WebProNews

Tag: Flowers in the Attic

  • ‘Flowers in the Attic’ Hits the Small Screen

    The VC Andrews novel Flowers in the Attic came to life last night in Lifetime’s movie adaptation of the book. Starring Heather Graham and Kiernan Shipka, this adaptation is one that is likely worth watching.

    For those who don’t know, Flowers in the Attic is an American gothic tale that touches on incest, child abuse, and dysfunctional family dynamics.

    The movie and novel are narrated by a young Cathy Dollanger (played by Shipka,) who with her brother Christopher and younger twin siblings Cory and Carrie, live a privileged life with their mother Corinne (played by Graham) and father Christopher, Sr.

    When Christopher, Sr. dies in a car crash, the family is left with nothing, and move in with Corinne’s mother, Olivia (played by Ellen Burstyn,) who hates the children. She locks them in the attic, leaving them to fend for themselves, except when she drops off the daily food and torment.

    When days turn into years, the children become restless. The combination of hormones and boredom strike Cathy and Christopher, and one thing leads to another. Although the book describes it as a rape, the Lifetime movie holds back a bit on that. Bottom line is that brother and sister do something brothers and sisters aren’t supposed to do.

    After years of abuse and neglect, the children realize they need to do something, or else they will be locked away forever.

    Check out the official trailer for the movie:

    Reviews regarding the movie vary. The Los Angeles Times described the movie as “sanitized” and “silly.” People magazine, however, says the movie is “crazy good.”

    Here’s a sampling of what the Twittersphere thought:

    This is the second time Flowers in the Attic has been turned into a movie version. The first time the novel hit the big screen was in 1987.

    Lifetime has already begun working on the script for the second movie in the five-book series, entitled Petals in the Wind, which picks up where Flowers in the Attic left off.

    Image via Twitter

  • ‘Flowers in the Attic’ Receives Highly Lauded Reviews, EP Michele Weiss Weighs In

    It looks like the Lifetime network has done great justice with its film adaptation of the perversely creepy 1979 novel Flowers in the Attic.

    According to People Magazine, the film adaptation and the novel are equally absurd, yet “psychologically coherent,” as both versions of the dark fairy tale contain the same substance and storyline.

    The story is narrated by the character Cathy Dollanganger who is portrayed by Mad Men’s Kiernan Shipka. The narrative starts with Cathy, her brother, Christopher (Mason Dye), and their younger twin siblings, Cory and Carrie living a life of suburban contentment.

    The children have a wonderful childhood with their strikingly attractive parents Christopher Sr. and Corrine, portrayed by Heather Graham.

    However, the family’s life of happiness takes a devastating turn when their father is killed in a car accident. The bizarre turn of events happens so fast, it gives the illusion as though they’ve fallen under a curse.

    Without the income of their father, their mother falls on financially hard times, as their lifestyle was secured with an installment plan. With no other choice, she turns to her estranged mother Olivia Foxworth, portrayed by Ellen Burstyn.

    (image)

    As a last resort, she and her children relocate to the Foxworth mansion in Virginia. The children immediately grasp that they’re “not in Kansas anymore,” as their grandmother blatantly expresses her disdain from the moment they come in contact with her. They are immediately shipped off to an isolated wing of the house to live in the attic, and are ordered to follow a “Don’t List” that only allows breathing.

    The children are left in isolation without their mother. Corrine spends the majority of her time under the stairs with her ailing father begging his forgiveness. However, you’ll have to watch the film to know what she seeks his reprieve for. The “why” factor, on the other hand, is relatively simple. She wants to be reinstated in his will, as a means of taking care of her children away from the clutches of her family. 

    Although she assures the children their stay will only last a few days. Unfortunately, days roll into years and the children are trapped in their desolate dwelling. As Cathy and Chris reach their teenage years, the tale which started out as a tale of a destroyed childhood, transforms into a whirlwind that tips the edge of insanity.

    (image)

    While the Lifetime visual is far less explicit than the original accounts of Andrews’ novel, it still maintains that eerie delusional fairy-tale enamor with a glint of evil, “doll-like” imagery.

    The film’s executive producer Michele Weiss recently sat down in an exclusive interview with Hollywood Reporter to share her sentiments of the tale. As an avid lover of the Andrews’ Dollanganger Series, Weiss expressed the importance of “staying true to the book” with the film adaptation. “We tried to be very true to the plot of the book although we had to add some stuff in because it’s a movie, it’s all about action,” Weiss explained.

    (image)

    The world premiere of Flowers in the Attic is tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET on Lifetime.

    http://youtu.be/7rnrpzU-2ZU

    Image(s) via Facebook | Lifetime (1) (2) (3) (4)

  • Heather Graham Stars In “Flowers In The Attic” [TRAILER]

    Chances are if you grew up in the 1980s you’ve either seen “Flowers in the Attic” or know of it. The Lifetime Networks prepping a TV movie based on V.C. Andrews controversial book which will star Heather Graham as Corrine Dollanganger.

    “Flowers in the Attic” is being directed y Deborah Chow and will also star Oscar-winner Ellen Burstyn. If you’d like to find out more about the movie, you can read the official synopsis below and watch the trailer:

    “Based on V.C. Andrews’ controversial book that quickly became a cult classic, Flowers in the Attic is the gothic tale of four siblings who are locked away to live in an attic after a family tragedy suddenly removes them from their perfect childhood. Andrews’ first published novel, Flowers in the Attic was an instant hit when it was released in 1979, topping bestsellers lists in just two weeks. Captivating millions of readers worldwide, the book launched a series of five novels about the Dollanganger and Foxworth families.”

    “Flowers in the Attic” is currently slated to debut on Saturday, January 18th.

    Image: (YouTube)