On July 6, 2024, Lifetime premiered ‘Amish Affair’, which has received a mixed reception from critics. In the film, Aaron, a married Amish man, embarks on an affair with Hannah, who decides to end it out of fear. When his wife dies suspiciously, she must work to clear her name. The ensemble cast includes Ryan McPartlin, Mackenzie Cardwell, Sebastian Greaves, Evelyn Burke, MaeMae Renfrow, and Georgia Waters. But what did the critics have to say?
Ishani Yadav of Meaww.com praises the film, stating that the film’s “masterfully weaves a compelling narrative that captivates audiences from start to finish. The film stars Mackenzie Cardwell as Hannah, a young woman who finds herself entangled in a secret and forbidden relationship with Aaron, portrayed by Ryan McPartlin, a prominent Amish leader. The film expertly explores the dynamics of their relationship, which blossoms amidst the serene backdrop of Amish life but takes a dark turn following the mysterious death of Aaron's ailing wife. Cardwell delivers a standout performance as Hannah, embodying the character’s vulnerability and determination.” Concluding, “Her portrayal of a woman wrongfully accused of murder and navigating the complexities of Amish culture to clear her name is both heartfelt and riveting. McPartlin's depiction of Aaron adds depth to the story, showcasing the internal struggle between his duties and forbidden desires. The film's strength lies in its ability to maintain suspense while providing a nuanced look into the Amish way of life. The cinematography beautifully captures the simplicity and tranquility of the Amish community, contrasting starkly with the intense and emotional storyline.”
Patrick Serrano of Lifetime Uncorked recommends the film, but goes into detail about the plot so only open the link if you want spoilers.
Maddy Casale of Decider writes, “Sebastian Greaves is an unsung hero as Jacob due to his full commitment to this performance, especially when he busted out some Dance Dance Revolution moves in the middle of broad daylight outside to utter silence. That was genuinely the most memorable of the movie for me, so how can I not give Greaves some extra points for that?” Adding, “Never in my life have I seen butter churning used as a seduction technique until now. It was certainly memorable, though definitely uncomfortable. Moments like that and Jacob’s Dance Dance Revolution demonstration and a sort of weird fixation on ice cream (Hannah’s “guilty pleasure” that pops up just often enough you have to wonder if this movie was sponsored by a vanilla ice cream company) make you wonder if the point of this movie is to poke fun at the Amish.”
Chuck Duncan of hotchka.com notes, “After the success of Amish Stud, it was inevitable that Lifetime would delve back into the land of the Amish and the network is certainly hoping that Amish Affair will bring them more ratings gold. They really should have thought the title through though, and turned this into a franchise of ‘Amish Stud’ movies with a new hunky actor playing the latest stud. Ryan McPartlin certainly fits the bill. It’s almost as if this role was created just for him … because he’s also the film’s executive producer.” Continuing, “Amish Affair is another of what Lifetime calls a ‘Ripped from the Headlines’ movie inspired by actual events, but it also comes with the disclaimer that all of the characters and incidents portrayed are a work of fiction. This could be any affair gone wrong story with Amish people substituted for the real folks involved because who doesn’t want to see a juicy, Amish forbidden love and murder story? The facts of Amish Stud, on the other hand, were very easy to verify, and according to some media reporting on the current film, its story is basically a reworking of Amish Stud. No wonder it all feels so familiar.”
looks interesting
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