VC Andrews’ Dawn Part Four: Midnight Whispers – Christie (Megan Best) says she can’t believe she is about to be 16. Her mother is running Cutler’s Cove like clockwork and she seems happy. Christie wants to make her mother proud so she is adamant that she’ll play at Carnegie Hall one day. Dawn (Brec Bassinger) interrupts to tell her that brunch has been served. Christie wants to continue practicing, but Dawn says she can’t skip birthday brunch. Jimmy (Khobe Clarke) tells her that her fingers are turning into piano keys. They share a toast before celebrating Christie’s Sweet Sixteen. Bronson Alcott (Matthew James Dowden) arrives outside.

His wife, Laura Jean, recently passed away from a stroke. Trisha (Corey Woods) is the next to arrive. Jimmy’s half-brother, Gavin Longchamp, arrives on a motorcycle. They’re also expecting Fern who will be a handful. Mrs. Boston (Tanja Dixon-Warren) tells Christie that Dawn wants her to go back to the house to get ready. Philip (Dane Schioler) is shown exiting the employee-only room. Betty (Chelsey Reist) tries to get into the room only to find it locked. She questions what Philip is hiding. Dawn tells Christie that she needs her to hear the truth. She begins telling her daughter about Michael Sutton who left her pregnant and alone. Dawn explains that Lillian banished her to The Meadows where she learned about the curse that taints their family.

Jimmy interrupts to ask them about his suit. Then, they celebrate Christie’s birthday. Philip approaches Dawn to ask her to dance with him. As they dance, Philip tells her she is beautiful. Dawn asks him to stop because his wife is standing nearby. When Betty walks out, Dawn pushes Philip away. Once Betty manages to enter Philip’s private room, she finds many pictures of Dawn on the wall. She rips the picture of them together in half and begins screaming. Bronson speaks to Christie about how he is keeping busy. Trisha speaks to her as well. She invites Christie to New York so she can introduce her around. Some of the girls ask Christie about Gavin (Emrik Lopez). She says they grew up together and started hanging out last summer.

Fern begins yelling for Christie. She tries to pull Christie away until Gavin comes over and says Christie is dancing with him. They go outside where they talk about Fern being high or drunk all the time. Gavin tells Christie to be careful because she has been fixated on her lately. They end up kissing. Dawn finds out that Philip has consumed too much alcohol and he wants to dance with her. Jimmy interrupts and tells Philip to step away from his wife. In the bedroom, Dawn tells Jimmy that she could use another day off. Christie joins them in bed. Jimmy gets a call and learns that the boiler is broken again. He thinks he can fix it. Philip finds out that Betty ruined his pictures so he begins choking her. She asks if he is sure she is the one who did this.

Philip sees Jimmy walking by and decides to go after him with a makeshift weapon. Betty hears Philip arguing with him seconds later. She hears several thumps before seeing Philip walking away alone and the gas hissing. Mrs. Boston asks Dawn if she can smell gas. Dawn tells her that they need to get the guest out of there. She goes down to the boiler and finds Jimmy wounded on the floor. Before long, there is an explosion. Christie runs up to Aunt Bets outside to ask about her mom and dad, but Betty won’t say anything about them. When they speak to Philip, he says it was all a mistake and it wasn’t his fault. Philip believes Dawn was in there with him. They hear another explosion behind them. Later, they have a funeral for Dawn and Jimmy since they died together.

Fern shows up and it looks like she might be stoned. Gavin tells Christie that Aunt Bets is telling everyone they’re moving in there with her. He gives her ideas for getting away from them since she doubts they’ll ever leave. Betty interrupts to remind them they’re supposed to be helping the guests. Christie complains about them moving in only to learn that Betty and Philip are going to be her legal guardians. Christie says she wants Jefferson and herself to live with Bronson. Betty reminds her that Bronson is a busy man so it isn’t possible. Christie tells Gavin about the Cutler curse and how it is different from the problems other families face. Fern comes over and tells Christie that she’ll inherit this place one day while she’ll get nothing.

Fern recommends partying now before the family curse catches up with her. Seconds later, Christie learns that they’re putting some of Jefferson’s things in storage. When she confronts Betty, she is told that they’re taking away Jefferson’s kiddy stuff because he is growing up. Betty says they need to support each other. She promises to come to Christie next time without talking to Uncle Philip. Christie is told to find out what things she wants to keep of her mother’s and they’ll get rid of the rest. During dinner, Betty says the place was messy so she has to disinfect everything. The kids begin belittling Christie and Jefferson by calling them white trash and other things.

Christie takes up for her parents before leaving the table with Jefferson. Philip approaches Christie later to talk about her piano skills until Betty interrupts. Betty says she heard about a school for music in Richmond. Christie doesn’t want to leave Jefferson who isn’t adjusting well. Betty tries to convince her to go. That night, Christie goes outside where she listens to Philip speaking to Dawn’s grave. He says he never meant for it to happen this way and he’ll watch after Christie. Betty catches her sneaking back in so Christie says going for a walk calms her nerves. Betty accuses her of being a tramp and tells her that she won’t leave the house without her permission.

Christie suspects this is more about her drunk husband blathering on about her mother. Betty slaps her. Philip asks what is going on before Christie goes upstairs. Philip comes to Christie’s bed later and says he doesn’t want her going to bed unhappy. He will speak to Betty. Philip begins touching her leg. Christie urges him to go away since they can talk about it tomorrow. She eventually knees him and flees. Aunt Bets hears him telling Christie that he only wants her. Christie realizes that she needs to get them out of there. Jefferson learns that they’re going to New York. Christie tells him about Michael Sutton who is her birth father. They go to New York and begin looking for Michael Sutton.

