[usr 3.5]
When Sonya Daniels finds the birth certificate of a kidnapped baby hidden in her late mother’s home, she’s shocked. What was her parents’ connection to the missing little girl, and could her mother’s murder somehow be connected? Determined to unravel the mystery, Sonya hires attractive detective Brandon Hayes to help her investigate — but she doesn’t realize how deadly the answers she’s looking for will be.
Most people know what they are in for when they tune into a Lifetime movie. It’s all melodramatics, shaky plotlines, and bad music. And that’s part of its charm. “Her Stolen Past” lays it on thick. It was like a Scooby-Doo episode for adult women who take pleasure in hurling accusations at the television with childlike glee. There’s only one thing to remember with a film like this: all flashing red signs point to the bald man with a goatee.
Sonya Daniels (Shanice Banton) is a 20-something-year-old medical student who has just lost her mother Janet (Darlene Cooke) to a supposed mugging gone wrong in a parking garage late at night. Sonya is a pillar of strength. Although she’s lost her mother, she keeps her strength and her faith. Even when her faith is tested, her voice never quivers with doubt or fear. It keeps its monotone resilience. And when in need she has her Auntie Phyllis (Kim Roberts) who seems to be armed with a fresh batch of chicken and biscuits at all times, and her friend Missy (Samantha Munro), who has all the answers. She even conveniently knows a guy from her tennis class that was a cop but is now a Private Investigator that specializes in Missing Persons, which is super convenient when Sonya finds a strange designer diaper bag in her mother’s closet that contains the birth certificate of a baby girl that went missing 20-something years ago.
Sonya’s mother’s death is somewhat mysterious and after Sonya finds the diaper bag with the birth certificate, she tries to make sense of it all. But her fear is that her mother and father are not the good people she’s always known and loved. Could Sonya be the kidnapped baby Heather Bradley? Could it be that her mother did the kidnapping? These are questions that burden Sonya’s mind. But she refuses to believe that such a thing could have transpired. There have to be other reasons and Private Investigator Brandon (Michael Xavier) is just the man to help her. He’s willing to help Sonya but is worried that Sonya’s worst fears may be true. He suspects Sonya is Heather and pushes her to take a DNA test. And in the meantime, they will go to the Bradley’s (the richest family in town) and bring them the diaper bag with the certificate.
Don Bradley (Maurice Dean Wint), a tall man with a bald head and goatee, who looks as if he could be a televangelist, welcomes Sonya and PI Brandon into his home. He’s all pleasantries and caution. He apologizes his wife isn’t present and states it’s for the best due to her fragile mental state. His wife Olivia is Barbara Eve Harris and she does a beautiful job at playing the tortured and confused wife. Unhinged looks good on her.
As Sonya and Brandon dig deeper it becomes apparent that somebody isn’t happy with their meddling. Bullets fly and people are kidnapped and tied up. But in the end faith and persistence prevails and all is well. Evil is unmasked and put down and love blossoms in typical Lifetime fashion. “Her Stolen Past” might be the best Lifetime flick I’ve seen in a decade. But it also may be the only one I’ve seen in a decade. Regardless of that fact, I thoroughly enjoyed “Her Stolen Past” and I’m sure many others will too as long as they know what they’re getting into from the get-go.
Available on DVD October 9th
