User Reviews

This is best viewed after watching Lifetime's other productions of the Dollanganger series adaptations from the VC Andrews novels. Like the book itself (Garden of Shadows), the impact of Flowers in the Attic (Book or film) will be lessened if this is watched first. It is a story that is written in retrospect. With that said, this lifetime series is probably better constructed and more heavily funded than the Lifetime adaptations that come later in the timeline. It's competent, compelling, and well-scripted material, even as watered down with a PG rating. Hannah Dodd as young Corrine fits a spitting image of Lifetime's future Corrine as Heather Graham. Honestly, it comes down to this: The VC Andrews source material is fantasticly dark, but also very mature, and will probably never get the on-screen justice it deserves. This is the closest any studio has come to re-creating it on film. Until an MA or R rated version of all this material is made, and a network is willing to fund a complete season per novel, this is the best there is and it is pretty good all things considered. At this point, Lifetime is way ahead of the game on VCA adaptations, so might as well just keep sticking with this working formula.

It's a nightmarish glimpse into what life was like for women in the early 1900s. Jemima Rooper's performance connects you to fear. I watch scary movies often, I have never been so scared for a fictional character. Max Irons is scary as Malcolm Foxworth, a dressed-to-kill predator capable of creepily deluding his victim into a false sense of security. The talented ensemble created a jaw-dropping atmosphere that feels scary and mysterious. After watching this first episode, I am unsure of my feelings toward the future Olivia and what she eventually will do to her grandchildren. What she did was unforgivable, but will I be more empathetic towards who she will become? Flowers In The Attic: Origins is a well-told story that only requires me to sit back and listen.

As always, if you made it this far, thanks for reading, and if you watch this series, let me know what you think.

Keep it interesting, Stay Channel Surfing!

Damian at TalkTeaV.

They made it "super woke" because people didn't behave like or speak like this back when it's supposed to take place. I don't remember the gay plot line in the books. Even the words they say it's so 2022. But it works. It's still entertaining and the girl who plays Corrine is gorgeous.

Love that Lifetime did "The Origin" - I read this series years ago and it makes me want to reread them AND it brought me to start watching Lifetime movies which I am NOW hooked on, lol This movie series is done so well, it is dark and twisted with lots of drama. I find myself oddly understanding and feeling sorry for Grandmother - how is this happening. Haha A must watch for people who love drama, suspenseful dark films.

Read the FITA series and all the VC Andrews stories growing up. Loved them! Was soooo disappointed with the FITA heather gram series. HG IS AWFUL. The actor who played Kathy AWFUL. But the origin story series was actually surprisingly good!! Acting so much better. And did a great job showing how grandmother's disturbing behavior came to be.

Please have THIS cast remake the FITA series so there is continuity with the set/house and characters.

I too grew up on these amazing books of V. C. Andrews. The prequel is even better than the OG that appeared on Lifetime. Damn, near perfection with the high regard of consistency throughout this 4 episode series..Well done Lifetime. Max Irons was phenomenally intoxicating as Malcolm, all because of his good genes Jeremy Irons.

It is a shame to think that many people might skip this ambitious effort by Lifetime, thinking it will be one of their run-of-the-mill efforts, particularly their uneven adaptations of other books in the series. I first sampled it out of curiosity, thinking it could be some goofy, light summer fare. However, I was pleasantly surprised that this miniseries was shockingly good. I am as shocked as I would be had the Hallmark Channel has suddenly put something out that was of the same quality as THE THORN BIRDS. The acting, script, direction and design is excellent, and I believe this is worthy of Emmy nominations--this must have four times the budget of the typical Lifetime effort. This was a delicious, epic, fun ride through some gothic territory and well worth your time, particularly if you were a fan of the book series. If only they could give FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC and PETALS ON THE WIND (the two best books in the series) this much time and budget to tell their spellbinding stories.

The twists and turns and family secrets (and forbidden affairs) are (on paper) as campy as it comes, but what makes this miniseries work is that everything is played straight when a lesser adaptation of VC Andrews' gothic novel "Garden of Shadows" (now called Flowers in the Attic: The Origin for the TV version) might have played it tongue in cheek. The earnestness works and the series expands upon the book by filling in blanks and showing more of the characters' motivations than the novel did. While the acting is slightly uneven at times, the performances generally work, particularly for the characters of Olivia, Nella (a character created specifically for the series), and young Corrine (who bears a striking resemblance to Heather Graham but delivers a better performance than Heather did playing an older version of the same character in the adaptation of Flowers in the Attic several years ago). The writing is clever and the direction and editing are often extremely suspenseful and sometimes haunting and scary. If your mind is open to watching and going along for the ride of a true old-fashioned miniseries family saga within the genre of "The Thorn Birds" and other popular miniseries from the 80s, then you won't be disappointed. Flowers in the Attic: The Origin is the most well-produced, twisted, and fun adaptation of a VC Andrews novel to date.

