Stalked by My Doctor

Two high school teens get in a car wreck due to texting while driving.  The girl, Sophie (Brianna Joy Chomer), is in rough shape and needs surgery on her heart while the boy, Ryan (Carson Boatman), only has a broken leg.  Doctor Albert Beck (Eric Roberts (Grey’s Anatomy)) swoops in to save Sophie’s life while also staring at her awkwardly during the procedure.  Post surgery he sneaks into Sophie’s room and kisses her on the mouth while he’s sedated.  He starts following her, “running into her” at the mall and fantasizing about having sex with her.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect is how normal everyone reacts to Beck’s insane behavior.  It only takes one “chance” encounter at the food court for Sophie to be creeped out and the mother picks up on the guy’s off conduct almost immediately.  The only character who gives Beck the benefit of the doubt for a while is Sophie’s father which also makes sense in the bullshit “oh it’s just guys being guys” defense.  Even Beck’s dates don’t succumb to his grossness who after one encounter cut it off right away.  I’m very impressed with how grounded the characters’ actions feel.

Naturally the real reason to check this film out is to witness Eric Roberts do his thang.  He’s perfect as a disgusting dude trying to hook up with a girl young enough to be his granddaughter potentially and all the strained uncomfortable moments that come with that territory.  Beck can flash a smile at you and seem amiable at first but talk to him for more than two minutes and it becomes obvious that façade is paper thin.  Roberts can turn on a dime into a crazy person and his freakouts are very amusing.  One time he tosses garbage around while yelling “I’m a doctor!” exhausting himself until he collapses into tears.  Another time he buys Sophie a doll as a peace offering and knows she likes them because he broke into her room, saw the dolls, sniffed the whole place (ulgh) and covered himself in her pillows and blankets (ulgh!).  Anyway, she refuses the doll without thinking twice so Beck goes into the bathroom and attempts to tear the thing apart in a rage.  What’s fantastic is the stupid doll is made too well and after clawing at it and stomping on it he can’t make a single dent.  Incredible how that scene was supposed to go versus reality.  Love it.

Years ago this type of picture was a perfectly viable mainstream theatrical release but now (and by that I mean 2015 when it came out) it’s a made for TV movie that gets shat out by Lifetime.  This one’s competently executed though, give or take Roberts’ performance, and doesn’t feel phoned in.  Of course there are limitations due to what I’m sure was a tiny budget (most of which assumingly went to Roberts) but they make shit work.  There are plenty of locations used, very little effects work, totally fine performances, decent cinematography, alright editing, etc.  It’s definitely unintentionally funny at points but that’s also the charm of this one.  It shares good company with the likes of The Stepfathers and The Dentists.

What’s amazing is Lifetime had a hit on their hands so they did what any self-respecting movie producer would, they made a shit load of sequels.  All starring Eric Roberts.  Nice.