User Reviews

This is a fairly engaging film in which a scheming assistant principal does whatever it takes while attempting to get herself promoted and make her daughter Homecoming Queen. Interestingly, the girl proves every bit as mischievous as her mother, and it's fascinating to follow not one, but two vixens throughout.

Spoilers follow:

The ending, however, is quite absurd. The police swoop in and simply arrest the mother; we never learn how they got proof, or even evidence, of the charges against her. Then the cops declare that they're arresting the daughter too, without any explanation of what she's charged with. Either something got edited out, or the creators got extremely lazy. Or, perhaps something needed to be edited out, just to give them time to produce an ending that would've made sense.

This film is a remake of a 2018 version. I awarded the earlier film three stars, and this new version receives the same score. While the storyline was revamped and the characters were different, the same theme was explored about the multi-generational obsession to be awarded Homecoming Queen in high school that appears to be the most important goal in life.

It was a mind-boggling stretch to believe that Lydia Campbell could have been given the job of vice-principal at the distinguished Troy High School in Los Angeles. Her references were not checked prior to hiring, and Lydia evidently did not even have to interview for the job!

If the interview had been conducted, it would have likely revealed Lydia's authoritarian side that clashed with the congenial culture of the school. Principal Alice Evans was a caring administrator, and the instructors, such as the history teacher Steve Lee, were equally dedicated.

The mother-and-daughter team of Lydia and Elle wreaked havoc on the school with false accusations about Kate Wheeler, Elle's biggest rival for homecoming queen. The most outrageous moment was the attempt of Lydia to run over Principal Alice with her SUV, so that Lydia could serve as principal. Lydia's conduct as a school administrator was so bad that it was surprising there was not a palace revolt. And it was equally surprising that there was never an ounce of remorse or pangs of conscience from Elle, who was complicit in her mother's evil actions.

The film's ending was flawed due to its abruptness with the police arriving at the Homecoming dance and arresting the mother and daughter without any background provided on how the transgressions were uncovered. The rushed ending and the complete absence of a denouement played like an early film cut, as opposed to a finished, edited product. A better title for this work-in-progress film would be: "Homecoming Drama Queen."

"Dying for a Crown" is a made-for-TV movie that, unfortunately, falls short of expectations. From the outset, it presents a storyline that seems more suited for a TV series episode rather than a full-length feature film. The story revolves around Lydia, played by Jennifer Titus, who moves to Los Angeles with her daughter Elle, portrayed by Catharine Daddario, under mysterious circumstances. Lydia secures the position of vice principal at Bellview High without an interview, which appears highly improbable and challenges credibility.

The film lacks character development and depth in the plot. The absence of a job interview for the position of vice principal at a prestigious school, coupled with the abrupt ending, leaves the storyline with conspicuous gaps. The movie fails to explore the potential conflict between the authoritarian Lydia and the school's pleasant culture, which could have been a richer and more intriguing source of conflict.

Notably, the choice of Catharine Daddario to play a teenager, despite being nearly thirty years old, is peculiar and contributes to an authenticity deficit in character portrayal.

The movie's ending is particularly disappointing, as it is abrupt and leaves many questions unanswered. The arrival of the police and the arrest of the mother and daughter are handled hastily, leaving viewers with the impression that the conclusion was rushed.

In summary, "Dying for a Crown" appears to be a film that doesn't reach its potential, offering a mediocre plot, underdeveloped characters, and an unsatisfactory ending. The lack of narrative cohesion and the absence of a proper resolution make this movie a disappointing experience for the audience.