TV One’s When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story ranks as the network’s #1 Original Premiere of All Time all among all demos; reaches 1.6 million total unique viewers for the night!
TV One really outdid itself with its latest original film, When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely story! If you have ever been a fan of the network’s Fatal Attraction series then you will really love this movie. Marking Tasha Smith’s directorial debut, the film is based off a true story. Falicia Blakely (Lil Mama) was a young woman who became a stripper and pregnant when she was only sixteen years old.
Abandoned by her daughter’s father and living with her troubled mother (Tami Roman), she is forced to grow up and work to make ends meet. Her luck seems to change when she meets Big Dino (Lance Gross), a drug dealer and charmer. Her life spirals out of control as she sacrifices her life, body, and ultimately her freedom all in the name of love.
Indeed this is a story that has all the angst, danger, and makings of any traditional Lifetime movie! Tasha Smith is an excellent director. Her guidance coupled with this amazing cast of actors really makes this film awesome. Lil Mama’s–or should we now say Naitia Kirkland’s acting chops are Grade A! We cannot wait to see her in more productions!
The girl made us feel like this story was actually about her. The angst and chemistry between she and leading man, Lance Gross, was real and felt like a roller coaster. Speaking of Lance, this is the first time we have every really seen him in a role like this. Normally, he is your All-American good guy in films, but here he really flexes his acting muscles and shows he can take on and make you feel any role!
TV One definitely knows what it is doing and we can only hope things go up from here. We need to see more films like these about real people, especially young women. Most people have no idea just how prevalent sex trafficking is or that most women are in prison based on something surrounding a man. Be sure you check your local showtimes and listing to see When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story for yourself!
Written By: Michael “Hey Mikey” Fanning
