Line #6 Film/VowsOfDeceit


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vows_of_deceit_poster.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:Poster for ''Vows of Deceit'']]
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4	''[[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6984456/ Vows of Deceit]]'' is a Main/MadeForTVMovie Main/{{Thriller}} that premiered on May 20, 2018 on the US channel Creator/{{Lifetime}} under the alternative title ''Deadly Matrimony'' (not to be confused with the [[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104068 1992 TV movie]] starring Brian Dennehy).
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6	The central character is Sara Ross, portrayed by [[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1349694 Katherine Bailess]]. Everything seems to be going brilliantly when she marries the handsome and seemingly perfect Leo Friedman ([[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3090838 Damon Dayoub]]). However, Sara grows suspicious when Leo starts to spend time away from home and shares her concerns with best friend Parker ([[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3196681/ Ali Cobrin]]).
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8	Things get worse when Sara's credit card is declined, and she discovers Leo has fraudulently withdrawn money from her bank account. Sara then receives a disturbing visit from Melinda (Creator/TiffanyHines), who reveals Leo is married to her under a different name and has financially ruined her too. Further investigation reveals Leo plans to marry a third woman named Cindy ([[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1931742/ Keeley Hazell]]).
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10	Events take a deadly turn when ''yet another'' wife - Maisy - is brutally murdered. Fearful the thieving Leo is also a serial killer and they might be next, the wronged women band together to get revenge.
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12	The movie was produced by [[http://ninthhousefilms.com The Ninth House]], a US-based company headed by director [[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3401440 Jake Helgren]] and producer [[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2608927 Autumn Federici]]. The screenplay was co-written by Jake Helgren and [[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4959457 Emily Nye]]. [[http://www.marvista.net/ Marvista Entertainment]] handle distribution rights.
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14	A two minute trailer (with spoiler content) can be viewed on the [[http://www.marvista.net/catalog_items/1161 Marvista Entertainment website]] or alternatively [[http://www.c21media.net/screenings/marvistaentertainment/vows-of-deceit/11952/ C21 Media]].
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18	!!''Vows of Deceit'' provides examples of:
19	* ActionGirl:
20	** Subverted from a character perspective. Most females end up as hapless victims, borderline FauxActionGirl territory at best. Melinda comes across as the strongest, [[spoiler: actually bringing a pistol to the climatic encounter with the psycho]].
21	** Played straight by the lead actresses however, who deserve a shout for mostly performing their own stunts in a more action-packed than usual TV movie.
22	** Also stuntwoman Linda Kessler who doubles [[spoiler: Ali Cobrin for the balcony fall scene]]. This clip usually features in stunt reels on her [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsX7D6uaEO0-sTI0XsITZqg/videos Youtube channel]].
23	* AnyoneCanDie: A number of people bite the dust, including major characters.
24	* BigBad: Leo Friedman, who marries women purely to [[EvilPaysBetter steal their money]]. Also [[spoiler: a serial killer]].
25	* BlackDudeDiesFirst: Averted. Melinda - the only notable black character - is not the first to die. [[spoiler: She survives the whole movie.]]
26	* BlatantLies: Sara discovers a photograph that shows Leo and Maisy. When Sara confronts Leo about it, he answers - hesitantly - that the woman is his sister. Sara doesn't seem remotely convinced.
27	* BloodSplatteredWeddingDress: The opening scene features one. A female is seen deceased with her bloody arms outstretched on a wedding dress, left by her killer in an arranged pose.
28	* TheCavalryArrivesLate: The police at the climax, who don't show up until after the resolution. Justified since the women decide to confront the killer themselves.
29	* ConMan: Leo marries several women at once. Not because he loves them - he wants control over their finances.
30	* CoolMask: The killer wears a beekeeper-style mask - for some unexplained reason.
31	* CowardlyLion: At the climax, [[spoiler: three women confront Leo, with a male friend (plus a priest if needed) for backup. Instead of overpowering Leo when he goes insane, the not-so-brave heroines choose to flee (and the male is left to fend for himself). This leads to a drawn-out fight sequence.]]
