Why is it that Lifetime always casts older people as teenagers? Like people in their mid to late 20s and even early 30s? Are teenage actors that hard to find in Canada? Gia's voice is so damn annoying. It's like she's straining to speak. Her voice sounds like she's whispering. Not sure if she can't help it but I was cringing every time she spoke! To the point where I couldn't enjoy the movie. The kid who played her brother was already balding. How could they even try to pass him as a teenager? The movie was a bit confusing because you couldn't empathize with any of the characters. Teens looked as old as their parents. Weird ass movie.
8 Reviews
Good catfish whodunit!
Chartreuse119 August 2023
Helen Parker is a single mom of two, Taylor and Gia. But Taylor is bullied at in high school because he's a nerd and gets texted by a girl named Emma who he asks to a party hosted by another student at his school named Sophia. He gets excited when she accepts and his mom and sister are, too. But then Emma ghosts him and he skips the party altogether. Later on, she apologizes and wants to meet him at the park and then Sophia ends up DEAD and Taylor is arrested for her murder!. Helen and Gia don't believe that he killed her and try to clear him by gathering clues and playing sleuths because the police and his DA aren't helping him and the real killer is still out there who framed Taylor. This is a well-written, involved storyline but the Canadian acting is on the weak side and those cast for the teen roles look like in their mid-twenties so the movie loses some of its credibility. Pretty good plot makes it an interesting watch!!!
The Fierce Mama Bear
lavatch24 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
"My Son Didn't Do It" (aka, "Catfish Murder") had a strong central character in Helen Parker, the self-described "mama bear" who is relentless in clearing the name of her son Taylor, who has been accused of murder.
The film opens with a heartwarming scene celebrating Taylor's academic achievement at Hadley High School. Taylor's sister Gia is present along with Helen's friend Judy and her son Miles, a classmate of Taylor.
But the celebratory mood ends, and the nightmare begins with the murder of Taylor's classmate, Miss Sophia Bliss. Taylor was photographed at the crime scene, he is taken away in handcuffs, and the next time he meets his mother is when he is wearing an orange jumpsuit.
A shortcoming of the film was the interior environments. Helen Parker's enormous home had strange, yellow walls. The spaces did not resemble a home at all, and place did not appear "lived in." The sterile detention center where Taylor is being held was not very well selected either. The visiting quarters resembled a medical exam room.
Another weakness was that, apart from the mama bear Helen and her quick-thinking daughter Gia, the characters in this film were not very likable. The innocent young man Taylor was a strange nerd, who had started a relationship with "Emma," a young woman he has never met. Apparently, he has not even seen her photo!
While Taylor was being framed by someone pretending to be Emma, the entire scenario of setting him up was not made plausible. By the end of this film, it was the viewing audience who felt "catfished."
The film opens with a heartwarming scene celebrating Taylor's academic achievement at Hadley High School. Taylor's sister Gia is present along with Helen's friend Judy and her son Miles, a classmate of Taylor.
But the celebratory mood ends, and the nightmare begins with the murder of Taylor's classmate, Miss Sophia Bliss. Taylor was photographed at the crime scene, he is taken away in handcuffs, and the next time he meets his mother is when he is wearing an orange jumpsuit.
A shortcoming of the film was the interior environments. Helen Parker's enormous home had strange, yellow walls. The spaces did not resemble a home at all, and place did not appear "lived in." The sterile detention center where Taylor is being held was not very well selected either. The visiting quarters resembled a medical exam room.
Another weakness was that, apart from the mama bear Helen and her quick-thinking daughter Gia, the characters in this film were not very likable. The innocent young man Taylor was a strange nerd, who had started a relationship with "Emma," a young woman he has never met. Apparently, he has not even seen her photo!
While Taylor was being framed by someone pretending to be Emma, the entire scenario of setting him up was not made plausible. By the end of this film, it was the viewing audience who felt "catfished."
Pain for my eyes
victoriavdlv6 September 2023
It's lifeless, pointless and meaningless movie I've ever watched.
The crew is so artificial that you can't even try to believe the play. And the plot! Oh my! Maybe it could have been better if not the actors' play.
It's really hard to believe when a school kid looks like normal 30 years old man; and mom who is "cricified" by the news... Well, nice naming does not mean nice performance. Again to be assured.
I really tried to see maybe there is some kind of suspense but nope- movie will surprise you with no suspense or at least not with these actors. I only hope the producer did not spent too much money on it.
Just dropped it.
The crew is so artificial that you can't even try to believe the play. And the plot! Oh my! Maybe it could have been better if not the actors' play.
It's really hard to believe when a school kid looks like normal 30 years old man; and mom who is "cricified" by the news... Well, nice naming does not mean nice performance. Again to be assured.
I really tried to see maybe there is some kind of suspense but nope- movie will surprise you with no suspense or at least not with these actors. I only hope the producer did not spent too much money on it.
Just dropped it.
whoever cast the "teens" needs to find a new job.
brattymcbuttface5 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The three siblings who are meant to be around high school age all look like they're about 30+ years old.
It didn't make the movie believable in the least. The mom is worried about her son being bullied and he looks like he's 32, the sister comes home from soccer practice - surprisingly her own and not her 12 year old's.
It kind of makes the movie really hilarious to see these grown adults with a mom who is probably their peer. Were there really no other actor's who actually look like believable teens available for this movie?
How many people okayed this move? The bar is super low for lifetime movies to begin with, but this one really takes the cake.
It didn't make the movie believable in the least. The mom is worried about her son being bullied and he looks like he's 32, the sister comes home from soccer practice - surprisingly her own and not her 12 year old's.