I really really enjoyed this! I really hope they remake the 2014 Flowers In The Attic lifetime movie in the style of FITA:The Origin! All of my friends love it and have watched it and we all really want them to redo the original series! The writing in this is SOOO much better than the VC Andrews books and they fill so many plot holes. Absolutely 10/10.

Lifetime did their thang with Flowers in The Attic The Origin (Garden of Shadows). I have been a fan of VC Andrews since I was a young girl. I read Heaven in fourth grade probably shouldn't have been reading her novels at that age but this author introduced me to the world of reading and I've been hooked every since. I almost did cart wheels when I found out that Lifetime was doing films of all VC Andrews books, but sadly I was disappointed. The casteel series is my favorite series from VC Andrews and Lifetime butchered it! I don't think I even got through Heaven. I didn't bother to watch the rest of the series. One day I had the television on basically watching me while I was reading and Their version of Flowers in the Attic was playing and boy oh boy was it good!! I really enjoyed it almost better then the original. So I decided to watch the dollanger series.. petals in the wind was just bland nothing like the book. If there be thorns was awesome and they stuck to the book which was great. I haven't watched seeds of yesterday because I'm nervous it would be a waste of time because besides the casteels series, seeds of yesterday is my favorite book. It always makes me cry every time I read it and I know Lifetime is not going to be able to do seeds of yesterday justice. I will watch it in due time. Flowers in the Attic the Orgin I must say is the best lifetime adaptation of VC Andrews books. Lifetime must've put some money in this one. The settings, clothing, characters was all on point! Loving it!! The film adaption did add extra plots in the movie but they were actually entertaining and welcomed so I didn't mind. Thank you Lifetime for finally getting it right! Now can you please redo The Casteel series??? Seriously we owe Heaven more than what we were given.

I stuck with it til the end. It was truly awful. The acting was wooden and deviated so far from the book to be almost unrecognisable.

In the film Flowers in the Attic (the original) the actress playing Olivia was perfect (she was also brilliant as Nurse Ratched). This potrayal of Olivia was just wrong. I also noticed that Malcolm said Foxworth Hall didn't have electricity yet there were table lamps that were obviously electric ones. Max Irons' accent was dreadful and kept slipping. It has been a few years since I last read the book but I don't remember the Nella/Celia plotline, was that added just to throw some diversity into the series?

I haven't seen The Flowers in the Attic series yet, so when this came out I decided to start with it. It is riveting. There are so many fingers in this movie, that it keeps you looking around the corner for the next "surprise". The actors do an amazing and hauntingly convincing job as their character's continue to grown and change. Throughly enjoyed this series.

Lifetime absolutely did a HUGE disservice to this series. It's one thing to deviate here and there, but they added parts to the sorry that are no where in the book. They hardly captured the true essence of Olivia and Malcom's relationship.

This series straight botched the book. Definitely a slap in the face the readers of flowers in the attic.

Absolutely love the acting, story and characters. So well done. Never did an IMDB review before but could not resist. Brilliant. Lifetime this time you have outdone yourself.

Absolutely loved this limited series!!!! The cast was superb & the story kept me on my toes the whole time. We need more of the story with this cast! I really hope they will make another limited series or better yet a full series. I was torn that it was only 4 episodes. When it ended I was so wanting more. This story is captivating! I highly recommend it! Definitely binge worthy!

Start off by saying the cast is phenomenal! Such great villains, well played. Loved the way the story illustrates the beginning of why the Mrs Foxworth was cold and bitter and how Corrine grew up. Mr Foxworth hands down my favorite.

Not bad but one of the worst edited series I've ever seen on TV. Jump cuts that make no sense, whole story lines ( daughter going to ball and becoming pregnant,) that are covered in two scenes. I kept rewinding thinking I missed something!

15 yr old daughter played by a 27 yr old actress!?

And may I add, the music is awful!!

But in true Lifetime Channel form, very entertaining!!

Absolutely Brilliant , A rollercoaster, Loved it.

Well acted and lots going on, you have to pause to get cup of tea.

One of the better Drama this year.

And sadly not in a good way, in fact the only thing worse than his portrayal of Malcolm Foxworth was his sad and failed attempt at that flailing accent hahaha seriously, how was he able to get this part doing such a mediocre job at it? Was there no audition for it? Or was it like a favor? There's no other explanation for his performance ending up the one they chose. Other than that it's a pretty entertaining series telling the origin of an iconic story. As a fan of 2014's Flowers In The Attic and Petals On The Wind, I was pretty satisfied with this one even if was a little long and I got a little bored sometimes, but as Olivia herself said it better: the best kind of revenge takes time hahah A solid 8 out of 10.