User Reviews

Leah Chisholm is making a quick getaway from her mercurial, abusive, and nearly bankrupt husband, Dean. Driving a Dodge Charger, she makes a right turn onto the virtually deserted Wilcox Road outside of Los Angeles. But lying in wait for her is the man hired by Dean to kill her, so that Dean may collect on a life insurance policy. The melodrama that unfolds from the detour on Wilcox Road is especially unpleasant in this Lifetime potboiler.

A problem with the screenplay was in the extremely nasty characterizations of the husband Dean and the hit man Justin. Both were so repellent that it was difficult even to watch them on the small screen. Dean seems willing at any time to take the life of Sammy, his young daughter, and Justin keeps threatening to do just that.

The filmmakers developed more effectively the theme of a love of a mother for her daughter. Leah has amnesia after nearly dying when Justin conked her over the head and set fire to the vehicle. But after Leah was saved by a kind policewoman, she could not even recall her own name. The first thing that came back from her memory vault was the image of her daughter. The film depicts Leah's relentless search for little Sammy.

The plot was far too convoluted with a money bag floating around, at one time being left behind in the car, then later filled up apparently due to the efforts of Justin's drycleaner friend Amir, who sells the bags in his store. It was also difficult to believe that Justin would have a devoted girlfriend and co-conspirator in kidnapping in the character of Danielle. As a love relationship, the connection of Justin and Danielle was nauseating, especially when he verbally abused her and physically threatened her in the motel.

A better love connection develops between Leah and her hard-working public defender, Rick. Yet that relationship also was difficult to swallow when the pro bono attorney drops everything to seemingly devote 100% of his life to Leah's case. From the inconceivable fact of Dean earning an M.A. degree in finance to mechanics of swapping big bags of money, "Left for Dead" was a film that must be declared "Dead on Arrival" on the lonely stretches of Wilcox Road.

"Leah, hit the brake!!!" as he runs next to the car drivers side with the door open as it heads for the cliff. Too hard to jump in and hit the brake yourself??? One of many unbelievables in this one.