Apoorly organized script by Danielle Hill doesn't give much strength to another love-from-a-stranger outing, and the endangered wife married to a psycho twist doesn't help. Aimed at suspense, "Fatal Vows" repeatedly misses its mark.

Apoorly organized script by Danielle Hill doesn’t give much strength to another love-from-a-stranger outing, and the endangered wife married to a psycho twist doesn’t help. Aimed at suspense, “Fatal Vows” repeatedly misses its mark.

Divorced Alexandra (Cynthia Gibb) and son Ryan, 4, seem to be happy alone, but when mysterious Nick Pagan (John Stamos) persists in courting her, her libido buckles. He introduces her to his large Italian family, including his father (Ben Gazzara), who worships Nick; Alexandra marries Nick without knowing him.

He says he runs a limo service and is an undercover cop; it takes her a long time to start wondering. Female members of his family begin turning up dead around town, but he says he knows nothing about the killings. When Alexandra keeps at him, he cuffs her twice; he won’t let her leave, and threatens to harm Ryan if she does.

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Deaths mount lugubriously, and cocky Nick warns her she’d better stay cool. The police make her life even more miserable by not believing her.

Under John Power’s uninspired direction, the vidpic chugs along until it self-destructs. Gibb’s Alexandra at times come alive, but Stamos, who demos a good mean streak, has to sustain the monotonous role for too long. Gazzara is around apparently for name value and decoration.

Production looks OK, but George S. Clinton’s score doesn’t add much. Sabrina Plisco-Morris’ editing suffices; Harry Mathias’ camerawork is run-of-the-mill except for a tranquil moment when he catches Nick on a horse out by a lake; in that instant, the telefilm snaps to life.

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Fatal Vows: The Alexandra O’Hara Story

(Tues. (25), 9-11 p.m., CBS)

  • Production: Filmed in Toronto by Roaring Fork Prods., Karen Danaher-Dorr Prods., Republic Pictures and Spelling Entertainment Inc. Exec producers, Karen Danaher-Dorr, Tim Hill, Danielle Hill; supervising producer, Julian Marks; director, John Power; writer, Danielle Hill.
  • Crew: Camera, Harry Mathias; editor, Sabrina Plisco-Morris; production designer, Marian Wihak; sound, Bryan Day; music, George S. Clinton.
  • Cast: Cast: John Stamos, Cynthia Gibb, David Faustino, Sean McCann, Eugene Clark, Ben Gazzara, David Huband, Patricia Collins, Marc Donato, Tony De Santis, Gina Wilkinson, Francesca Scorsone, Nicole Oliver, Christina Collins, Heidi Von Palleske, Chandra Muszka, Howard Jerome, Lili Francks, Marium Carvell, Mary Long , Katie Griffin, Katey McGuire, Pamela Sinha, Jed Dixon, Mario Romano, Sandi Stahlbrand.

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