Wait Till Helen Comes

 This 2016 Canadian TV supernatural thriller was directed by Dominic James, starring Maria Bello and sisters Sophie Nelisse and Isabelle Nelisse. Other cast members including Liam Dickinson. Its based on the novel of the same name by Mary Downing Hahn. The film is also known as "Little Girl's Secret." 

A teenager named Molly has had her life turned upside down when her widowed mother takes her and her younger brother Michael to move into a new place with stepfather. The location is rural and pretty isolated beside the woods, and the house used to be a church. They pick up their younger stepsister Heather from a psychiatric hospital where she was living after suffering trauma. 

Molly is unnerved by Heather's strange behaviour such as talking to someone who isn't there. It gets freakier when she can see a ghost of a girl forming near Heather. No one believes her, and Heather says the ghost is "Helen" and "doesn't like it" that Molly can see her. Helen wants something from Heather and Molly is trying to find out if it's connected by missing children in the area.

This is a good, creepy and sad story with interesting photography. A theme of moths and flames appear a lot as symbolism. This is set in the year 1982 just in case you wondered why nobody is using a mobile phone. The author of the original story this film is based on appears briefly as the town librarian. The stepsister Molly and Heather are played by actresses who are real sisters. The actresses playing ghost Helen and one of the missing girls are sisters in real life. The stepfather's job is an author in the film, but in the book he works in pottery. I rate this a decent 10/10 for an awesome haunting story and good film to watch on a rainy night.

What I liked about this film is the nice bedroom of the girls with unique windows.

What I didn't like about it was how the parents didn't believe Molly.

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V. C. Andrews "Dawn" (episode four)

 

This is a 2023 drama TV series based on the "Cutler" books by Virginia Andrews. There are four episodes in total, named "Dawn," "Secrets of the Morning," "Twilight's Child" and "Midnight Whispers". This episode was directed by Jacquie Gould and it stars Brec Bassinger, Megan Best and Khobe Clarke. 

Some years have passed and tragedy happens. Both Dawn and James die together in a fire, caused by evil uncle Phillip and his wife "aunt Bet". They take custody of children Christie and Jefferson whose lives become very miserable. Christie has had enough of her vile uncle so she takes her brother and they run away to New York. I'm not going to spoil the rest!

I rate this episode 9/10. I've never read the books although I feel inspired to now. The books will include a lot more details that the tv series didn't.

Blood Strawberry 

V. C. Andrews "Dawn" (episode three)

This is a 2023 Lifetime TV drama based on the "Cutler" books by Virginia Andrews. There are four feature long episodes, and the first is called "Dawn," second is "Secrets of the Morning" and the third is called "Twilight's Child". Directed by Jacqui Gould and stars Brec Bassinger, Khobe Clarke and Joey McIntyre. 

The end of the previous episode saw Dawn sent away to live with abusive Emily, the sister of grandmother Lillian and aunt Charlotte. Dawn has her baby daughter named Christie who then mysteriously disappears. Soon Dawn's adopted brother James rescues her from the miserable house. 

After Dawn gets Christie back, we discover more. After Lilian died, it's revealed that Dawn is the true born daughter of William Cutler who left a Will making Dawn the main proprietor of the estate and running of the business. Dawn and James marry, then they reunite with Fern. They meet Gavin Longchamp, the half brother of James and Fern. Despite the fairy-tale Happily Ever After, it's not all sunshine and roses!

This episode was full of twists so I rate is a good 10/10. Ignore the youthfulness of the same actors playing characters who've become older!

What I liked was the surprise gift from Dawn's father. 

What I disliked about it was evil Clara. 

Blood Strawberry 

V. C. Andrews "Dawn" (episode two)

This is a 2023 Lifetime thriller TV series based on the Cutler book series by Virginia Andrews. There are four main feature length episodes, the first is called "Dawn" and the second episode is called "Secrets of the morning". Directed by Linda-Lisa Hayter, and stars Brec Bassinger, Khobe Clarke and Fran Drescher.

Dawn accepts that she is now a part of the Cutler household, and calls Laura "mother". She goes away to the Sarah Bernhardt College of performing arts in New York city. This is where she meets her roommate and bff Trisha, a dancer with a kind sweet nature, introducing Dawn to a life of fun. The episode turns a bit girly in 70's style, and then Dawn meets her new music teacher. 

Impressed by her singing, the new teacher Michael Sutton takes a shine to Dawn. She becomes his favourite student. She also likes him very much and is quickly whisked off her feet by him. Things get complicated when she falls pregnant, and Michael coldly abandons her, causing her to get upset and soon injured in a road accident. Left alone and penniless, she has no choice but to leave New York. Her family are very unhappy about her troubles, especially angry grandmother Lilian who keeps reminding her of the "Cutler Curse".

I rate this episode a 7/10. It still contained all the excitement and drama as the first episode, but overdone with the cringe coupling of Dawn and older man Michael. Besides that earlier on Dawn developed feelings for James, knowing that he is NOT her real brother anymore.  

My personal likes is the beautiful clothes and hairstyles worn by Dawn.

My personal dislikes is Michael.

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