After Noelle Parker left "Sisters" she immediately filmed this TV movie, an enjoyable thriller that's been repeated many times since, and is available for sale on video. The character she plays is a change of pace for her: shy and demure, and totally inexperienced with men, leaving her vulnerable to their manipulation. Usually she shows us the inner desires and the vulnerable side of tougher characters, but here she convincingly illustrates the inverse of that: a sweet and engaging person who's undone by her low self-esteem and a lack of self-understanding.
Though this movie's title is rather generic, its story draws its strength from a lively cast taken primarily from the world of situation comedies, and a sense of warmth and humor that's wrapped around a very dark and disturbing tale. What looks like a standard murder mystery is also a metaphoric portrayal of incestuous abuse.
"A Kiss So Deadly" was directed by Chuck Bowman, who's seen above in a brief moment from "Spin City", heckling the mayor and his deputy (he was credited as Chuck Bunting). Bowman went on to direct episodes of "Sheena", for Steven Sears, former writer for "Xena", and an old hand at comic sexual subtext. Monica Parker (no known relation to Noelle--she's an actress and writer, but doesn't resemble her) produced, and worked on the story with Nevin Schreiner, who's written a number of mysteries involving families. Parker has written and starred in comedies, giving this film a lighter touch than it normally might have. All this leads me to believe that a conscious decision was made to deal with a serious subject by playing satirically with the usual melodramatic tv movie conventions.
Much of the action is set around a beach condo, which looks very much like Florida, but is actually in a similar kind of area near Wilmington, North Carolina, where "Dawson's Creek" is also filmed. A number of actors from "Dawson" show up here, and listen closely to some of the supporting players and you'll hear southern accents.
The first thing we see are the two main characters, college girls Amanda and Catherine being stalked in public by some creepy guy, who looks like he might be a fellow student. They're weirded out, but quickly put it behind them. The next day, their summery roommate with a summery name, June (Noelle parker), hears the doorbell.
June goes to answer it. She yells out to Catherine "It's your dad again!!"
We've already seen him cruising on the way over in a red sports car. Yes, that's right: mid-life crisis time!
Tom Deese (Charles Shaughnessy, of "The Nanny"), Catherine's dad, has a habit of checking in on his little girl ever since she moved out into her own place. It's only been three months, but he's already made himself a fixture around there. While on his way to Catherine's room, he turns and sees Amanda (Charlotte Ross, currently on "NYPD Blue"--one episode was titled "Peeping Tommy"!), their new roommate. They recognize each other, so apparently they've met before, but not quite like this!
Tom: "Amanda! Uh, you're looking, uh, f-fit!"
Amanda: "Hello, Mr. Deese." She tosses him a coy look over her shoulder.
(Charles actually played Charlotte's father on "Days of Our Lives", reinforcing the incestuous subtext in this movie!)
Catherine greets her dad with exasperation. "What're you doing here?"
Tom: "I'm just exercising my fatherly prerogatives!"
Catherine: "It's been 3 months since I moved out of the house. You can't come by everyday to see how I'm doing!"
Tom: "Don't make me go cold turkey, Catherine!"
Catherine: "I know, I know, but--it's embarrassing."
Tom: "Embarrassing? But, come on. Embarrassing in front of who?"
Catherine is played by Dedee Pfeiffer (sister of Michelle) from "Cybil". Dedee will be doing a nude pictorial for Playboy magazine in February 2002:
(Watch yourself, Mr. Deese!)
 
In walks a fully-dressed Amanda. Quick! Can you tell the difference between the two? Same hair, outfits, height! Compared to June, they could be twins. Imagine the confusion poor Mr. Deese is feeling right now!
They mention last night's incident involving a stalker, but it's nothing they can't handle, says Catherine, as she walks out. Amanda looks Mr. Deese in the eye: "You know we can, girl!"
Tom runs a clothing factory (women's clothes?) called "Deese Designs" (an ominous company name that gives us a clue that he's generally up to no good), and the new line is coming out. That means lots of wining and dining with new clients. They meet up at the Marlin Bay Club for dinner, drinks, and a little guy talk. They tease Tom for checking with his wife on the phone. Tom tells them he's been happily married for 25 years! That's long enough for 6 marriages, they tell him. A waitress stops by (Nina Repeta, of "Dawson's Creek"), but she's not their waitress.
Their waitress just happens to be Amanda! Mr. Deese is flabbergasted, making his clients curious. "She's my daughter's new roommate," he tells them. "She's everybody's daughter's new roommate!" they reply.
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