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The Hillsdale Adoption Scam

DramaThriller

When a young pregnant woman flees an abusive relationship in the middle of the night, a grieving couple takes her in, propelling their family on the adoption journey from hell.

Year

2023

Duration

1h 28m

IMDb

5.2

Hero Poster

Cast

Asia Youngman

Director

Keshia Knight Pulliam

Bethany

Danika Frederick

Georgia Albright

Cast

Asia Youngman

Director

Keshia Knight Pulliam

Bethany

Danika Frederick

Georgia Albright

Michael Strickland

Terrence Hornby

David Tomlinson

Puck

SS

Solange Sookram

Desi

Lauren Cochrane

Carmen

LK

Leona Katambi

Mila

Saul Elias

Gavin

SO

Sarah-Lynne Otsuji

Worker

BL

Brittany Lagasse

Baby Store Worker

DF

Darren Felbel

Kyle Morgan

Ernie Pitts

Owen

MF

Megan Fry

Cynthia

Lois Brothers

Realtor

DH

Dustin Hames

Writer

Justin James

Writer

Trailer

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Comments

10 Comments

kimgsmanMay 29, 2023

Art by DjessMay 29, 2023

source: The Hillsdale Adoption Scam

graceburoko3May 25, 2023

Âk Ďê Ķáfťán BôýMay 23, 2023

This film scenario may be inspired by true events. But the way it unfolded left too many basic questions unanswered. Bethany and Terrence are a nice couple who desperately want to adopt a child. In the opening scene, the couple inexplicably have their little adopted boy Gavin taken away from them at the behest of the biological mother. The film never explained the circumstances of the original adoption of Gavin that should have stipulated that the biological parents could no longer lay claim to legal custody. Then, after experiencing the devastating loss of their little boy, Bethany and Terrence proceed to take into their home a complete stranger who is pregnant and apparently fleeing from an abusive boyfriend. Astonishingly, they pay for an apartment, purchase a car, hire a "midwife," and dole out $30,000 to the woman who makes only a verbal agreement to surrender the baby to them. The moment-to-moment action in this film simply made no sense. The filmmakers were attempting to spin a message about feelings of inadequacy and unfulfillment related to the inability to become pregnant, as expressed by both Bethany and Georgia. But even that message did not ring true in the current enlightened age where the inability to get pregnant is never defined as personal shortcoming. Another incomprehensible choice was when Bethany discovered that that Georgia was a phony and might have been previously involved in murder. But instead of reporting it to the police, she decided to confront Georgia personally...with nearly catastrophic consequences. While the film was well-acted, its structure and message were muddled and unclear. Bethany and Terrence were far too trusting and seemed too naive about the litigious nature of our world. They seemed incapable of recognizing that appearances can be deceiving. These adoption scam incidents appear to be rather common. The important message is not to rely on social media links for surrogates and to consult an attorney along with a bona fide adoption agency, prior to squandering thousands of dollars on a scammer.

christ guieMay 23, 2023

I get it was a set up for the movie, but the first time I watched, I totally missed the scene where the hubs explained that little Gavin was being taken from them. The opening family scene never gave a single clue that he was being adopted (fostered?) so it was jarring to see him disappear after that. He even looked like he could be their child. I remember asking myself "where is their son?" The scene explaining they were losing him happened so fast and I'm not even sure them being blindsided by it would even happen. As his adoptive parents, they would be aware of any legal proceedings having to do with Gavin so the way it played out took me for a loop. Also don't recall little Mila being told her brother was gone. I sympathized with Bethany but from that moment on (losing Gavin) every single decision was poor. Giving enough info to that mommy website for a band of criminals to find her...letting a stranger in when she had no idea why she was being chased, giving her money and a job... what could possibly go wrong? Just completely poor decision making. She and her husband had a preteen biological daughter and Gavin was maybe a year or so younger. They seemed settled into family life so why would they want a newborn? I'm probably never watching this again but I don't remember any explanation for that. I also don't remember that in spite of being chased out of her own home and other incidents, Bethany did not involve the police?! Idk if Lifetime actually used a true story here or if they just Googled and randomly picked one of the search results since I'm sure countless couples get caught up in adoption scams. This movie did the predictable Lifetime thing with kidnapping and attempted murder but imo it could have easily worked if they'd just stuck with the financial and emotional scam like the story this is allegedly based upon. Adding all the usual elements cheapens it (stop laughing) and takes away from the fact that vulnerable couples do get preyed on like this. Not to mention the title made me expect more of this movie. The end scene was by far the best scene of the whole movie. Very heartwarming and wholesome. I'm glad they thought to close that loop. Watchable at least once. So far for 2023, the best Lifetime/LMN movies are Spinning Out of Control, How to Murder Your Husband, and A Rose for Her Grave.

charmimi🌺🌺May 23, 2023

This is a movie you want to see blindfolded and with the sound off. But man oh man this is just amateur hour. I've seen better films on the dollar rental shelf back in the 90s. One word to describe this movie is 'horrible.' Seriously though, who funds this garbage? The "plot" is allegorical and so basic. Why do films like this even get made? How do scripts like this get financed? Black mail? I don't get it. There are other parts where you will just shake your head and ask: Why? Bad directing. Bad cinematography. Really bad acting. Boring plot with excessive dialog. That about sums it up. If you want to waste your time, and I mean waste it to the point that there is not a single net benefit, this is your movie.

