Aahana Swrup
‘Wife Stalker’ is a Lifetime thriller drama film about a woman who finds her whole life turned upside down after the allure of a different woman sways her beloved’s attention. It follows the story of Joanna, a perfect homemaker who has stuck by Leo Drake’s side through some of his toughest battles. As such, the entrance of another woman, Piper, into the lawyer’s life threatens the family she has carefully built for herself. Nonetheless, once Joanna delves into Piper’s past, she finds it littered with convenient marriages to wealthy men and their mysterious deaths. Thus, the woman’s previously held delusions of a happy marriage finally snap once her family’s life comes in danger.
The Elisabeth Röhm film’s unique narrative largely revolves around the concept of a misguided fantasy of a perfect life. Still, as Joanna and Piper’s storylines unravel, revealing a dark, criminal side of things, the tale becomes more grounded through themes of revenge and marital fortune-hunting. As such, intrigue arises about the real-life relevance behind these characters and their narratives.
Wife Stalker is Based on Liv Constantine’s Epynomous Novel
Although ‘Wife Stalker’ does not have any off-screen basis, in reality, it still sports interesting origins elsewhere—namely, the literary work of Liv Constantine. The film is an adaptation of the 2020 contemporary mystery thriller novel ‘The Wife Stalker.’ The book is authored by two Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine, who co-write fiction novels under a shared pen name. In their 2020 release, the authors explore the story of two women, their respective love for one man, and the drastic outcome of this love triangle where everything is not always what it seems. It features a dual narrative centering around the perspectives of both Joanna, Leo’s rock—who has been in love with him for ages—and Piper, the new woman in town with a dark past.
As the novel oscillates between these two points of view, it effectively delves into psychological thriller waters, exploring the nuances of the complicated situation. Initially, the inspiration for the story’s idea occurred to the sisters because they were eager to take a common trope and then turn it on its head for a subversion of expectations. Consequently, they focused on the tropey idea of a paranoid wife and a seducing “other woman.” However, once the premise was set, these characters and their storylines unwind in unpredictable and startling ways. For the most part, Elisabeth Röhm’s film remains faithful to the source material in this regard. Even though a few noticeable embellishments are made to the narrative—in order further to accentuate the twist ending of Leo’s chaotic life—the on-screen adaptation maintains a firm connection to Constantine’s namesake novel.
Joanna and Piper Highlight the Reality of Delusion and Financial Spousal Killings
Joanna and Piper’s storylines in ‘Wife Stalker’ remain uniquely crucial to the overarching themes of ‘Wife Stalker.’ Joanna begins her narrative as a distraught wife whose entire life crumbles to pieces in light of her husband’s unrepentant affair. Furthermore, the potential of a fatalistic threat that Leo’s new paramour presents to her family adds to her increasingly unhinged and unbalanced actions. Thus, paranoia and the effects of patent dismissal become two of the most central aspects of her character.
However, instead of feeding into these ideas, the film opts to overthrow assumptions by steering Joanna’s storyline in an entirely different direction. As a result, her character ends up depicting the horrifying realities of delusion. In fact, to some extent, Joann’s experiences can even be compared to the psychiatric condition of Erotomania. The condition deludes a person into thinking that someone else is in love with them without any evidence to suggest the same. Thus, while the character’s narrative remains incredibly unique and even rare, it perfectly informs the overarching mystery thriller elements of the film. Alternatively, Piper’s storyline finds more grounded roots in reality. Even though she doesn’t hold a counterpart in reality either, her homicidal motivations driven by financial incentives parallel the bitter reality of many instances of spousal killings.
As a report on Gold Digger Killers by A&E TV suggests, financial motivators make up for about 20% of spousal killings. There have been numerous publicized cases of people killing their spouses to make a play at their wealth or life insurance. For instance, in 2023, Kouri Darden Richins was arrested and charged in the case of her husband, Eric Richins’ death, after he unexpectedly died in his home. The prosecution has alleged a history of financial disagreements between the trouble, along with other financially motivated actions. Although Richins’ case evidently remains distinct from Piper’s storyline as a serial spousal killer, it provides context for the exaggerated nature of the latter’s on-screen narrative. Ultimately, like Joanna, Piper’s character origins also remain confined in the film and Liv Constantine’s novel, cementing the duo as fictional characters.
