This film all starts out with an off duty detective spotting an open pharmacy door while she's off duty and getting knocked on the noggin from behind. Little does she or anyone else suspect that this is connected with the death of film star Rebka Sharmas who is killed with poison after suffering an injury during a play rehearsal.
Sharmas was in town as a guest speaker and to support the small town theater group she was going to do a play sponsored by professor Jill Wagner. The whole thing revolves around her complicated love and a pair of murderers who have a long standing score to settle.
I do like Jill Wagner in the lead for this Hallmark series. She's smart and not all that pushy and knows when to let her detective boyfriend Kristoffer Polaha take the lead. It is his job and case after all.
Mystery 101 Playing Dead
2019
Action / Crime / Drama / Mystery
Mystery 101 Playing Dead
2019
Action / Crime / Drama / Mystery
17% - Audience
7.0Plot summary
There have been a rash of "middle of the night" break-in burglaries at the commercial establishments on Main Street in Garrison, Washington, the latest to be hit being the pharmacy. Out for an early morning run, Garrison Police Detective Claire Tate is knocked unconscious and hospitalized in coming across the burglary in progress. Meanwhile, Garrison Community Playhouse is mounting a production of Shadow of Death. Movie and stage star Bella Brightman, who, along with her current husband Duncan Spencer, own property in town, has agreed to star in this community theater production as a favor to the town. Because she specializes in crime fiction, Elmstead College English Professor Amy Winslow is the production's dramaturge. There seems to be as much drama behind the scenes as there is on stage, as there may or may not be secret romantic liaisons between various people working on the production, much of the scuttlebutt centered on Bella, which is probably why seemingly jealous Duncan has been hanging around the theater as much as he has. It doesn't help matters that Bella's first husband, Manhattan-based Sebastian Dusquenes, arrives unexpectedly on the scene. While Bella seems to have a friendly relationship with Sebastian, Duncan doesn't seem happy to see him. In the approach to opening night, two too many close calls to be coincidence seem to indicate that someone is either trying to scare, seriously injure or kill Bella. Claire's partner, Detective Travis Burke, is assigned to the case. Being in the middle of the action, Amy can't help but insert herself into the case as well regardless of Travis' feelings, the two who have crossed this path before. While Travis would admit that Amy's assistance has been helpful in the past, he, having feelings for her, doesn't want to see her get hurt in the process. As more and more secrets come to light, what is happening seems to be tied to the burglaries with a grander scheme at play than just Bella's life as the end goal.
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A long standing score
sophomore swoon
College professor Amy Winslow (Jill Wagner) is supporting a community theater play with movie star Bella Brightman volunteering as the lead. Police detective Burke (Kristoffer Polaha) investigates when his partner Claire Tate gets knocked unconscious in the latest of a series of local break-ins.
There is a possible future for this pairing. The main issue is forcing these two together to take on these cases. They should stop the pretense and simply make them partners in solving major crimes. It's a college town. Make Burke in charge of crimes on campus which makes Winslow a great partner for those cases. The main advantage of this franchise is the fairly good combative chemistry between the two actors. They work well together. They need to be together as much as possible and as quickly as possible. This one fails that test. It takes too much for Burke's case to work its way to Winslow's play. Also Bella needs to be played by a better actress. She needs to project a movie star's charisma. This actress is missing that. I chalk this up to be a sophomore swoon and hopefully it gets better as class continues.
Even better than the first
Playing Dead is the third Hallmark mystery movie I've watched recently. In this one, Professor Amy Winslow (Jill Wagner) is helping the local theater group put on a play. During rehearsal, a prop gun is seemingly replaced with the real thing. Fortunately, no one was hit by the bullet, but the police suspect the lead actress may be in danger. However, while under police protection, the actress dies - from an apparent heart attack. Amy's not so sure and joins Detective Burke's (Kristoffer Polaha) investigation - whether he likes it or not.
If anything, I enjoyed Playing Dead a bit more than the first film in the series. Without the need to introduce the main characters, more time was available for the actual mystery. And that's a good thing because the mystery here is fun. With a seemingly random attack on Burke's partner, a toy monkey, secret love letters, and suspects everywhere you look, there's plenty here to unpack. Admittedly, I once again pretty much figured out who well before the culprit was unmasked. However, I still enjoyed learning the why and how. Overall, good stuff.
Once again, the acting in Playing Dead is a mixed bag. Some good, some less so. But there's no denying the ability of Wagner and Polaha. Both are great in their roles and have some wonderful onscreen chemistry.
One thing that has bugged me about these Hallmark films is the unrealistic nonsense the amateur sleuth is able to get away with. Here, for example, Amy is able to rummage through a house to find a key piece of evidence. There's absolutely no way it would have been admissible in court. But then again, I don't think anyone is watching a Hallmark mystery for a look inside a real life criminal investigation. Most just want to be entertained.
7/10.