The Mentor (2014) User Reviews

Life Imitates Lifetime

[wes-connors · 6/10 · 17 June 2014]

Tragedy strikes a family of four while on their winter vacation at "Lake Collins". Months later, attractive blonde Jes Macallan (as Elizabeth "Liz" May) decides to go back to teaching. The mother of two pre-teen girls, Ms. Macallan begins working at "Vista Avenue Elementary". She is assigned a mentor, stocky Aaron Douglas (as Paul Allenham). At home, the opening tragedy puts a strain on Macallan's marriage to tennis instructor Nic Bishop (as Brian May). At work, "The Mentor" displays signs of an unprofessional attraction toward Macallan. Pretty co-worker Renny Grames (as Pam Alber) thinks he's in love. Ask sexy custodian Rocky Myers (as Milo) and he may tell you Mr. Douglas has been sniffing and licking personal items from Macallan's desk...

"The Mentor" begins by stating it was "inspired by a true story." If so, true stories are now imitating "Lifetime" TV stalker movies. This one follows the formula. If anything, it's a little tamer than most, which helps by making it more believable. The manner in which the tragedy threatens the family unit is also realistic. Of course, the psycho part is fun to watch, and the cast engages. Anthony Lefresne and Chelsea Wofford Haslam do a fine job directing and editing; the cross-cutting, panning and dissolves are great – especially as the camera follows characters from the tennis court, home and to the carnival. Watch for a couple of fancy transitions. Also interesting is the perpetually wintry setting – no matter how much time passes, it's always snowing.

****** The Mentor (6/14/14) Anthony Lefresne ~ Jes Macallan, Aaron Douglas, Nic Bishop, Abigail Scott

Mentor is More Like A Tormentor ***1/2

[edwagreen · 9/10 · 1 July 2014]

The constant snow of winter reminds us that there is a definite chill in the air.

A marriage seems to be falling apart when their young daughter dies in a car that the entire family was riding in. A surviving daughter needs therapy to cope and the mother decides to return to teaching as a way out of her dilemma.

As if all this is not trouble enough, our mother goes to a school and is assigned to a mentor who has some pretty dark secrets of his own. The guy is a raving lunatic. As is the case with most Lifetime films dealing with these psychopaths, the guy enters the life of her husband and she doesn't know this. There is the conventional murder and mayhem that our mentor causes before everyone figures out what is going on.