You Belong to Me (2008)

Better Late Then Never

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Another piece of junk TV movie from Canada, YOU BELONG TO ME is a film of two halves. The first is a typical and cheesy stalker thriller in which a young mother, played by American PIE's Shannon Elizabeth, finds herself stalked by persons unknown, a psycho who stands around outside her house and provides a few POV shots.This being a made-for-television movie, you know things are never going to get too serious or violent and so it proves. There are sex scene cutaways and about two non-violent deaths in total. The writer gets bored with the whole predictable stalker plot around halfway through, so throws in a twist and then turns the film into a supernatural horror film. Elizabeth's character is consistent in that she still isn't believed. There's one special effect in the film, right at the climax, and it's very cheesy indeed. Elizabeth was pretty much the worst actor in the American PIE films and so it proves in this hopeless effort.

I have rarely seen a movie deteriorate as quickly as this one did. After 45 minutes it is determined that the most obvious person causing the mayhem is not to blame. Instead, the focus turns on a co-worker who seems to have become obsessed with the heroine of the film.The picture falls apart as it becomes the macabre. With all sorts of mayhem occurring, a seer is called in as we saw with the late Zelda Rubinstein in "Poltergeist."This is just too much to take. Our female lead soon discovering that this co-worker had a very similar life to hers and that she looked just like her.The ending scene at the end of the mountain is eerie at best and certainly not pleasing. The use of mysterious devices doesn't work here.

The first half of this TV film is pretty good. OK, well at least it is watchable and interesting. However, right at the 56 minute point, the film takes a turn that makes the rest of it almost unwatchable. The actors seem to know the story has gone astray, because their once fine acting in it, becomes really sophomoric. While not a total waste of time, it comes very close. Too bad! Shannon Elizabeth, Christian Campbell (Neve's real life brother) and the actor who plays Chris really deserve better than this piece of junk! It's also unfortunate, though understandable, for the actors and actresses who are in films for the first time. This won't look good on their resumes. Save time, look for another LIFETIME film to watch. Some are quite good, but this one isn't.

SHANNON ELIZABETH is a young woman being stalked by a co-worker and there's no big surprise as to whom the stalker is once that plot development occurs. And the first half of the story is good enough to be convincing up until the point that something happens which destroys their relationship forever. No use going into the actual details which would spoil it for anyone watching for the first time.After that, the yarn has a hard time seeming credible although the suspense is mild enough to keep the viewer watching. ANDREW KENNETH MARTIN is convincing as the woman's boyfriend who wants to find out who is stalking his fiancé and Christian CAMPBELL does a good job as the man who creates all the problems.Technical credits are fine in this made-for-TV movie which strains believability but has enough intrigue to keep one guessing as to how it will all end. It all feels like something inspired by a Mary Higgins Clark novel--even the title.