user167812433396Apr 6, 2023

I get it was a set up for the movie, but the first time I watched, I totally missed the scene where the hubs explained that little Gavin was being taken from them. The opening family scene never gave a single clue that he was being adopted (fostered?) so it was jarring to see him disappear after that. He even looked like he could be their child. I remember asking myself "where is their son?" The scene explaining they were losing him happened so fast and I'm not even sure them being blindsided by it would even happen. As his adoptive parents, they would be aware of any legal proceedings having to do with Gavin so the way it played out took me for a loop. Also don't recall little Mila being told her brother was gone. I sympathized with Bethany but from that moment on (losing Gavin) every single decision was poor. Giving enough info to that mommy website for a band of criminals to find her...letting a stranger in when she had no idea why she was being chased, giving her money and a job... what could possibly go wrong? Just completely poor decision making. She and her husband had a preteen biological daughter and Gavin was maybe a year or so younger. They seemed settled into family life so why would they want a newborn? I'm probably never watching this again but I don't remember any explanation for that. I also don't remember that in spite of being chased out of her own home and other incidents, Bethany did not involve the police?! Idk if Lifetime actually used a true story here or if they just Googled and randomly picked one of the search results since I'm sure countless couples get caught up in adoption scams. This movie did the predictable Lifetime thing with kidnapping and attempted murder but imo it could have easily worked if they'd just stuck with the financial and emotional scam like the story this is allegedly based upon. Adding all the usual elements cheapens it (stop laughing) and takes away from the fact that vulnerable couples do get preyed on like this. Not to mention the title made me expect more of this movie. The end scene was by far the best scene of the whole movie. Very heartwarming and wholesome. I'm glad they thought to close that loop. Watchable at least once. So far for 2023, the best Lifetime/LMN movies are Spinning Out of Control, How to Murder Your Husband, and A Rose for Her Grave.

Jayzam ManabatMar 30, 2023

This is a movie you want to see blindfolded and with the sound off. But man oh man this is just amateur hour. I've seen better films on the dollar rental shelf back in the 90s. One word to describe this movie is 'horrible.' Seriously though, who funds this garbage? The "plot" is allegorical and so basic. Why do films like this even get made? How do scripts like this get financed? Black mail? I don't get it. There are other parts where you will just shake your head and ask: Why? Bad directing. Bad cinematography. Really bad acting. Boring plot with excessive dialog. That about sums it up. If you want to waste your time, and I mean waste it to the point that there is not a single net benefit, this is your movie.

sizwes_loungeMar 26, 2023

This film scenario may be inspired by true events. But the way it unfolded left too many basic questions unanswered. Bethany and Terrence are a nice couple who desperately want to adopt a child. In the opening scene, the couple inexplicably have their little adopted boy Gavin taken away from them at the behest of the biological mother. The film never explained the circumstances of the original adoption of Gavin that should have stipulated that the biological parents could no longer lay claim to legal custody. Then, after experiencing the devastating loss of their little boy, Bethany and Terrence proceed to take into their home a complete stranger who is pregnant and apparently fleeing from an abusive boyfriend. Astonishingly, they pay for an apartment, purchase a car, hire a "midwife," and dole out $30,000 to the woman who makes only a verbal agreement to surrender the baby to them. The moment-to-moment action in this film simply made no sense. The filmmakers were attempting to spin a message about feelings of inadequacy and unfulfillment related to the inability to become pregnant, as expressed by both Bethany and Georgia. But even that message did not ring true in the current enlightened age where the inability to get pregnant is never defined as personal shortcoming. Another incomprehensible choice was when Bethany discovered that that Georgia was a phony and might have been previously involved in murder. But instead of reporting it to the police, she decided to confront Georgia personally...with nearly catastrophic consequences. While the film was well-acted, its structure and message were muddled and unclear. Bethany and Terrence were far too trusting and seemed too naive about the litigious nature of our world. They seemed incapable of recognizing that appearances can be deceiving. These adoption scam incidents appear to be rather common. The important message is not to rely on social media links for surrogates and to consult an attorney along with a bona fide adoption agency, prior to squandering thousands of dollars on a scammer.

Heart EvangelistaMar 25, 2023

This film scenario may be inspired by true events. But the way it unfolded left too many basic questions unanswered. Bethany and Terrence are a nice couple who desperately want to adopt a child. In the opening scene, the couple inexplicably have their little adopted boy Gavin taken away from them at the behest of the biological mother. The film never explained the circumstances of the original adoption of Gavin that should have stipulated that the biological parents could no longer lay claim to legal custody. Then, after experiencing the devastating loss of their little boy, Bethany and Terrence proceed to take into their home a complete stranger who is pregnant and apparently fleeing from an abusive boyfriend. Astonishingly, they pay for an apartment, purchase a car, hire a "midwife," and dole out $30,000 to the woman who makes only a verbal agreement to surrender the baby to them. The moment-to-moment action in this film simply made no sense. The filmmakers were attempting to spin a message about feelings of inadequacy and unfulfillment related to the inability to become pregnant, as expressed by both Bethany and Georgia. But even that message did not ring true in the current enlightened age where the inability to get pregnant is never defined as personal shortcoming. Another incomprehensible choice was when Bethany discovered that that Georgia was a phony and might have been previously involved in murder. But instead of reporting it to the police, she decided to confront Georgia personally...with nearly catastrophic consequences. While the film was well-acted, its structure and message were muddled and unclear. Bethany and Terrence were far too trusting and seemed too naive about the litigious nature of our world. The more important message was that they were simply too trusting and unwilling to acknowledge that appearances can be deceiving. These adoption scam incidents appear to be rather common. The important message is not to rely on social media links for surrogates and to consult an attorney along with a bona fide adoption agency, prior to squandering thousands of dollars on a scammer.