Everything She Ever Wanted (2009)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything She Ever Wanted is a historical drama (divided into two parts), which premiered on US television (LMN) in 2009.

 

This historical drama is based on a true story: the life of Patricia “Pat” Allanson.

 

Here is some basic information about it:

 

** Directed by Peter Svatek

** Screenplay written by Michael Vickerman

** Based on the book Everything She Ever Wanted: A True Story of Obsessive Love, Murder & Betrayal by Ann Rule (1992)

** Part one: 83 minutes

** Part two: 83 minutes

** Total run time: 166 minutes

 

The cast includes the following:

 

The first group

** Gina Gershon as Patricia “Pat” Allanson

(born 1937 - as far as I know, she is still alive)

** Rachel Blanchard as Rachel Reede – Pat’s sister

** Ryan McPartlin as Tom Allanson – Pat’s husband

** Gabriel Hogan as Dan Hollister – Tom’s friend

 

The second group

** Jessica Harmon as Debbie – Pat’s daughter

** Lawrence Dane as George Allanson – Tom’s grandfather

** Victor Garber as Walter Allanson – Tom’s father

** Tom Barnett as Pete Gilbert

 

I do not wish to spoil the viewing for anyone. This is why I am not going to say much about what happens here. Since this drama is based on a true story, the basic facts are part of the public record.

 

As stated above, this drama is based on the book Everything She Ever Wanted by Ann Rule, which was published in 1992.

 

Ann Rule (1931-2015) wrote several popular books about true crimes. The subtitle of the book is A True Story of Obsessive Love, Murder & Betrayal.

 

The subtitle gives you some indication of the topics which are explored here.

 

While the movie is based on a true story, it is not a documentary film.

 

It is a dramatized version of events in the life of Pat Allanson. Not everything happened exactly as portrayed here.

 

Some facts have been altered or added for dramatic reasons or practical purposes. Some names have been changed as well. Perhaps for legal reasons.

 

What do reviewers say about this drama?

 

Here are some results:

 

42 percent = Rotten Tomatoes

59 percent = IMDb

 

On Amazon there are at the moment 116 ratings of this product, including 16 with reviews.

 

The average rating is 4.2 stars, which corresponds to a rating of 84 percent,

 

In my opinion, the first two ratings are too low, while the rating on Amazon is more appropriate.

 

This is a good drama about a horrible case. This drama is good but not great. I like it, but I cannot go all the way to the top, because there are some flaws.

 

Let me explain:

 

# 1. There was no need to add or change certain facts. The true story is already dramatic enough in itself.

# 2. The drama does not tell us anything about Pat’s life before she met and married Tom Allanson.

 

I like this drama and I want to give it a good rating, but I have to remove one star because of these flaws.

 

This is why I think this product deserves a rating of four stars (80 percent)

 

PS. Deadly Magnolia is a documentary film about the colourful and almost incredible life of Pat Allanson.

 

It is an episode in the long-running program American Justice (Season 09, episode 16).

 

This film, which was shown on US television (A & E) in May 2000, is available online.

 

*****

Everything She Ever Wanted

A two-part historical drama 

which premiered on LMN

(Lifetime Movie Network)

in 2009

*****

Everything She Ever Wanted:

A True Story of Obsessive Love, 

Murder & Betrayal

by Ann Rule

(1992)

 

*****