Unstable (TV Movie 2009) Poster

(2009 TV Movie)

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7/10
Unstable-Not An Unstable Moment Here ***
edwagreen5 May 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Thriller about a new bride who has had mental problems. She weds a bank teller and the fun really begins.

Megan and Woody are our lovely couple. Unfortunately, not exactly lovely.

When I saw this film, the 1944 hit "Gaslight" with Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer immediately came to mind.

This new film succeeds because it is paced extremely well and you are left wondering if Megan is really off her rocker or is there a conspiracy involving all or some family members.

After a while, things are happening in such rapid succession that you begin to wonder that all is not kosher with the newlyweds. What's going on with the blouse, the cell keys, the phone, emailing private business to others, and all other sorts of mayhem?

Kathy Baker stars as our victim's mother. She does the best she can with a script that really limits her role.
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5/10
A newlywed is either unstable or new new husband wants her that way
leomoviecritic26 April 2009
A whirlwind courtship has newlywed (Shiri Appleby)thinking she's in bliss. She's the beloved daughter of a wonderful set of wealthy parents and has a tight relationship with her stepsister. She was in an abusive relationship in the past and her psychiatrist had been working with her on her precarious mental state much of it having to do with that abusive lover from the past. From day one of her courtship with her lover turned husband little things were happening, things misplaced,and more. She's trying valiantly to hold on to her sanity and decide if her husband wants her unstable or she sabotaging herself. I liked her spunk.

This new TV movie is is a bit predictable but a decent entry to to this genre.
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7/10
Actually A Well Done Movie If You Keep Your Expectations Realistic
thiottiowt11 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
For those who said they "knew" what was going to happen, and that this film was "predictable," you really aren't saying much. Put it this way, whenever a plot line asks : "Is she really crazy or being sabotaged," common sense tells you there would be no movie if Shiri Appleby was just "Unstable" and that was it. Truthfully, the villains managed to conceal their plot until very deeply into the movie,and that's why I enjoyed it.Lifetime Network basically gives you two hours, so only with rare excepted productions is the plot line NOT going to have predictable elements. It's a meme that human beings tend to write things where GOOD wins out over EVIL. So if you're not expecting too much from a 2 hour film, then you can sit back and enjoy what's going on. I think David Alpay's performance was nice and right up to the edge of what was going to be "allowed" within the limitations of a GOOD vs. EVIL scenario. I was kind of mixed up towards the end because even though it was likely Appleby's character was going to re-appear, why did it look like her family was grieving? I remembered the micro camera and saw how the step daughter was being recorded unaware, but that little part tripped me up a little. Nice film overall, though.
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predictable, but still well done and suspenseful
fallen_angel_25615 April 2010
A woman, who was in an abusive relationship that had broken her mentally and took her 4 years to get back on her feet after her breakdown, finally managed to get her life back on track. she meets a man who seems comfortable with her situation (she's still on meds), they fall in love, get married... BUT things start to happen, as our heroine misplaces her keys, her phone, the shirt she bought in the color green is suddenly red, and everybody thinks she's becoming crazy again, even her husband. But, as always, there's more than meets the eye... or is it?!

A psychological thriller that uses plot-lines that we all have seen before, and you can guess from the get-go what's going to happen. but still, this movie is very well done. the story has a good pace that doesn't let up, some logical twists, great writing and directing, and some fine acting from all actors involved.

But, all the credit goes to Shiri Appleby. I was waiting for her to do a role like that, something complicated, and she managed to do it perfectly. And, if you have seen her in other projects, then you know that she can really act. she was amazing here, playing a heroine who is somewhat crazy, paranoid but still knows how to survive and protect herself and keeping herself from breaking-down again.

All in all, a great movie, something you can watch on a Sunday afternoon or on a rainy evening, and you would not be disappointed. Sure, not the greatest film ever, but it's suspenseful, well acted and directed, and entertaining, and the major plus- Shiri Appleby.

final score: 9 out of 10.
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1/10
Hot garbage
danplevin13 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
About the same quality of a high school drama club

When does she develop her master plan of faking her death?
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3/10
Back to a right state
Prismark1018 April 2015
Lifetime decides to do an updated version of Gaslight. Shiri Appleby is Megan who is recovering from a mental breakdown. She comes from a wealthy family, her father is in the security business and she has been supported in her recovery by her mother and step sister.

She gets caught up in a whirlwind romance with a nice guy bank clerk Woody (David Alpay) but soon after she gets married puzzling things happen such as things being misplaced which makes her doubt her sanity.

Megan believes to doubt her husband and thinks she is sabotaging her life and making her believe she is unstable again but for what purpose? Even her family are unsure of her mental state.

This is very much a run of the mill Lifetime thriller. It kind of feels and looks low key and cheap. Decent enough performances although Kathy Baker is wasted. The film never manages to be even average though.
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8/10
Reply to "Rooted for The Hero"
brohdaw26 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
First, it does not seem like you're rooting for the hero at all, the hero in the movie could be Mr. Barbuto, but I think for the most part, Appleby was the hero; she didn't go crazy like her past would have made her, she kept her cool and knew it wasn't herself doing all those bizarre things. I think she did an excellent job, and the very fact that you don't like her confirms that. People seem to forget they are playing roles and they are actors/actresses and if they make you angry, cry, happy, etc...they must be doing the part pretty darn good. I thought it was a pretty good movie, not exactly one that I would go out and buy but good for the plot line...however, I do agree, it was very predictable from about 5-10 minutes in; I think they started the deceit a little too early.
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It's no 'Gaslight'
CranberriAppl1 March 2011
Warning: Spoilers
It's pretty clear that this movie is inspired by 'Gaslight,' only unlike that movie, there's no suspense here. As soon as the mom explained that the blonde was not biologically-related to any of them, I knew she would be involved. I wanted to like this movie. I am generally not a fan of Lifetime (too many sex,murder, and man-hating movies...I'm a woman, btw). But I like Shiri as an actress, so I tuned in. I was sooo hoping that Lifetime would pull a 'Suspicion' and not a 'Gaslight.' But they let me down. It was too predictable. Nothing more to say than that. Everything that you think this movie will do, it does.
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Rooted for the hero
guil1225 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This was easy to figure out from beginning. However, I was rooting for the hero. For Sheri Appleby was plain obnoxious in the role. As a plain Jane who is a fruit cake. She got on my nerves all the way through. I wanted her to not get rescued by the idiot, I think played by Michael Barbuto. The minute he got nosy and entered her apartment, I turned off the channel as I didn't want to see her survive. She was that dreadful. Please, no more Appleby. A shame to see the likes of Kathy Baker in the thankless role of Appleby's mother. She's usually good in all she does. But this was a mistake. Sorry Kathy, you have done so much more important work.

The hero, played by David Alpay was great and convincing who won my vote. I wanted him to win the battle. To have to put up with the likes of his fruit cake wife, should win him a medal in the first place. When he and his accomplice caught her spying, I was hoping they'd do her in right away. Get rid of her for good. But alas, the movies never give that choice to their audience. We have to suffer with the heroine winning, which in this case was a big mistake. I also liked Samantha Walker who did a great job as the sister.

To sum up this nonsense; Sheri Appleby needed to get her surmise in this viewer's mind. And the charming Alpay should have won the fortune. For putting up with a loony wife.
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