Despite being inspired by a true story, the scripting and story line in "Between Love and Hate" seem implausible. But while things start out bad in this rather predictable TV movie about seduction and revenge, telefilm manages in the second part to improve to the level of OK.

Despite being inspired by a true story, the scripting and story line in “Between Love and Hate” seem implausible. But while things start out bad in this rather predictable TV movie about seduction and revenge, telefilm manages in the second part to improve to the level of OK.

Susan Lucci stars as a rich married woman who spends her days at a country club, where she seduces her daughter’s 19-year-old swimming instructor, Matt Templeton (Patrick Van Horn).

During the opening scenes, the acting is reminiscent of a soft-porn movie, and director Rod Hardy, director of photography David Connell and editor Richard Bracken tell the story in one- or two-shots, with little variation.

As the story develops, so does the acting — a little. More is learned about the characters’ backgrounds and some of their reasons for being involved.

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Show picks up when Vivian’s husband Justin (played well by Barry Bostwick) learns of the affair and threatens to leave Vivian penniless if she doen’t end it.

Matt becomes a crazy, jealous type planning revenge for his broken heart. There are some twists to keep the viewer interested, and a surprise ending.

“Love” would have had a better flow if the characters’ backgrounds and traits were allowed to develop gradually throughout the story rather than in one condensed seg.

Acting, scripting and directing on the whole are very much in-your-face, and telepic would have benefited from a little more subtlety and imagination in those departments; as it is, “Love” looks like it was rushed out just for the sake of getting something on screen.

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Abc Monday Night at the Movies Between Love and Hate

(Mon. (22), 9-11 p.m., ABC)

  • Production: Filmed at various Southern California locations by Cosgrove/Meurer Prods. in association with World International Network. Executive producers, Terry Dunn Meurer, John Cosgrove; producer, Jay Benson; co-producer, Carrie Stein; associate producer, Helmut Huber; director, Rod Hardy; writers, D. Victor Hawkins, Tom Nelson; story, Hawkins, Nelson, Rebecca Whittington.
  • Crew: Camera, David Connell; editor, Richard Bracken; production designer, Donald Light Harris; sound, Ken Willingham; music, Charles Bernstein.
  • Cast: Cast: Susan Lucci, Patrick Van Horn, Raymond J. Barry, Moira Harris, Elizabeth Ruscio, Cameron Daddo, Barry Bostwick, Tom Hallick, Chelsea Lagos, Lyndsay Riddell, Edith Fields, Michael Winters, Jace Kent, John Dunbar, Christopher Carroll.

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