This morning, as I struggled to adjust to the tyranny of Daylight Saving Time, I watched yet another movie off of my DVR.  As our regular readers know, I am currently in the process of cleaning out the DVR by trying to watch 38 films by Friday.  Don’t Wake Mommy was film #17.

(Of course, what I didn’t realize, as I watched Don’t Wake Mommy this morning, was that the Lifetime Movie Network would be reshowing the film in just a few hours time.)

Don’t Wake Mommy premiered on Lifetime on January 3rd.  It was the first Lifetime film of 2016 and somehow, that seems appropriate.  When most people think of the stereotype of a Lifetime film, chances are that they’re thinking of something like Don’t Wake Mommy.

Ashley Bell, who was so good in the Last Exorcism films, plays Molly.  Molly has a wonderful husband (Dean Geyer) and a great career (though don’t ask me to explain what she does, beyond the fact that she works in one of those generic Lifetime offices).  However, ever since giving birth to her daughter, Molly has had to put her life on hold.  Suffering from extreme postpartum depression, she joins an online support group and ends up meeting Beth (Sara Rue).

At first, Beth seems like she’s perfect.  In fact, she’s too perfect.  If you’re a veteran Lifetime viewer like I am, you’ll know that Beth is trouble from the first minute she offers to help Molly out.  (The film also starts with a rather unnecessary prologue, in which Beth harasses another couple.)  Beth is all smiles and good advice but soon, she is literally running Molly’s life.

While Molly’s husband is away, Beth moves into the house.  She keeps Molly constantly medicated and insists on taking care of Ava herself.  When Molly’s BFF stops by, Beth tells her that Molly no longer needs her around.

And then one day, Ava disappears…

Don’t Wake Mommy is a fairly predictable film.  After the 1st 15 minutes or so, you will have figured out everything that is going to happen.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to Lifetime films.  In many ways, their familiarity is a part of their appeal.  But being familiar does not necessarily mean that a film should feel generic and, far too often, Don’t Wake Mommy feels generic.

That said, Sara Rue does a great job playing the unstable Beth and Ashley Bell proves that she’s a capable actress even when she isn’t playing someone possessed by the devil.  Here’s hoping that both actresses get a lot more opportunities in the future to show off what they can do.