Lifetime is super iffy on twin stories. In most of them, the set up and the plot doesn't make the deception believable. For example, husbands and wives that don't realize something is "off" with their spouse after sleeping with them (not even an inkling. Come on). Or twins that are estranged and haven't seen each other in forever, yet have the same hair color and cut (bc it's one actor).
This one is believable because it's not just that the twin happened to show up, but he's been plotting the whole time to replace his brother. These are also twins that grew up together. In a lot of Lifetime twin tales, the two were either adopted separately and don't know each other exists or they're so estranged that there's no way they are similar. Even though Derek is not "great" at being Tyler and does slip up (but hand waves his mistakes), he still knows his brother.
There are some things you have to believe in order for the movie to work...like wouldn't the girlfriend have picked up on the surface changes in her boyfriend? Mood, temperament, etc? She eventually gets it. I do like how the mom didn't know Tyler, so there's at least one character that isn't completely fooled. Again, I know it's a Lifetime movie, but in a situation like this, wouldn't the hospital somehow have protocols to make sure this does not happen? Obviously a twin would likely not want to replace their sibling in a mental hospital, but surely they'd check to make sure the right one is there at night after a visit? When Tyler does get released, they solve it so easily that...why didn't you verify his identify in the first place?! The nurse mentions that distinguishing marks is part of intake. It's sort of explained that Derek constantly claims to be Tyler, so I get that, but if Tyler visits often, you'd think they wouldn't want the liability of not being sure Derek is the patient. Again, yes, it's a tv movie, but one's mind can't help but think about what would be the likely natural course of action.
I liked that the "twin-ship" is not a secret for long, and that we don't have to wait for in the last fifteen minutes. It is sort of funny that in at least three of these movies, it's a birthmark/tattoo/mole that a twin has that would set them apart. The other characters falling victim (outside of the hospital staff) don't do anything TOO stupid like we typically see. Once the characters realize there IS a twin out there, they are skeptical and searching for the truth. I'll admit I was a bit terrified for Jocelyn when she tried to break up with him, and it was clear she knew it wasn't her bf and just wanted to get away from him, but also knew Derek was unstable. That moment felt truly tense and as if he would have hurt her had she revealed she knew it wasn't Tyler. It was a rare moment for Lifetime. If she wasn't one of the main characters (and necessary for the climax), I could totally see that scene ending in a death if it were another red shirt type of character.
It's not flawless, but it's watchable. As I mention in other reviews, I am glad there was no additional body count because it wasn't necessary. The movie does flashback to what happened, and it alludes to Derek hating his brother, but I think a flashback to when they were little would have added better context. When the twins meet up in the climax (not a spoiler...it was inevitable), it seems like a perception thing that Derek felt less loved and therefore jealous/hurt. I think a childhood scene showing why he thought that would have added depth. A key difference btwn the two comes back to help determine who's who (predictable but it made the clear distinction), so the movie doesn't try to play with "did the right twin go back to the hospital?" Which I appreciated.
The plot moves pretty fast, it's not dragging on, so that's appreciated. Damning with faint praise...yes I know.
PS. This movie aired this weekend as part of a "twin" event that Lifetime was doing (not new movies) and this is the second one with a brother named Derrick/Derek. Surely Lifetime can use a randomizer and choose different names lol.
This one is believable because it's not just that the twin happened to show up, but he's been plotting the whole time to replace his brother. These are also twins that grew up together. In a lot of Lifetime twin tales, the two were either adopted separately and don't know each other exists or they're so estranged that there's no way they are similar. Even though Derek is not "great" at being Tyler and does slip up (but hand waves his mistakes), he still knows his brother.
There are some things you have to believe in order for the movie to work...like wouldn't the girlfriend have picked up on the surface changes in her boyfriend? Mood, temperament, etc? She eventually gets it. I do like how the mom didn't know Tyler, so there's at least one character that isn't completely fooled. Again, I know it's a Lifetime movie, but in a situation like this, wouldn't the hospital somehow have protocols to make sure this does not happen? Obviously a twin would likely not want to replace their sibling in a mental hospital, but surely they'd check to make sure the right one is there at night after a visit? When Tyler does get released, they solve it so easily that...why didn't you verify his identify in the first place?! The nurse mentions that distinguishing marks is part of intake. It's sort of explained that Derek constantly claims to be Tyler, so I get that, but if Tyler visits often, you'd think they wouldn't want the liability of not being sure Derek is the patient. Again, yes, it's a tv movie, but one's mind can't help but think about what would be the likely natural course of action.
I liked that the "twin-ship" is not a secret for long, and that we don't have to wait for in the last fifteen minutes. It is sort of funny that in at least three of these movies, it's a birthmark/tattoo/mole that a twin has that would set them apart. The other characters falling victim (outside of the hospital staff) don't do anything TOO stupid like we typically see. Once the characters realize there IS a twin out there, they are skeptical and searching for the truth. I'll admit I was a bit terrified for Jocelyn when she tried to break up with him, and it was clear she knew it wasn't her bf and just wanted to get away from him, but also knew Derek was unstable. That moment felt truly tense and as if he would have hurt her had she revealed she knew it wasn't Tyler. It was a rare moment for Lifetime. If she wasn't one of the main characters (and necessary for the climax), I could totally see that scene ending in a death if it were another red shirt type of character.
It's not flawless, but it's watchable. As I mention in other reviews, I am glad there was no additional body count because it wasn't necessary. The movie does flashback to what happened, and it alludes to Derek hating his brother, but I think a flashback to when they were little would have added better context. When the twins meet up in the climax (not a spoiler...it was inevitable), it seems like a perception thing that Derek felt less loved and therefore jealous/hurt. I think a childhood scene showing why he thought that would have added depth. A key difference btwn the two comes back to help determine who's who (predictable but it made the clear distinction), so the movie doesn't try to play with "did the right twin go back to the hospital?" Which I appreciated.
The plot moves pretty fast, it's not dragging on, so that's appreciated. Damning with faint praise...yes I know.
PS. This movie aired this weekend as part of a "twin" event that Lifetime was doing (not new movies) and this is the second one with a brother named Derrick/Derek. Surely Lifetime can use a randomizer and choose different names lol.