![when the bough breaks movie reviews when the bough breaks movie reviews](https://resizing.flixster.com/2lFhvWqhkhJUnNTvdgFHfq39fyM=/300x300/v2/https://flxt.tmsimg.com/assets/p16258_i_h6_aa.jpg)
When all is said and done, When the Bough Breaks is another love-triangle thriller that won’t survive in the memories of viewers beyond the end of the month. This not only disappoints on a level of narrative, but it leads to a character that simply makes no sense. This is quickly done away with and replaced by the basic antagonist that the trailer puts forward.
![when the bough breaks movie reviews when the bough breaks movie reviews](https://static1.showtimes.com/video/320x240/when-the-bough-breaks-movie-clip---a-decent-proposal-29062.jpg)
The film initially sets out to create an antagonist with depth and motivation that is grounded in reality. The taut thriller just isn’t as taut as it sets out to be. Pacing is replaced by the repetitive promise of sexuality. Still, the movie is missing something integral. Chestnut, Hall, and newcomer Sinclair all give good performances. The rectangle of characters that we get creates adequate space for taut tension as we ramp up into the second act. The three acting performances from the leads helps this cause.
![when the bough breaks movie reviews when the bough breaks movie reviews](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b5g4f_IJiyw/maxresdefault.jpg)
When the Bough Breaks begins with legitimate stakes and a strong sense of characters both good and bad. They are all love-triangle suspense dramas meant to both titillate and awe, although they hardly ever do both successfully. Narrated and Executive Produced by Brooke Shields, this shocking film uncovers this public health issue which affects one in five new mothers after childbirth. When The Bough Breaks is about postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. When the Bough Breaks wants to be a sexy thriller in the vein of Obsessed or Chloe. When the Bough Breaks: With Lynndi Maddox, David Lachmann. That and minor psychological phenomena like the “foot in the door” concept. You’d be surprised how something as commonplace as parenthood can build suspense. However, she is looking for more than a simple payment.Īs simple as the tactics used are, the film takes its time to establish sympathy for the relationship of our protagonists, and it does this well. The young woman they choose (Jaz Sinclair) is sweet, kind-eyed, and 100% on-board. When the Bough Breaks could have offered some cheap thrills, but it ends up a neutered, paint-by-numbers snoozefest, not even worthy for cable syndication.A happily married couple (Regina Hall and Morris Chestnut) are looking for a surrogate to carry their child. If only someone had hit the gas on the script. Let’s just cut straight to the part in the third-act climax where, after tussling about in John and Laura’s lake house (which they spoke about incessantly throughout the film, so no surprises there), Ashley stands, bleeding and vengeful, shotgun in hand, in front of John and Laura in a car, right in front of her: “I am sick and tired of this bitch!” Laura yells as she inevitably guns it. Let’s not even get into how Ashley ruins John’s ascent to partner at his law firm, or the aforementioned cat. She begins to have feelings for John, resentment for Laura, and maybe this thing is a scam after all when detective Roland ( The Wire’s Williams, looking bored beyond belief) uncovers Ashley’s past of sexual abuse, murder, and chicanery. He is dispatched posthaste, and Ashley is settled into the couple’s extravagant home in New Orleans. Of course, Ashley comes with a sleazy, abusive boyfriend Mike ( Sons of Anarchy’s Rossi, who is incapable of telegraphing anything other than trouble). Successful lawyer John (Chestnut, exhibiting an acting range limited to three emotions: seductive, annoyed, and pissed off) and successful chef Laura (Hall) have been trying for years to have a baby to no avail, so when ideal surrogate Ashley (Sinclair) comes along, they jump at the chance to inject their last viable embryo into her. You think that house cat they keep cutting to is going make it through the movie? Oh, to be that cat. This latest iteration in the “psycho third wheel” genre offers up absolutely no surprises, and is probably one the most dull and predictable films in this wasteland filmgoers call September. I don’t know about you, but when I settle in for a nice big slice of the latest Fatal Attraction knockoff, it had better take things above and beyond the hundreds of Lifetime movies that have come before it.