It kind of makes the movie really hilarious to see these grown adults with a mom who is probably their peer. Were there really no other actor's who actually look like believable teens available for this movie?
How many people okayed this move? The bar is super low for lifetime movies to begin with, but this one really takes the cake.
Exceptionally bland and lifeless
IzzyMaeDoorite21 August 2023
I've seen a bunch of Lifetime films and they're all alike with their "successful single mother and her teenage child in peril" trope. But Catfish Murder (renamed My Son Didn't Do It for TV programming) is a significant decline in an already mediocre at best quality of screenplay and technical aspects.
Faded picture, little to no background music (I find it hard to believe this film has two composers), vapid screenplay even by the standards of Lifetime/Reel One, uninspired acting with a bunch of walking dummies prancing around creased and constantly fatigued Gina Holden whose career is definitely having such a hard time she stopped pretending to enjoy her work for the network. I love Gina, some of her earlier movies I gladly rewatch, so it's especially tough for me to admit her recession.
Both director and screenwriter are newcomers, which is an apparent reason of a visible lack of budget money, which greatly contributed to the overwhelming failure of Catfish Murder. I mean c'mon, they didn't even shoot it in Vancouver like they usually do, moving the production to Kelowna instead. Every single thing about this film says "we're uninterested, we can't wait to finish it and move on". Well, so am I.
Also, have you seen the trailer? It literally highlights the true perpetrator and their reason to commit the crime. So much for the mystery thriller. Appalling.
Faded picture, little to no background music (I find it hard to believe this film has two composers), vapid screenplay even by the standards of Lifetime/Reel One, uninspired acting with a bunch of walking dummies prancing around creased and constantly fatigued Gina Holden whose career is definitely having such a hard time she stopped pretending to enjoy her work for the network. I love Gina, some of her earlier movies I gladly rewatch, so it's especially tough for me to admit her recession.
Both director and screenwriter are newcomers, which is an apparent reason of a visible lack of budget money, which greatly contributed to the overwhelming failure of Catfish Murder. I mean c'mon, they didn't even shoot it in Vancouver like they usually do, moving the production to Kelowna instead. Every single thing about this film says "we're uninterested, we can't wait to finish it and move on". Well, so am I.
Also, have you seen the trailer? It literally highlights the true perpetrator and their reason to commit the crime. So much for the mystery thriller. Appalling.
Thrillers are living things
abbas-mojarad24 October 2023
I recently had the opportunity to watch the thriller 'Catfish Murder', and it left a lasting impression. The film stands out not just for its gripping narrative but also for its distinctive camera angles, which add a layer of intensity and depth to every scene. The performances were absolutely stellar, with Gina Holden as Helen Parker, Zoe Christie as Gia Parker, Stephanie Izsak as Judy, and Jason Cermak as Jack, delivering scenes that were both emotionally charged and deeply moving. In particular, Holden's portrayal of a desperate mother in turmoil was both heart-wrenching and powerful. The directing took a refreshing approach, with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The storyline, centered around a single mom trying to juggle career and family while dealing with the unimaginable accusation against her son, was both compelling and thought-provoking. I highly recommend 'Catfish Murder' to anyone looking for a top-tier thriller.
Jack seriously p-ssed me off!
haroot_azarian29 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I agree that the actors playing "teens" looked and probably were much older. The plot was mediocre at best. I found the movie pretty much bland. The characters were all bland.
I did not like the way Jack (Helen's coworker) just crept his way into their lives. First he is very quick to introduce himself to Helen at the end of the meeting. Next thing Helen catches him snooping around in her office. Then he has the audacity to try to hook up with her and her response is telling her about her kids and husband who passed two years ago and asks him to leave her office.
One would have thought that would have been enough and he would get the hint that she is not interested. But oh no he does not get the hint or chooses to ignore it and what does he do? He shows up at Helen's house with a bag of takeaway food. Gia, Helen's daughter answers the door and lets him in.
Helen shows up and confronts Jack and tells him he cannot just push his way into her life. But on second thought she softens and asks him to stay for dinner.
I found this aspect of the movie absolutely pathetic. Especially when by the end of the movie creepy Jack and Helen hook up.
The writers should have chosen a different way for these two to get together, because if he is initially annoying on two occasions then logically they would have never hooked up. If the intention was for the couple to hook up by the end of the movie and become an item, the writers should have chosen a different path than what happened in the beginning of the movie.
To tell you the truth I was rooting for Jack to be the killer, and be taken out of the picture.
I did not like the way Jack (Helen's coworker) just crept his way into their lives. First he is very quick to introduce himself to Helen at the end of the meeting. Next thing Helen catches him snooping around in her office. Then he has the audacity to try to hook up with her and her response is telling her about her kids and husband who passed two years ago and asks him to leave her office.
One would have thought that would have been enough and he would get the hint that she is not interested. But oh no he does not get the hint or chooses to ignore it and what does he do? He shows up at Helen's house with a bag of takeaway food. Gia, Helen's daughter answers the door and lets him in.
Helen shows up and confronts Jack and tells him he cannot just push his way into her life. But on second thought she softens and asks him to stay for dinner.
I found this aspect of the movie absolutely pathetic. Especially when by the end of the movie creepy Jack and Helen hook up.
The writers should have chosen a different way for these two to get together, because if he is initially annoying on two occasions then logically they would have never hooked up. If the intention was for the couple to hook up by the end of the movie and become an item, the writers should have chosen a different path than what happened in the beginning of the movie.
To tell you the truth I was rooting for Jack to be the killer, and be taken out of the picture.
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