Ultra-bland filming of V. C. Andrews's popular supermarket tome. With most of the more controversial elements of the book (i.e., incest) played down, what we're basically left with is a dull TV-type "thriller" with no thrills and not even much in the way of unintended laughs to relieve the tedium. Fletcher does her umpteenth Nurse Ratched bit as the stern grandma; the tacked-on "shocker" ending (featuring an obvious double for Tennant) is really feeble. "Eat the cookie, Mama!"

I remember watching this when I was young and loving it, along with the book. I recently found the book at the Salvation Army and figured it would be a good edition to my library. It's an alright book, but not recommended. After completion of reading the novel I watched the film. Horrible acting (I'm looking at you, the kid who played Christopher) and was untrue to the book in needless ways. A remake may be in order because the concept is great it just needs to be executed properly.

This was a lot better then I was expecting that mom needed & deserved to die...major headtrip

Such a horrible disapointment, I can't even begin to say.

is not as good as the book

Unless watching four bland blond kids languish in the title site, as circles spread under their pale eyes and cobwebs gather over yours, is your idea of grand entertainment, I'd advise you to avoid this lame TV-movie-type loser like your proverbial plague. Tin-eared dialogue, a total lack of action and suspense, plus cardboard performances, like Fletcher's (who goes from Ratched to wretched here)as a Granny from Hell, combine to make this one of moviedom's all-time worst