Naman Shrestha
A part of Lifetime’s “Ripped from the Headlines” series and based on the real-life story of Noela Rukundo, ‘Death Saved My Life’ acquaints us with the seemingly picture-perfect life of Jade, who appears to have it all — a stable and successful career, a devoted husband named Ed, and a beloved young daughter named Kayla. However, the truth is just as harsh as idyllic her life appears to be. What the outsiders don’t know is the fact that Jade is mentally and physically abused by Ed on a regular basis, making her life a living hell.
Having faced enough violence at the hands of her husband, she makes the decision to leave him and finally get away from him. Taking offense to her decision, he threatens her and even hires a hitman to have her killed. Given his respectful image in the community, Jade cannot turn to anyone as nobody would believe anything she says against him. By somehow making Ed believe that the hitman killed her and she is dead, she manages to escape from his clutches, only to confront him at her own funeral. Helmed by Seth Jarrett, the thriller mainly unfolds inside the four walls of the residence, where Ed showcases his abusive nature and Jade stages her own death.
Where Was Death Saved My Life Filmed?
‘Death Saved My Life’ was shot entirely in New Jersey, primarily in Haddonfield. Additional portions were also filmed in other areas across New Jersey, including Collingswood, Mount Laurel, and more. According to reports, principal photography for the Lifetime production got underway in November 2020 and wrapped up in December of the same year. Since the shooting took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, certain safety measures were in place on set, and the cast and crew were tested for the virus every 72 hours.
With its premiere approaching, the director, Seth Jarrett, opened up about the experience of filming the movie. He revealed, “Very proud to say we did not have one positive covid case amongst our cast and crew (masks and testing do work!). DEATH SAVED MY LIFE may have been the toughest production I ever worked on, but that makes it even more exciting to share it with the world this week!”
Haddonfield, New Jersey
A majority of ‘Death Saved My Life’ was lensed in the borough of Haddonfield, which is located in New Jersey’s Camden County. As per reports, the production team traversed across Haddonfield and set up camp at different areas of the borough. For instance, the Haddonfield Borough Hall at 242 Kings Highway East and Zaffron Mediterranean Cuisine at 113 Kings Highway East served as prominent filming sites. The cast and crew members were also taping key portions around the King’s Court area in downtown Haddonfield. They even took over a private residence in the borough to shoot important indoor scenes.
The Haddonfield Mayor Neal Rochford told Courier Post, “The recent Lifetime movie was a very big deal in Haddonfield. The production crew was amazed at the local reaction while the crews were shooting. Since most of the crew were from out of the area they were blown away by Haddonfield charm.” Meanwhile, the New Jersey Motion Picture and TV Commission Executive Director Steven Gorelick explained how Haddonfield’s architecture is timeless, making it an ideal production location for different kinds of movies.
Other Locations in New Jersey
The production team of ‘Death Saved My Life’ stayed within Camden County and recorded pivotal sequences in Collingswood. Not only did they set up camp at Knight Park on Park Avenue and West Browning Road, but they also reportedly shot scenes in and around the residential property at 316 West Browning Road. Another borough in Camden County that features in the thriller is Oaklyn. The filming unit also traveled to other parts of New Jersey, including the city of Paterson in Passaic County and the borough of Ramsey in Bergen County. Various key portions were also lensed in the Aloft Mount Laurel at 558 Fellowship Road in Mount Laurel Township.
Death Saved My Life Cast Details
The cast of ‘Death Saved My Life’ is packed with a bunch of talented actors who have made a mark in the entertainment industry by showcasing their prowess in films and shows of varying genres. Alongside displaying her acting skills in over 40 films, the lead Meagan Good has also dabbled in the world of glamour and glitz as a model. Meanwhile, her co-star, Chiké Okonkwo, is an international star whose journey in the cinematic sphere is nothing less than inspiring. Furthermore, La’Myia Janae Good–Bellinger mesmerized the globe with her singing by serving as a member of not one but two R&B girl groups for a few years.
Meagan Good as Jade
In ‘Death Saved My Life,’ Meagan Monique Good dons the garb of the formidable lead, Meagan Good. It is her terrific portrayal of a real-life inspired character that amps up the thrilling factor of the film. With over three decades of experience up her sleeve, the actress proudly boasts a diverse filmography featuring titles of various genres. She is widely recognized for her work as Cisely Batiste in ‘Eve’s Bayou,’ April in ‘Stomp the Yard,’ Mya in ‘Think Like a Man,’ Dana Webb in ‘Buying Back My Daughter,’ and Camille Parks in ‘Harlem.’ You can also spot Meagan in ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ ‘Prodigal Son,’ ‘Californication,’ ‘The Unborn,’ ‘Brick,’ and many other movies and shows.
Chiké Okonkwo as Ed
Chiké Okonkwo steps into the character of Ed, Jade’s conniving husband, in the Lifetime production. A British-Nigerian actor who spent his formative years in southwest London, he found his calling in the world of acting and moved to the United States sometime in the early 2010s with the aim of being a part of stories that highlight the African American journey. His breakthrough performance as Will in ‘The Birth of a Nation’ put him on the international map and paved the way for him to bag significant roles such as Lee Truitt in ‘Being Mary Jane’ and Ty Coleman in ‘La Brea.’ Chiké has also won the Best Actor award at SeriesFest for essaying the role of Noah Jansen in the 2020 film, ‘Distemper.’
La’Myia Good as Leigh
Portraying the role of Jade’s sister Leigh in the film is La’Myia Good. You may recognize the actress for her performance as Monica in ‘The Wood,’ Erica in ‘If Not Now, When?’ and Essence in ‘Kingdom Business.’ Aside from these, she has also showcased her talent in movies and shows like ‘Charlie, Trevor and a Girl Savannah,’ ‘City Guys,’ ‘Family Time,’ ‘BET Her Presents: The Waiting Room,’ ‘Vicious Affair,’ ‘Judging Amy,’ and ‘The Parkers.’ La’Myia has also left a mark in the gaming world by lending her voice to the character of Jammer in the popular PlayStation 3 game ‘Killzone 3.’ Interestingly, she is also a singer and has been a part of the R&B groups Isyss and BAD GYRL.
‘Death Saved My Life’ also comprises other talented actors, including Sa’Raya Paris Johnson as Kayla, Darren Goldstein as Shawn Daley, Robert Eli as Don Eastwood, Philip Hernandez as Detective Williams, Glenn Morizio as Liam, Joseph Castillo-Midyett as Detective Bryant, Azia Celestino as Stephanie Aquino, and Shina Ann Morris as Diane. In addition, Thom Sesma portrays Peter, while Laurie Wells plays the role of Ellen.
Read More: Death Saved My Life: Is the Lifetime Movie Based on a True Story?
