Praying Mantis (1993 TV Movie)
7/10
An alluring mate-to-kill TV movie.
7 October 2014
This is not a bad made-for-TV crime thriller in which widower Don McAndrews (Barry Bostwick) gets into a relationship with Linda Crandell (Jane Seymour), who leads a dark secret life as a serial killer that marries men and then murders them after their first night together.

The plot goes at a fairly fast-pace and it is pretty entertaining seeing the sinister Linda Crandell trigger a domino effect in the seemingly well-to-do McAndrews Family, creating chaos whenever the opportunity comes. It is especially interesting seeing Jane Seymour, known for playing the motherly and gentle Michaela Quinn in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Women, play the out-of-character role as the evil and crafty Linda Crandell. She did a pretty good job in her role, though, I've found her character to be quite annoying at times: she sighs a lot when she talks and comes across as nosy and pitiful (despite the fact she plays a serial killer).

Barry Bostwick, Francis Fisher and Chad Allen also portrayed their roles well. The two clueless FBI agents played by Colby Chester and Michael MacRae were the cheesiest part of the movie, showing no urgency or emotion during the course of the events; they just roam around, hoping some clues that would lead to Crandell's whereabouts drop in their laps. In addition, this movie could have used some more action or edge-of-your-seat suspense to make it an more captivating feature.

But overall, it's a pretty good TV thriller that one might find alluring and exciting.

Grade B-
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