32	* CruelAndUnusualDeath: In a notably intense scene, the killer stalks [[spoiler: Cindy]] and slits her throat.
33	* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler: Cindy]] puts up a struggle against the killer, but her efforts prove utterly futile and it's a ''very'' one-sided affair. This scene is cut from daytime TV showings in the UK.
34	* DarknessEqualsDeath: The killer prefers to attack victims in dark rooms, and does so on two occasions.
35	* DisneyVillainDeath: [[spoiler: Parker, who takes a fatal tumble from a balcony railing on her wedding day.]]
36	* DontGoInTheWoods: The women relocate to a remote forested area to plot their revenge. [[GenreBlind Not the best location to choose with a killer on the loose.]]
37	* {{Fanservice}}: Something for any gender / sexual orientation.
38	** Damon Dayoub is shirtless in his bed scene, his oily skin glistening in the dim light.
39	** British actress Keeley Hazell is a former fashion model who has appeared in men's magazines ''Nuts'' and ''Zoo'', and many times on the front cover of ''FHM''. She also used to be a PageThreeStunna for the UK red-top tabloid ''[[UsefulNotes/BritishNewspapers The Sun]]'' before they stopped printing photos of half-naked women. The sequence where her character Cindy [[spoiler: is killed]] includes a shot of her barefoot legs thrashing.
40	** Tiffany Hines gets to do her best [[Film/BasicInstinct Sharon Stone]] impression in the motel room. Her character Melinda sits with her bare legs crossed, smoking cigarette in hand.
41	* {{Foreshadowing}}: Police meet with Sara, Melinda and Cindy and show them a photo of the killer's handiwork: Maisy in a death-pose with a stab wound in her chest. [[spoiler: Later on, Cindy suffers a similar fate on-screen.]]
42	* FreezeFrameBonus: Several details are almost impossible to spot at normal playback speed. For instance, the scene where the killer attacks [[spoiler: Cindy]] and lifts her up in the air. Without slowing the footage down or advancing frame by frame, it's unlikely viewers will notice the restraint on the victim's left arm, or the killer cutting a strap which secures it to the shoulder hook. It's possible this is stunt apparatus to avoid injuries to the cast.
43	* GenreMashup: Suspense and thrills are to be expected, but this movie also manages to blend in:
44	** ''Action'' - Check out the chaotic wedding climax with brutal and intense fights/struggles.
45	** ''Horror'' - The stalking and murder scenes wouldn't look amiss in a slasher movie.
46	** Throw in drama, romance, and some mystery and it's quite the cocktail. About the only thing left out is (unsurprisingly) comedy.
47	* GenreShift: The earlier sections of the movie revolve around Sara discovering the truth about Leo and doing amateur detective work - fairly standard TV movie stuff. After the killer ups the stakes by offing Maisy, the movie starts to veer into Main/SlasherMovie territory (albeit briefly).
48	* HeelFaceTurn: After Sara is attacked at the cabin, [[spoiler: Parker reveals she and Leo are having an affair. Realising her husband-to-be is a complete psycho, she decides to assist the other women with their plan for revenge.]]
49	* ImprovisedWeapon: The women use a wine bottle and candlestick holder during the climatic confrontation. An even more bizarre example follows. [[spoiler: After his plan unravels, Leo pins Sara down and chokes her. She reaches desperately for her overturned handbag and the various cosmetics, and eventually grabs a ''charm bracelet (!!!)'' which she uses to choke him to death.]]
50	* TheInfiltration: To gain access to the climatic wedding ceremony without arousing his suspicion, Sara and Melinda disguise themselves as bridesmaids all in black, complete with veils to mask their faces.
51	* InspiredBy: According to the [[http://www.marvista.net/catalog_items/1161 Marvista website]], the movie was "inspired by an unbelievable true story". This is a stock phrase used in Hollywood. While some details (such as a con artist marrying and stealing money from multiple women) ''may'' be based on actual events, [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory the story as depicted is mostly fictional]].
