(Lisa is currently in the process of trying to clean out her DVR by watching and reviewing all 40 of the movies that she recorded from the start of March to the end of June.  She’s trying to get it all done by July 11th!  Will she make it!?  Keep visiting the site to find out!)

The 27th film on my DVR was Running For Life, which originally aired on Lifetime on May 29th.

Running For Her Life has a very simple and yet very important message: if you’re going to take part in hypnotherapy, make sure that your therapist isn’t a fucking psycho who is obsessed with you.  Really, that seems like it should be common sense but I’ve seen enough Lifetime films to know that people of a certain age and socio-economic background are often way too quick to enter into co-dependent relationships with people that they barely know!

For instance, Alison Wynn (Claire Forlani) wants to be an Olympic-winning triathlete, despite the fact that she’s still recovering from a major accident, one that caused many doctors to tell her that she would never walk again.  Alison proved them wrong then and she wants to prove them wrong now!  The only problem is that something is holding her back from giving it her all in competition.  Could it be a childhood trauma of some sort?  Could it be her own insecurity over her husband’s attractive new assistant?

What better way to find out than to convince the famous and controversial Dr. Laura Stevens (Michelle Nolden) to take her on as a client!  At first, Laura says that she only works with professional athletes and suggests that Alison just read her book.  But Alison continues to beg and eventually, Laura relents.

It turns out that Laura is a demanding coach.  She pushes Alison to the limit and then demands even more, all the while screaming at her that her mother was right and that Alison is worthless.  But, despite the harsh treatment, Alison starts to get better.  It especially helps when Laura hyponotizes her and implant psychic suggestions in her brain.  Of course, there is a nosy reporter (Arnold Pinnock) who claims that Laura is less of a coach and more of a brainwasher but at least Laura is getting results!

Of course, that’s not all Laura is doing.  It quickly becomes apparent that she has grown obsessed with Alison.  Soon, Laura is breaking into Alison’s apartment and hiding panties behind the cushions of the living room couch.  “THESE AREN’T MINE!” Alison later yells at her husband.

It all leads to a scene in which Alison’s husband confronts Laura and Laura literally smashes a bottle over her head.  Seriously, it’s one of the most batshit crazy scenes to ever show up in a Lifetime film and it makes the entire film required viewing.

Anyway, I rather liked Running For Her Life.  Yes, it’s predictable but it’s also fun.  As well, this is one of the rare Lifetime films where the victims are just as interesting as villains.  Claire Forlani really throws herself into the role of Alison and you actually find yourself hoping that things actually do work out for her (though I have to admit that I’m still not totally sure I understand what a triathlon is).  Meanwhile, Michelle Nolden turns Dr. Laura into a truly classic Lifetime villain.

Keep an eye out for Running For Her Life!