A professor of anthropology, John Collins, insists on having order in his life. In his closet, his suits are meticulously arranged with the same spacing behind each item. He also cannot stand chaos, and he can turn on a dime and become unhinged with the slightest disruption from the normal.
John wastes no time in seducing Emily Wilkins, the daughter of the head of a local art foundation to which John has ties with Emily's mother Dawna. The mom had not used very good judgment when, as a teen, she married a lout and brought a child into the world. As a young woman about the same age, Emily now uses poor judgment in carrying on with an older man. She was looking for someone sophisticated and educated. She found that in John Collins, but much more than she bargained for.
When Emily spills wine on John's precious papers and his carpet, he has a meltdown that would rival any ancient Inca sacrificial rite. He "accidentally" murders Emily by suffocation, then buries the body. He is clever enough to also kill's Emily's ex-boyfriend, Keith, and leave incriminating evidence behind against the young man.
The focal point of the film shifts to the grief-stricken mother Dawna, who comes to realize that Keith was not the killer of her son. John slips up when he makes a passing mention of a bank loan for a condo of Emily. Dawna realizes that John could only known about the condo from Emily herself. She then moves into action to research the professor and learn that a young woman, Francesca Martinez, had mysteriously vanished on one of his trips to Peru.
It was most unfortunate that, due to circumstances beyond her control, Emily dropped out to the film so early. But, along with Francesca, Emily makes several cameo appearances as the ghost that haunts the sick mind of John Collins.
In "Like Mother, Like Daughter," the action moves at a brisk pace with actor WIlliam R. Moses good in the role of the dastardly anthropologist. Michelle Stafford and Dani Kind were both excellent as the mother and daughter. But the climactic scene in the kitchen where the professor makes his confession was too understated for a psycho wielding deadly kitchen utensils. Still, John would at least be pleased to learn that, after his pathological killing spree, order was finally restored.
John wastes no time in seducing Emily Wilkins, the daughter of the head of a local art foundation to which John has ties with Emily's mother Dawna. The mom had not used very good judgment when, as a teen, she married a lout and brought a child into the world. As a young woman about the same age, Emily now uses poor judgment in carrying on with an older man. She was looking for someone sophisticated and educated. She found that in John Collins, but much more than she bargained for.
When Emily spills wine on John's precious papers and his carpet, he has a meltdown that would rival any ancient Inca sacrificial rite. He "accidentally" murders Emily by suffocation, then buries the body. He is clever enough to also kill's Emily's ex-boyfriend, Keith, and leave incriminating evidence behind against the young man.
The focal point of the film shifts to the grief-stricken mother Dawna, who comes to realize that Keith was not the killer of her son. John slips up when he makes a passing mention of a bank loan for a condo of Emily. Dawna realizes that John could only known about the condo from Emily herself. She then moves into action to research the professor and learn that a young woman, Francesca Martinez, had mysteriously vanished on one of his trips to Peru.
It was most unfortunate that, due to circumstances beyond her control, Emily dropped out to the film so early. But, along with Francesca, Emily makes several cameo appearances as the ghost that haunts the sick mind of John Collins.
In "Like Mother, Like Daughter," the action moves at a brisk pace with actor WIlliam R. Moses good in the role of the dastardly anthropologist. Michelle Stafford and Dani Kind were both excellent as the mother and daughter. But the climactic scene in the kitchen where the professor makes his confession was too understated for a psycho wielding deadly kitchen utensils. Still, John would at least be pleased to learn that, after his pathological killing spree, order was finally restored.