Early in "The Wrong Girl" (a.k.a., "Fatal Friends"), the English teacher Mr. Clarke identifies "manipulation" as one of the key themes of Shakespeare's "Othello." This is a major hint that this film will be about manipulation of others for sinister purposes.
The master manipulator is Michelle Foley, who poses as the new kid on the block as she befriends Sofia Daverston at her new school. That is the start of Sofia's life being turned upside down, including the potential destruction of the lives of her loving parents, Ashley and Dylan, as well as Sofia's potential scholarship to study music at Juilliard.
There was good chemistry between the two young women who become best friends. At first, Michelle seems to offer Sophia the exact kind of friendship missing in her life. Then, everything implodes as the truth about Michelle's past stint in a mental hospital begins to emerge.
One of our favorite actresses, Jamie "Lifetime" Luner, helps to anchor the film in the role of Ashley Daverston. There were good supporting roles, such as the gullible boyfriend Alex, the oversexed music tutor Hannah, and the English teacher, who is manipulated by Michelle just as Iago dupes Rodrigo in "Othello."
Some credit is due to Michelle for her inventiveness, imagination, and the ability to be at the right place at the right time. Somehow, she captures a compromising photo of Hannah. And she knows all of the tricks to entrap both the hapless English teacher and to slip a roofie in Alex's fruit punch.
The film would have benefited from a more fully developed denouement that might have revealed the possibility that the hyperactive Michelle may finally be getting the help that she needs and deserves. Legally, Dylan Daverston might need to shoulder some of the responsibility, too.
This was an engaging film from start to finish with a superb ensemble cast.
The master manipulator is Michelle Foley, who poses as the new kid on the block as she befriends Sofia Daverston at her new school. That is the start of Sofia's life being turned upside down, including the potential destruction of the lives of her loving parents, Ashley and Dylan, as well as Sofia's potential scholarship to study music at Juilliard.
There was good chemistry between the two young women who become best friends. At first, Michelle seems to offer Sophia the exact kind of friendship missing in her life. Then, everything implodes as the truth about Michelle's past stint in a mental hospital begins to emerge.
One of our favorite actresses, Jamie "Lifetime" Luner, helps to anchor the film in the role of Ashley Daverston. There were good supporting roles, such as the gullible boyfriend Alex, the oversexed music tutor Hannah, and the English teacher, who is manipulated by Michelle just as Iago dupes Rodrigo in "Othello."
Some credit is due to Michelle for her inventiveness, imagination, and the ability to be at the right place at the right time. Somehow, she captures a compromising photo of Hannah. And she knows all of the tricks to entrap both the hapless English teacher and to slip a roofie in Alex's fruit punch.
The film would have benefited from a more fully developed denouement that might have revealed the possibility that the hyperactive Michelle may finally be getting the help that she needs and deserves. Legally, Dylan Daverston might need to shoulder some of the responsibility, too.
This was an engaging film from start to finish with a superb ensemble cast.