‘Sins in the Suburbs’ Review: Sam Fichtner's Lifetime thriller is dramatic but lacks suspense

The plot centers around a sadist who desires nothing more in life than love and who also happens to murder women who do not return his feelings
UPDATED MAR 20, 2022
Monique Sypkens  and Brandon Santana in 'Sins in the Suburbs' (IMDb)
Monique Sypkens and Brandon Santana in 'Sins in the Suburbs' (IMDb)

'Sins in the Suburbs' is unnerving for all the flaws and the lack of suspense. Have you ever walked past a serial killer? Maybe it was a bump into one in a  crowded commuter train or a brushed shoulder in the supermarket's refrigerated aisle. Or he may be your new next-door neighbor. You most likely didn't... but who knows? You'd have no idea where they were if they were anyplace. That is until they began murdering you.

The Lifetime original thriller is about a serial killer on the prowl who kills ladies who aren't in love with him. Heather Bailey (Monique Sypkens) is a young attractive lady who works as a restoration artist in a small town. She has a best friend named Jess and lives a good life. Until one day, new neighbors Tyler (Brandon Santana), who is charming, gorgeous, and appears to be highly successful, moves in. Tyler and Heather hit it off right away. They began to date one another after flirting with each other. However, dating someone new who you just met might be dangerous at times.

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Directed by Sam Fichtner, the film is written by John F Hayes and David Ian McKendry. The movie does have a thriller element, but it lacks suspense. Because you'll get the impression from early that Tyler is the killer that the cops are looking for, but the movie displays the thrill of the journey as Tyler stalks Heather from the beginning. The thriller is pacy and dramatic at the same time.

Coming back to the film, Tyler had no intention of murdering her, but he did want her to love him. Heather, on the other hand, couldn't stand him after learning his true self. In the end, they confronted one other and things got fairly nasty, resulting in Tyler's arrest, but you'll have to see the movie to find out what happened to Heather.

Monique Sypkens in 'Sins in the Suburbs' (Lifetime)

Brandon Santana's acting is outstanding, especially in the character of the serial murderer who appears to be normal in front of everyone but has a dark persona inside. Monique Sypkens, on the other hand, was quite remarkable. This flick is a one-time watch. However, I believe the film was trying to convey a message in which a man who craved nothing more than love in his life becomes a serial killer because he was unable to find it.

The more extravagant, manic form of the serial murderer fascinates us in movies, and these stories excite us even as they distract us from the more immediate threat and mundanity of daily evil. That's pretty much 'Sins in the Suburbs' for you.

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