Stuti Gokhale
Lifetime’s ‘Fallen Angels Murder Club: Friends to Die For’ is a thrilling mystery movie by Lifetime. Directed by Rhonda Baraka, it follows Hollis Morgan, an ex-convict who joins a book club to pursue her passion for reading. All the members of the club have criminal records and aim to start life afresh. However, soon Hollis and her friends find themselves embroiled in a multiple murder investigation. Now, she must employ her sleuthing skills to find the killer before they strike again.
Set against the eerie backdrop of a small-town book club, the visuals of ‘Fallen Angels Murder Club: Friends to Die For’ add a riveting aesthetic to its narrative. In case your curiosity to know more about this interesting movie has been piqued, we’ve got all the answers you need. Let’s dive in!
Fallen Angels Murder Club: Friends to Die For Filming Locations
‘Fallen Angels Murder Club: Friends to Die For’ was entirely filmed in the Canadian province of Ontario, specifically in Barrie and possibly Toronto. Principal photography commenced in late September 2021 and wrapped up in late November 2021. Despite the cold and wet weather, the cast and crew had a fun time working together. Now, here is a closer look at the filming sites.
Barrie, Ontario
The Lifetime mystery drama was primarily taped in Barrie, a city in Simcoe County. It is situated on the banks of Kempenfelt Bay, which is the western part of Lake Simcoe. Significant scenes were lensed downtown at the city marina parking lot on Lakeshore Drive and at the Chase McEachern Way parking lot. A few sequences were also shot along the lakeshore. In addition, pivotal scenes were filmed at the Brain Power Studios at 526 Bryne Drive.
First established during the War of 1812, Barrie is presently a major technology hub. Education, tourism, manufacturing, healthcare, and information technology are the other main contributors to the city’s economy. Barrie is studded with numerous beautiful beaches like Minet’s Point Beach, Tyndale Beach, and The Gables. It also hosts many cultural festivals like The Barrie Waterfront Festival, Kempenfest, The New Music Festival, and Barrie Film Festival. Movies like ‘A Christmas Dance Reunion,’ ‘Christmas Wedding Planner,’ and ‘Romance in the Wilds’ were filmed in the city.
Toronto, Ontario
The Lifetime movie was seemingly lensed in Toronto as well. The capital city of Ontario sits on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. It is known for its dynamic cityscape full of giant skyscrapers and lush green spaces. Toronto has many museums and art galleries like the Royal Ontario Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario, Gardiner Museum, and Toronto Sculpture Garden. Moreover, it hosts the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival annually.
With the presence of several hi-tech filming studios, Toronto is a much sought-after destination for movie and TV production. Films and TV shows like ‘Nightmare Alley,’ ‘American Psycho,’ ‘The Boys‘ and ‘Schitt’s Creek‘ have also been lensed in Toronto.
Fallen Angels Murder Club: Friends to Die For Cast
Toni Braxton essays Hollis Morgan, who joins a book club after being released from prison. The talented singer and actress is known for her performance as Terry in the TV series ‘Kevin Hill’ and Alexis in the movie ‘Every Day Is Christmas.’ Her other notable acting credits include the movies ‘Faith Under Fire‘ and ‘Twist of Fate.’ Braxton has also delivered several hit songs and music videos.
Other cast members of ‘Fallen Angels Murder Club: Friends to Die For’ are Eddie Cibrian (Avery Mitchell), Lisa Berry (Abby Caldwell), Rainbow Sun Francks (Miller Thornton), Yanic Truesdale (Gene Donovan), Raoul Bhaneja (Rory Sharma), and Humberly González (Rena Gabriel). In addition, the movie features Henderson Wade (Detective Jonathan Faber), Kaitlyn Leeb (Detective Monica Wilson), and Keith D. Robinson (Bill Lynley).
Is Fallen Angels Murder Club: Friends to Die For Based on a True Story?
No, ‘Fallen Angels Murder Club: Friends to Die For’ is not based on a true story. Rhonda Baraka has written a brilliant screenplay based on ‘Fallen Angels Book Club,’ the first novel in the ‘Hollis Morgan Mystery’ series by author R. Franklin James. The character of Hollis bears resemblance to many real-life female detectives like Mary Doyle, who have solved the toughest of cases with their sheer skill and intelligence.
Moreover, Hollis Morgan is quite similar to numerous other famous literary characters who are detectives, like Nancy Drew, Miss Marple, and Veronica Mars. Their adventures have spanned countless books as well as movie and TV adaptations, and Hollis most likely shall follow suit. The movie delves into the details of a series of murders, which are probably based on true crime investigations of such cases. It further talks about getting second chances in life after prison as well as a group of misfits coming together to become close friends.
To reinstate, ‘Fallen Angels Murder Club: Friends to Die For’ is not inspired by any true events but is an accurate adaptation of the book it is based on. The convincing performances of the cast members make the narrative come alive and feel so realistic, that the audience may feel it is a true story.
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