Movie Review: Flowers in the Attic [2014]

Flowers in the Attic is a TV adaptation of Virginia C. Andrews's book of the same name, also first installment of Dollanganger Series. On the paper - and I don't mean the book - the idea of first installment seems interesting, kind of catchy, dramatic and intrigue. Sadly, movie does not bring much to the table.

Christopher Sr and Corrine Dollangangers are happily married couple and parents of 4 children [pictured above], they live quiet and true american life on their own. Christopher does a lot business trips and is mostly away from family. On his birthday, while the rest family is arranging a big surprise party for him, he had a car accident and died. Since Chris was the only one working, they lose everything and Corrine is forced to move to her parents house, which seems to be a salvation for them, however everything turns out to the contrary.

In fact, Corrine is not welcomed to her family. A dying father has hated her for years and she was forced to leave them at a very young age. She is not even more welcomed with four kids, who are disgusted by grandparents. For that reason, grandma, played by Ellen Burstyn, hides four kids in the attic forbidding them to leave the room. The same time, mother promises her kids to get them out of this room as soon as she wins her father's heart back and inherits the house. Unfortunately, it takes too long - more than two years.

Flowers in the Attic is a great family drama, with many layers. The story is not really simple one, because first impression about characters is not full truth. So, every minute you discover small part of whole story. As the kids try to get used living locked, they are introduced to most cruel grandmother ever, who lashes anyone including her own daughter and grandson. Ellen delivers brilliant and absolutely horrifying performance. She shows her hatred and anger towards kids merely by look, glance, voice and actions. Her performance is so perfect that I watched all her scenes terrified, wholly understanding what those kids went through. Grandma is not a simple person, she's full of secrets, doubts and anger and also fears. And the way Burstin unpacks those feelings and different layers, she becomes more interesting. For that reason, she can easily be an Emmy nominee as a supporting actress in movie/miniseries.

The rest of cast is just OK. Heather Graham's [Corrine] performance has its ups and downs, sometimes she's really good, sometimes it's average. Mason Dye [Christopher Jr, Corrine's eldest son] has some descent dramatic moments and other kids are definitely good casting.

In some parts, story is astonishingly good, and in others just another predictable lines. I did not fully get why it was important that siblings - Christopher Jr and Cathy - fell in love. Well, it is part of the story, as they "continue tradition of their parents" but I still think this part made Flowers in the Attic a lot more melodramatic movie/book.

I expected more about the escape scene. I thought it'd be something amazing and heart pounding. In fact, the scene was so quick, that I did not even have a reaction.

I enjoyed the general storyline, the reasons it all happened to kids, because it brought so many moral questions to the surface. This movie brings light discussion about incest, love between siblings and the ways society or family members should respond to it. Definitely, the manner they dealt with it was neither human nor effective and I personally am not sure, what would I do.

In conclusion, Flowers in the Attic is a good one time watch film, that will break your heart, make you sad and maybe think about the issues raised. However, it does not goes further into your memory and most probably everyone will forget the story of little 4 kids quite soon.