This has got to be a sad film based on a true story. It doesn't mean that everything in the film is exactly the same as true life events but there were some changes made. School is rife with friendships and bullies. Here there was no bullying, it was friends and the girl's own friends who did the murder. The true story is much more complex but the film itself focuses on the two BFF's and the arrival of a new girl. The new girl Ashley breaks apart the besties by choosing to befriend one of them and isolating the other. Also making her new friend not go on a date with this boy. The actress playing Ashley comes across as a very evil teenager who abuses her mother at home. As the film was based on a true story, it could've been told better with more realness, such as both girls plotting and planning to kill their friend. It made only Ashley the cold blooded killer while the other girl was reluctant. The only message in the film is not to trust your friends and don't sneak out at night without notifying your parents. The film could've added more updates on the outcome of the murderess' trials and the Skylar Law put into place because of this.

In the opening minutes a woman stumbles, apparently drunk, and tongue-teases the final droplets from a tilted bottle of cheap wine. She knocks over a lamp and falls down. Another woman appears, and reveals herself as a bratty daughter. She won't help her mother get off the floor. Later, we learn the very beautiful young blonde is Tina Ivlev (as Ashley Tralman) and her alcoholic single mother is Michelle Clunie (as Tina). As the credits roll, we switch to a campus setting in the Los Angeles area. High school seniors Brittany Underwood (as Jade Thompson) and Lexi Ainsworth (as Sara Cowan) are best friends forever (BFF). Into their Spanish language classroom struts Ms. Ivlev. She is attracted to Ms. Underwood and quickly maneuvers herself into the BFF twosome. Very quickly, the three have formed the "Death Clique" of the title and we wait to see who is going to die, if anyone...This story, written by Barbara Kymlicka and directed by Doug Campbell is supposedly "Inspired by true events." Hopefully, anyone connected to the actual individuals who "inspired" this TV movie have received apologies. The crime does not ring true...Of the main cast, Ms. Ainsworth does the best; helped by her smaller stature and youthful looks, she is able to appear convincing. Ivlev resembles a young Michelle Phillips with Faye Dunaway's attitude; she needs a star-making role. Underwood does her best with the part. Dependable mom Barbara Alyn Woods (as Lana) is routine but effective. Of the minor cast, Connors' Clayton and Weil are well-cast. The scene where Mr. Weil tries to undo Ainsworth's jeans is most memorable. Weil wiping her kiss off his mouth to end the scene was a nice touch. Director Campbell also helps the young women send subtle Lesbian signals; other than one bed scene, it's too shy for the millennium. And, there is no getting over the inadequacies herein. When police detectives walk into a classroom to make arrests, instead of having an administrator call suspects discreetly, you just have to laugh at the absurdity of it all.*** Death Clique (4/12/2014) Doug Campbell ~ Tina Ivlev, Brittany Underwood, Lexi Ainsworth, Barbara Alyn Woods

Not a bad movie at all. It started pretty cheesy then ended up catching my attention and it kept me interested. It was predictable at times but the emotional side of this movie is what kept me watching. I felt so sorry for the victim's (sara) family. Sara's mother played her part very well. So did the victim's friend. I could put myself in the characters' shoes therefore the acting was pretty good overall. This movie upset me as I found it to be very realistic. Not many movies make me cry, but this one sure did. Definitely worth a watch.

There was some good acting here, and the movie moved along fine. In the end, though, I was left disappointed that the movie was too "based on a true story" to be good fiction, but too fictionalized to be a good docudrama. It kinda slipped into the crack in between.Tina Ivlev is absurdly sexy, but her character here is so obviously psycho that it's hard to even try to warm up to her. Right from the start she's disturbingly flippant and manipulative. There's never a moment of horrifying realization for the audience, here; the outcome seems telegraphed from the very early going. With no mystery, it seems that the only thing we're watching to see is everybody's reactions to what we know is going to happen.Despite those and other flaws, the movie-making quality level is decent here, for the most part. It's really just the script that needed some work, I think. I give this 5/10 for being watchable but forgettable.What I did take away from this is that I will eagerly look forward to more from both Tina and Brittany, two lovely and talented young actresses. (If they make a movie about Helen Hunt's life, I vote Tina to play her. Eerie resemblance, IMO.)