“Judge me if you dare…”
Flowers in the Attic – Olivia Foxworth
For some strange reason, I couldn’t understand why when I was a little girl, I became engrossed with the 1987 classic “Flowers in the Attic.” Watching the depths, Olivia Foxworth would go to keep her grandchildren locked inside an attic made me wish for an incredible escape for these children. Unfortunately, the story does not end as I had hoped, but I was intrigued by the decisions that are cast upon this family.
Fast forward to 2022, and Lifetime is back with another V.C. Andrews gift, Flowers in the Attic: The Origin, based on the prequel novel Garden of Shadows by Andrew Neiderman. The limited series airs consecutively over four weeks, starting at 8/7c on Saturday, July 9, and concluding on July 30. The miniseries received support from the Romanian Government, as it was filmed at the height of the pandemic and transferred to Romania.
When best-selling author V.C. Andrews died in 1986, her famous gothic horror and family saga writing history has continued with family approval through the ghostwriting of Andrew Neiderman for the past 35 years. The Flowers in the Attic: The Origin book to film adaptation is brilliantly produced. Fans and new audiences will be engrossed with the characters once more as we attempt to discover if there’s any empathy available for Olivia Foxworth and how she became a ruthless villain with a black heart.
The script explores some tragic topics and issues. When questioned about the approach one would take to visually depict how rape and incest ran rampant through this family, executive producer Paul Sciarrotta explained how great care is given to respect the sensitive areas with caution while staying the course of telling the story authentically.
The star-studded cast for the four-part series event features Jemima Rooper (Gold Digger) as Olivia Winfield Foxworth and Max Irons (Condor) as Malcolm Foxworth, parents to Corinne Foxworth and grandparents to Cathy and Chris Dollanganger. The disappointment of seeing a strong independent woman lose her strength and way to choosing the wrong partner is a gut-wrenching viewpoint for Olivia Foxworth. Part one of the series ends with the lead character taking her freedom back, which is fascinating to watch. It is still sad that it will all go downhill after this transition. However, it is still sad that it will continually go downhill after this transition.
Tony®, Golden Globe, and five-time Primetime Emmy Award winner, Kelsey Grammer (Frasier) and Critics’ Choice nominee Alana Boden (I Am Elizabeth Smart) will give you a jaw-dropping performance. The cast also includes Harry Hamlin (Mad Men), Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries), Kate Mulgrew (Orange is the New Black), Hannah Dodd (Harlots), T’Shan Williams (The Color Purple), Callum Kerr (Four Weddings and a Funeral), Luke Fetherston (Pandora) and Buck Braithwaite.
In conclusion, the cast is phenomenal, and I can’t wait to view the remaining parts of this gothic saga unfold. Watch Flowers in the Attic: The Origin when it premieres Saturday, July 9th on Lifetime at 8/7c.
ABOUT THE MINISERIES
Flowers in the Attic: The Origin tells the story of the headstrong and determined Olivia Winfield (Rooper) who is working alongside her beloved father, Mr. Winfield (Hamlin), when she finds herself unexpectedly wooed by one of the nation’s most eligible bachelors, Malcolm Foxworth (Irons). After a whirlwind romance, Olivia finds herself as the mistress of the imposing Foxworth Hall, where she soon discovers that the fairytale life she expected has quickly become a nightmare. Under Malcolm’s debonair exterior lies a dark heart, and a twisted evil lurks inside Foxworth Hall that will threaten Olivia’s happiness and that of her children. Her attempts to keep them all safe ultimately push Olivia to become to most terrifying version of herself, leading to her inevitable—and notorious—a decision to lock her grandchildren in the attic…
Additionally, Lifetime will have 14 titles from the V.C. Andrews movie collection available on demand and TV Everywhere platforms starting 6/1 through 8/31. Titles are also currently available on Lifetime Movie Club and for two weeks from 6/17 – 6/30, FAST Channel Movie Favorites By Lifetime will feature the full V.C. Andrews Library. Available titles include Dark Angel, Fallen Hearts, Gates of Paradise, Web of Dreams, Heaven, Flowers in the Attic, Petals in the Wind, Seeds of Yesterday, If There Be Thorns, My Sweet Audrina, Ruby, Pearl in the Mist, All That Glitters and Hidden Jewel.
