Sartaj Singh
Helmed by Jeff Hare, ‘Who’s Stalking My Family’ is a Lifetime thriller movie that centers on a mother and her daughter who become the target of a jealous assailant. Ivy Miller is proud of her daughter, Sadie, when she begins tutoring an older teen boy, Colton Daniels. She nevertheless remains cautious about their proximity but can scarcely believe it when Colton seems to be attracted to her. Before their dynamic evolves much further, Ivy finds her family under attack by a violent outsider who appears to have ties to the teen boy. The film is a part of Lifetime’s ‘Hateful and Grateful’ slate and creates a suspenseful narrative filled with shocking and unbelievable twists.
Who’s Stalking My Family: A Fictional Movie of Family Ties, Obsession, and Jealousy
Penned by Lori Canevaro, ‘Who’s Stalking My Family’ is a fictional film that immerses us in its winding story with its use of family bonds, a surprising turn of events, and thriller elements. Some may feel a sense of familiarity while watching the movie as its plot points and twists bear a passing resemblance to other Lifetime productions. Lifetime thrillers often weave in themes such as strained family dynamics, obsessive infatuation, and unrelenting jealousy, which can feel realistic because they are rooted in common psychological and social phenomena.
Similarities With Other Lifetime Films: Her Son’s Secret and The Neighbor in the Window
While ‘Who’s Stalking My Family’ is fictional, its premise resonates with real-world fears and situations, and there are several Lifetime movies with similar themes and motifs that may cause a sense of déjà vu. Some of these movies include ‘Her Son’s Secret’ and ‘The Neighbor in the Window.’ ‘Her Son’s Secret,’ also known as ‘The Wrong Son,’ centers on Sarah and her family as her young son, Matt, disappears when they are at the beach. Ten years later, Matt abruptly returns and is welcomed with open arms by his family. However, suspicions begin to rise when Matt’s brother is involved in an accident starkly similar to the one that killed their father. Sarah faces the possibility that her returning son may be an imposter. Like ‘Who’s Stalking My Family,’ the movie features the reconnection of a long-lost family member while a malicious individual seems to be targeting them.
‘The Neighbor in the Window’ is based on ‘False Victim,’ a book written by Kathie Truitt about a truly unnerving incident of stalking that she claims happened to her. The book follows Julie Patterson, a suburban wife who moves into a new neighborhood with her family after her husband’s promotion. She is quick to make new friends among her neighbors, but one woman initially remains distant and eventually becomes the subject of her nightmares. The woman, Lynn, begins to get close to Julie, and they seem to form a strong bond. However, Julie notices that Lynn has a predisposition to lie in order to get attention, and she starts acting in a bizarre manner toward her.
Lynn begins to mirror Julie’s life, buying the same car that she drove and even getting the same haircut and clothes. Most unsettlingly, Lynn stares down from her house on the hill, staying in her window as she watches Julie and her family, eventually stalking them. Much like the stalker in ‘Who’s Stalking My Family,’ Lynn bears a grudge against her target, which drives her to an obsession that leads to violence. The author says that everything that happened to the book’s protagonist happened to her and that their family was forced to leave the country after four years of continuous harassment. She did not disclose the identity of the real-life Lynn but revealed that she had done the same to others without consequence. Thus, while ‘Who’s Stalking My Family’ may not be a true story, there seems to have been a somewhat similar case of a family being stalked in real life.
Read More: Secrets Between Sisters: Is the Lifetime Movie Based on a True Story?
