Lifetime Review: 'Psycho Mother-in-Law'

Rich, successful, and having a great relationship with her son, Jill Jones (Kari Matchett) has a lot to be grateful for. And now, not only is Luke (Matthew Raudsepp) on the verge of marrying his kind and loving girlfriend Amber Vickers (Victoria Diamond), but Jill finds herself developing a close friendship with Amber to the point of viewing her as the daughter she never had.

Things take an awkward turn, however, when Amber's mother Sharon (Romy Rosemont) moves into the Jones household for the wedding. Uptight, conservative, and highly opinionated, Sharon quickly begins clashing with both Amber and Jill regarding everything from the wedding plans down to Amber's new taste in nail polish. It also becomes clear that Sharon is more than a little envious of Amber's friendship with Jill, with Amber and Jill both trying to placate Sharon as much as possible. But just when it seems the worst is behind them, Jill suddenly breaks her leg in what appears to be a break-in and Sharon offers to care for her while Amber and Luke are away on business together. But as the days pass and Jill finds herself almost completely isolated and constricted by Sharon, she comes to realize the drastic measures Sharon is willing to go to to keep her daughter's love to herself...

Incendo is one of Lifetime's major film providers, with Psycho Mother-in-Law (originally titled Mad Mom) continuing their habit of making their films stick out among the rest in Lifetime's catalog aesthetically. The classical music motif and notable reliance on dramatic pieces adds to the drama and mayhem of the film, allowing Psycho Mother-in-Law to live up to its' dramatic title in tone and have some moments of richly dark comedy. Despite this, Psycho Mother-in-Law remains a very intense and dark thriller, with the second and third acts being wrought with tension, as the viewers are often left in suspense as to what will happen next and how far down the rabbit hole Sharon's insanity goes. The house where much of the final acts take place is also key in building the film's tension, as its' extravagance and beauty underscores the fact that our main protagonist is being held prison in it, giving the viewer a sense of unrest in what is otherwise a gorgeous setting.

This effective tension is aided by an amazing performance from Romy Rosemont, who turns Sharon from a condescending control freak to a maniacal and violent menace with fluidity. Rosemont also uses subtler tactics to convey Sharon's character, with a perfect moment being her reaction to learning about Amber's nuptials early on in the film. From the first look on her face upon learning this news, it's clear that Sharon is controlling in every sense of the word—and this prepares the audience for what's yet to come from her.

The rest of the cast doesn't falter under Rosemont, as Kari Matchett plays well against her as Jill Jones. At the beginning, one can't be faulted for believing Jill to be just as condescending as Sharon, as her seeming flaunting of her wealth and her strong bond with Amber can appear boastful to some. But as the film progresses, it's clear that her fondness for Amber is genuine, as are her attempts at civility with the increasingly vindictive Sharon. Her fierce refusal to concede to Sharon's darker side in the film's third act also gives her character strength and makes you root for her as she fights with everything she has to escape Sharon's clutches.

Victoria Diamond is a strong member of the supporting cast, with her portrayal of the exasperated Amber is sympathetic as her attempts to convince her mother to get along with Jill--and more importantly, allow her to make her own choices regarding her life--go to no avail. Matthew Raudsepp (who previously appeared in Lifetime's Dead at 17) gives a strong, if not underutilized, performance as the good-natured Luke and Salvatore Antonio provides the movie with its' most darkly comedic scenes as Jill's co-worker Evan, as his brash way of counteracting Sharon's strict nature makes him a blast to watch.

Overall, Psycho Mother-in-Law is an intense thriller with a great aesthetic to keep viewers riveted and entertained as they watch the mayhem unfold. Anyone looking for a compelling drama courtesy of Lifetime—and maybe some assurance that their own in-laws aren't that bad—should definitely check this one out.

Score: 9 out of 10 glasses of orange juice.