin Rivera, bringing painful authenticity to the trauma and emotional turmoil that Robin's ordeal leaves her with. Nichols sells Robin's terror and pain with such force that it's impossible not to sympathize with her, and you'll be rooting to see her get the justice she deserves. T.C. Matherne matches Nichols' ferocity in his portrayal of Sam Turner, playing him with the right mix of pure insanity and smug sleaziness. It's a winning combination sure to get your skin crawling and have you waiting with anticipation to see Sam's downfall. Nichols and Matherne's scenes together bring all the right tension to keep viewers watching, and their individually strong performances bring a realistic edge to Robin's tragic descent into Stockholm's Syndrome.

Nichols and Matherne are joined by a capable supporting cast, with the highlights of the bunch being Carolyn McCormick and Leslie Hendrix. McCormick strikes excellent chemistry with Nichols as Robin's mother Celeste, bringing the same maternal energy to Celeste's efforts to help her mentally scarred daughter as she does to Celeste's fiercer scenes of demanding justice be brought against Robin's assailant. Hendrix (in a continuation of her strong presence in Sleeping with Danger) brings the same kind of fierceness to Sheriff Watkins' pursuit of the truth, even as the bizarre case initially has her stumped.

While the beginning of the film hammers home the impending tragedy of Javier's death a bit too much, Kevin Rodriguez is adorably sweet as Robin's doomed husband and plays well off of Nichols in their "Goofy Young Spouses" dynamic. Byron Jennings makes a memorable impression as empathetic psychologist Dr. Devlin, as does Deadra Moore to a degree as Watkins' partner Mavis. Demi Castro and Daisy Pareja also give tearjerking performances as Javier's grieving parents Emiliano and Ana, though as the most minor players in the drama, they're given the least material to work with and Emiliano's minor character arc with Robin doesn't resonate as much as it could've.

In addition to the potentially audience-alienating pace, A Murder to Remember ends on a blandly delivered narration that fails to end the movie on the strong note it should've. But on the whole, A Murder to Remember has all the emotional power and heart of Sleeping with Danger, which more than makes up for the change in narrative flow. It may not hit quite as hard as its predecessor, but with excellent lead actors and a memorably horrifying story, A Murder to Remember is still a worthwhile follow-up and a strong directorial debut for Robin Givens.

Score: 8.5 out of 10 fish tacos.