Lil Mama on the red carpet before a private screening of TV One’s When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story (Photo: Gino Terrell).
This author first saw this movie at a private screening in 2017 at a journalism convention. Its entertainment value still holds and it’s one I revisit every now and then.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die actress Tasha Smith made her feature film directorial debut with TV One’s When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story. Similar to Showgirls (1995) and Ice Cube’s remake, The Players Club (1998), this coming of age story is told through the lens of a young, naïve lady working as an exotic dancer.
When Love Kills is based on the true story of Falicia Blakely with a disclaimer that fictional characters and situations may have been added to further the drama in this thriller. Lil Mama plays the titular character, who is a teen trying to get out of her alcoholic mother’s (Tammy Roman) house to raise her daughter. The exotic dancer runs into a high-rolling pimp named Dino (Lance Gross) and from there things take a turn for Falicia.
Somewhat delusional, she doesn’t realize the dangerous game Dino has dragged her into. Not only does he now “manage” Falicia’s money but his manipulation tactics push Falicia to the edge. That edge includes her committing armed burglaries on his behalf. Falicia gets addicted to the rush and the idea of what Dino told her: “We can be the next Bonnie and Clyde.”
This film is definitely worth a watch to see how far Falicia falls down this rabbit hole. The cast does a great job starting with the leading lady in Lil Mama, the rapper and singer best known for “Lip Gloss.” She puts on a stellar performance portraying Falicia. She’s supported by a cast that includes four-time NAACP Image Awards winning-actor Gross and Roman, the Basketball Wives reality television personality. Actress Tiffany Black is cast as Pumpkin, Falicia’s partner in crime.
It’s one of those films where you can’t help but scream at the screen when watching the protagonist. As the phrase goes, hindsight is 20/20.
About the author
Gino is a journalist, actor, and filmmaker. This photog's snapshot of Lauren Jauregui, published in Idol Features, placed third for Best Action Photography at the 2020 National Arts & Entertainment Awards (via LA Press Club). Telly 26 is where he directed and executive produced short film "Club City." He also starred in DROELOE's "Only Be Me" music video.
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