52	* LifetimeMovieOfTheWeek: Though not produced by Creator/{{Lifetime}} directly, the movie fits well with the 'woman in jeopardy' theme.
53	* MarketBasedTitle: Renamed to ''Deadly Matrimony'' for the US Creator/{{Lifetime}} premiere. During production the working title was ''He Loved Them All''.
54	* TheMole: [[spoiler: Parker]] is essentially an undercover operative ''at her own wedding''. The bride-to-be works with Sara and Melinda after she's made aware of Leo's malicious intentions.
55	* MultipleIdentityIDs: The police inform Sara, Melinda and Cindy that Leo's real name is Randall Scott, and he's been married four times in the last five years. The detective backs this statement up with evidence showing a printout of several California driving licenses - all in different names with Leo's photo.
56	* NeverBringAKnifeToAGunFight: Prior to her confrontation with the killer at the log cabin, Sara grabs a fire poker. It turns out to be woefully insufficient, largely due to Sara's lack of training.
57	* NeverOneMurder: The killer claims multiple victims over the course of the movie.
58	* NoTellMotel: Sara and Melinda meet in a run-down motel to discuss their strategy for revenge.
59	* OhCrap: Several occasions.
60	** Sara's reaction when she realises all the money has been withdrawn from her account. And a similar look of disbelief when she checks his laptop computer and discovers a saved image of her signature.
61	** Sara when she discovers [[spoiler: a kitchen knife under the bed]].
62	** While undercover as bridesmaids at [[spoiler: Parker]]'s wedding, Sara and Melinda secretly meet up with her in an empty room. Suddenly there is a knock on the door. Sara and Melinda turn sharply round, fearful of discovery.
63	* PsychoKnifeNut: While Sara lies in bed with Leo he produces a kitchen knife, which causes her to recoil in terror. Leo then asks Sara if she's scared, smiling as he runs a finger across the blade. Though it turns out [[spoiler: this is AllJustADream.]]
64	* RageBreakingPoint: After the women ruin Leo's wedding day, he drops the nice guy act and arms himself with a pistol.
65	* {{Revenge}}: The primary reason for the brides getting together - Leo ruined their finances (or plans to), and now they want payback.
66	* ScreamDiscretionShot: When Sara discovers [[spoiler: Cindy's]] body she shrieks in terror, hands cupped over her mouth.
67	* ScreamingWarrior: During the wedding showdown set-piece, Leo has Melinda pinned down in a scuffle. Sara races to the rescue, screaming in fury as she swings a knife at Leo's exposed back.
68	* ShotgunWedding: During the wedding finale, Leo is confronted by a determined-looking Melinda, cold eyed as she aims a pistol. This also takes Sara and [[spoiler: Parker]] by surprise. For some reason, they didn't expect Melinda to come armed to a confrontation with a psycho who's killed multiple women by that point.
69	* VillainousBreakdown: At the beginning of the movie Leo is calm and collected, and maintains his suaveness even when confronted by Sara. After his wedding to [[spoiler: Parker]] is interrupted and his lies exposed, Leo goes [[AxCrazy completely off the rails]] and attempts to murder the women responsible.
70	* WeHardlyKnewYe: Maisy has very little screen time before she's gruesomely killed off.
71	* WeddingSmashers: The confrontation between the revenge-seeking brides and Leo at the wedding finale.
72	* WhamLine: Sara is already suspicious of Leo when Melinda shows up at her front door to drop the proverbial bomb.
73	-->'''Sara:''' How do you even know Leo?
74	-->'''Melinda:''' I know him because ''I'm his wife''.
75	* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Stab her, in this instance. The killer has a penchant for drawn-out and complex killings. This appears to be [[Main/{{Sadist}} through choice rather than necessity]]. The unnecessary hesistation also allows [[spoiler: Sara to escape alive]].
76	* WomanScorned: All five women wronged by Leo. Sara and Melinda are particularly determined to get their revenge.

Context Film / VowsOfDeceit