Michael (Joey McIntyre) is surprised to see Christie. He tells Stella that Christie is his daughter. Michael learns about Dawn and Jimmy’s deaths. They talk about money with Michael saying family can be treacherous when money is involved. He believes she’ll need someone to have her back. Michael hopes she wasn’t expecting to stay there because it isn’t big enough. Christie explains that she only wanted to meet him. After he gives them some money, Michael warns them that New York isn’t safe for them. Once they leave, Christie tells Jefferson that they need a phone booth because she has an idea. She tries to call Trisha only to find that she is out of town. Then, she calls Gavin to tell him that they’re stuck in New York.

She admits it has been a big mistake to leave. Gavin tells her to stay put because he is coming. Once he gets there, he gets them snacks. He hopes Christie has a plan because he doesn’t and his parents don’t know where he is. She thought her birth father would be able to help but he can’t. Gavin questions why Philip came to his house looking for her. Christie says he’d run away if he is smart because everything this family touches turns rotten. She suggests staying at The Meadows until Bronson gets back. Gavin has enough money to get them there. Luther greets them when they arrive. Luther shows them that the electricity works now before leaving to get Charlotte. She is happy to see them. Once they sit down and eat, Christie tells Charlotte (Bronwen Smith) and Luther (Dean Redman) how her parents died.

Christie says they needed a break so they decided to come there. When Jefferson says he doesn’t have PJs, Charlotte says they can get the clothes from the trunks in the attic tomorrow. Christie thanks Gavin for helping them before he pulls out a t-shirt for her to wear. Later, Christie grabs a gun from the wall and screams when she sees someone pass by the window. Gavin comes in and tries to calm her down. Once he takes the gun, he gets her into bed. In the morning, Charlotte tells Christie that their neighbor’s child, Homer, was outside last night. They found him abandoned in the fields. Charlotte tells Christie about her mother and father. He allegedly lost The Meadows in a poker game.

He swapped Lillian for the farm. Charlotte offers to show Christie the bad room. She explains it is where her mother birthed her. Emily locked them up there. Charlotte shows Christie Ruby who was given to her by Emily when she lost her baby. Christie believes someone is outside. Later, they get clothes from the attic. She asks Charlotte why Lillian had her mother locked up there. Although it is second-hand information, Charlotte says Lillian couldn’t stand the sight of Dawn. She reminded her of things she preferred not to think about. Bill Cutler was Dawn’s father. Lillian caught her husband in bed violating Laura Jean. Once it is time for tea, Charlotte tells Christie that she can look around.

Christie is shocked when Homer shows up behind her. She speaks to him before bringing him downstairs. Christie notices a birthmark on Homer’s neck. She speaks to Luther about it later and says she knows Homer is Luther and Charlotte’s son. Luther explains how the neighbors ended up with the boy. Later that night, Christie speaks to Gavin about how they used to sneak out. Christie wants Gavin to be there for her. She is worried when she sees Philip’s car nearby. They go inside and find out that it is Morton. Fern asks where she has been. Christie tells Luther that it is Fern and her latest boyfriend. Fern interrupts. She tells Christie that Philip showed up at her dorm looking for her. He even offered her money to tell him where Christie was.

Fern tries to pressure her into giving them a day of R&R. Otherwise, she’ll tell Philip where she is. Christie starts pampering him. Fern suspects she has a good reason to be angry and Philip put the moves on her. She tells Christie that she could’ve told her. Fern tells her to get mean because the good little girl routine isn’t going to work anymore. When Luther complains about Fern having them running around, Christie tells him that she is supposed to leave tomorrow. They find Fern threatening to throw Ruby out of the window. She throws it to Morton who throws it back up to her. Homer brings Fern and the baby outside. They try to convince Homer to let Ruby go. Once he does, Morton says they should get out of there and go to the beach house.

Fern wants Christie to play for them first. When Gavin checks on Jefferson, he finds that he is burning up. Luther worries it might be tetanus since he was cut by a rusted nail earlier. Fern and Morton finally leave as the others prepare to rush Jefferson to the hospital. While they wait for news, Christie complains that she didn’t even realize he was hurt. The doctor confirms Jefferson is responding well to the treatment. She isn’t happy when she sees Philip nearby. He tells Christie that she’d be in juvenile hall if he didn’t tell them she is a decent girl. When she goes back with him, she is told that Jefferson died. Richard is lying and the boy is okay. Christie ends up slapping Betty and saying she heard what happened the night Philip came into her room.

Christie finds herself locked in her room moments later. Philip comes in seconds later to say Jefferson is being flown in tonight. Later, she comes down and learns that Philip wants to have a special night tonight. Christie wants to go to the hospital. Philip says he is so proud to be her boyfriend. He begins calling her Dawn and pushes her against the wall. Christie knocks him down and kicks him a few times. She goes to Bronson and tells him what happened. He says he’ll take care of her for as long as necessary. They go back and find the police there. Christie tells the police that Philip is the one while he keeps calling her Dawn. Betty gets upset and tells the police about Philip killing Jimmy. Philip is taken away by police.

Later, Christie celebrates going to Juilliard.

 

Midnight Whispers Review

Although each part of VC Andrews’ Dawn has been decent, Midnight Whispers wasn’t as hard-hitting as the previous three. The performances were slightly better although some are still shaky. The movies still feel a bit too modern, but that is understandable since the stories are being adapted for a modern audience.

While this part wasn’t bad, it seemed a little dull in places and only picked up towards the end. For the final part of the limited series, it was slightly disappointing. After all, it is hard to know where the series will go from here. There wasn’t really a definite ending although that may be an issue with the books as well.

As a whole, the Cutler saga wasn’t bad though and most of the parts were enjoyable. With a little more finesse, Lifetime could do even better with the works of VC Andrews. Midnight Whispers scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of VC Andrews Dawn can be found on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising on Reel Mockery here.