So, you’ve been betrayed by your birthmother!
Well, these things happen. Especially if you’re a character in a Lifetime movie. I’ve always argued that Lifetime movies can best be viewed as wish fulfillment and, in this one, the fulfilled wish belongs to every mother who has ever hoped that their daughter would admit that they should have listened to them. In this film, Amy (Tanya Clarke) warns his adopted teenage daughter, Tara (Monica Rose Betz), about trying to track down her birthmother, Grace (Aria Pullman). And wow, is Amy ever proven right!
Of course, it’s understandable that Tara would want to track down her birthmother. First off, Tara has all sorts of weird allergies and it would really help her understand her medical history if she knew who her mother was. Secondly, Amy is kind of overprotective and won’t even let Tara date or buy a bikini, despite the fact that Tara is nearly 17 years old. I mean, that’s extreme! So, even though Amy is a loving mom and owns a big house and works for Habitat for Humanity, it’s understandable that Tara would want to see what else is out there. Amy shouldn’t have sheltered her daughter but then again, Tara should have listened to Amy about the whole “your birthmother could be dangerous” thing.
At first, Tara is overjoyed when she manages to track down Grace. Grace seems like the perfect birthmother. She teaches Tara how to drive. She buys Tara that forbidden bikini. She encourages Tara to live her own life. Yet, there are some strange things about Grace. For instance, Grace refuses to divulge too much information about her own background. Grace also insists that Tara not tell Amy about her.
Eventually, though, Amy tracks down Grace on her own and invites Grace to come over to the house and meet her daughter “for the first time.” However, when Grace arrives at the house, she’s no longer acting like the confident and unpredictable Grace that Tara met. Instead, Grace is now jumpy and nervous and suffers from terrible dizzy spells. Even more strangely, Grace acts as if she barely knows Tara. What’s happening?
You may be tempted to say that Grace is just unbalanced but actually, there’s more to it than that. There’s a neat little twist to this story and I won’t spoil it but I will say that it took me by surprise when it was revealed. A surprise twist is always a good thing and Birthmother’s Betrayal executes it well. Admittedly, the twist itself is a bit over-the-top but that’s what we love Lifetime movies for. Save the normal twists for movies on other networks. This is Lifetime we’re talking about!
Anyway, I enjoyed Birthmother’s Betrayal, largely because of the twist. Right when you think the movie is going to be one thing, it turns out to be something else. Aria Pullman does a good job playing Grace, as both a confident sociopath and a rather frail and neurotic woman who suffers from suddenly dizzy spells. Keep an eye out for Birthmother’s Betrayal and remember that, when it comes to sending your DNA off to a website, it’s sometimes best to listen to the people who raised you.
Through the Shattered Lens 