TiVo hired me to write professional movie reviews for new releases, with turnaround times of under 24 hours. This editor requested that this review in particular be short. Read the full review below or read it where it was originally published.

’Til Death Do Us Part is billed as a psychological thriller, but it’s really a domestic-violence drama about a newly married couple. The movie is being released in October in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but sadly its story merely pays lip service to understanding this issue.

The movie centers on Michael Roland (Stephen Bishop) and his wife Madison (Annie Ilonzeh), a seemingly perfect couple living the American Dream—they own a beautiful home, two cars, and fine clothes. The only thing that’s missing is a child to complete their lives, but while Madison wants a baby, Michael’s selfish and controlling nature twists her maternal desires into a threat to his pleasure. It isn’t long before he begins physically and emotionally abusing her, prompting her to flee and start a new life.

Sadly, the story grows increasingly predictable from that point on. While the actors are credible and the cinematography is decent, no amount of charisma can save the movie from its generic plot, which contains neither thrills nor any noteworthy drama. The film also fails to convincingly portray the difficulties of staring a new life with a new identity, so it doesn’t even succeed as a public-service announcement. If you’re in the mood to watch a movie about women triumphing over male violence and escaping from an abusive relationship, there are other films that serve as better champions of female grit and empowerment, like the 2002 Jennifer Lopez vehicle Enough. Audiences won’t miss much by passing on ’Til Death Do Us Part.

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