It's hard to fully develop this type of movie in around 1hr 30mins run time but this movie does a decent enough job. You can see the evolution of an abusive relationship and see how it can be easy to misjudge what's in front of you. The one thing I would have wished took a bit longer was her to get out of the relationship. While some can get out quickly for most it takes time. I have no doubt that actually reading aloud signs of an abusive relationship can trigger a light bulb but it seems unrealistic that this was just so easy for the girl to say "yup we're done (when she meant it for real) and here's the reason why you're an abuser". I think the movie does shed some light on the issue though. The girl had her family to watch over her in the sense that they were aware of when her phone was going off, could tell she was distant with her friends, but was still accountable for her well-being. An adult on the other hand would not necessarily have this making the abusive relationship that much more dangerous.

When people say this movie was good "for a Lifetime movie" they mean it. There's a lot of substance to that statement since Lifetime network's films are so cookie-cutter that everyone comes back for another piece. But "Reviving Ophelia" was seriously different. The story focuses not only on the girl being abused (and reluctant to reject the relationship) but also a second character who has her own share of troubles, difference being that this one has the clarity to realize that her cousin needs help. Rebecca Williams is really, really great as Elizabeth (aka "Ophelia"; Shakespeare reference) because of how real she seems. The kind of viewer I am, I get mad at characters who, say, allow themselves to get abused and STILL stay in the relationship; but Williams's portrayal made sense and made me understand what some women endure. I don't reread books or re-watch movies but for some reason I DVR'd this flick and watched it again. Definitely watch if you're into a drama w/ a solid plot and believable characters/actors.

This is one excellent movie. The characters have been stretched from real life people towards easily recognizable stereotypes that create an emotional tension which invites audience participation (what would you do?) and which heightens the issues and of teenage infatuation, 'love' as ownership, being overly agreeable as an unworkable position, and the traps that girls fall into by caring too much (among others).The writers were women, so the characterization of the female characters was outstanding, but they clearly don't understand the emotional conflicts experienced by males (who does, actually?), so the male acting was unpotentiated which, if it had been with more emotional beef would have made this a first class movie.

I HATED the way that Kelly and her mom were treated by Lizzie and her mom. It was obvious from the start that Lizzie thought she was better than her cousin and her mother thought she was better than Kelly's mom. Several references to this throughout the movie. And through it all, Kelly was still kind to Lizzie and her mother was still kind of Marie. Even when Marie said that she must be happy to learn that her daughter (Lizzie) is even more screwed up than Kelly, Kelly's mom didn't say anything. Sorry, but you don't treat family like that. The rivalry between the girls I can understand, but between their mothers? Too much for my taste.Also, the actor who played Mark wasn't the best actor.Other than that, I thought it was a good movie, an important one.