Update: Meagan Good, La’myia Good, Chiké Okonkwo Talk About “Death Saved My Life”

On Tuesday, February 9th, Lifetime invited Spectacular Magazine to screen an advance copy of and attend a special media briefing for  “Death Saved My Life”  which premieres on Saturday, February 13th at 8 pm. It afforded me the opportunity to talk to the stars of the movie…Meagan Good, La’myia Good, and Chiké Okonkwo.

Meagan expresses that the film is very important to her because it shines a light on mental health and domestic violence. The cast speaks on the importance of victims seeking help, as well as the role society plays unknowingly. People who have mental health issues should not be treated as different, but as normal human beings. 

The conversation continues as Chiké spoke about men receiving help if they are struggling with anger management issues. “Family is important, but violence is a bridge too far.” He went on to say that it may be possible for a couple to get help and work out their problems, but time apart to do so might be the best option. La’Myia Good plays the supportive and fearless sister, helping her sister Jade and her niece in any way she can. (Please scroll down to watch the entire interview)

Review

The film,  inspired by true events, is well written and put together. It starts with an outlook of a normal family with small hints that there may be a bigger problem. Mental health and public opinion are key components as the combination of the two are the reasons Jade is scared to leave her husband and convince others that he is not a good man. The movie is suspenseful and gains your emotional concern for the main character. Chiké does so well, he makes you feel a bit sorry for the husband at times as well. Settings and videography were beautiful and fit the demeanor of the plot. The beautiful Good sisters and the handsome Chiké Okonkwo will have you on the edge of your seat awaiting the suspenseful results of Jade’s escape.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Following the movie, the documentary, “Beyond the Headlines: Faking Death” with writer Elizabeth Greenwood. Based on the experience of Jane in “Death Saved My Life”, Greenwood discusses the main reason why women fake their deaths, and why a disappearing woman in books and movies is so popular. She also presents real-life cases of faked deaths that have captured the public eye, and why people resort to such lengths to disappear.

“Death Saved My Life” joins Lifetime’s lineup of “Ripped from the Headlines” movie specials. 

[Watch #SpecMagShorts] Meagan Good, La’Myia Good & Chiké Okonkwo discuss “Death Saved My Life” 

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Published January 23, 2021

Meagan Good stars in the Lifetime thriller “Death Saved My Life,” the next movie in its popular “Ripped From the Headlines” franchise. Along with Good (“The Intruder”), the small-screen film also stars Chiké Okonkwo (“Being Mary Jane”) and Good’s real-life sister, La’Myia Good (“The Wood”). The Good sisters will portray siblings in “Death Saved My Life,” which is inspired by the true story of a “woman who faked her own death in order to trap her husband after he hires a hitman to kill her.” The film premieres Saturday, February 13 at 8:00 pm ET/PT on Lifetime. (scroll down to watch the trailer)

On the surface, it seems Jade (Meagan Good) has it all, a successful marketing career, a husband admired and respected in the community, and a young daughter they both dote on. But behind closed doors, her life is far from idyllic. Her husband Ed (Chiké Okonkwo) is a controlling man who is physically and psychologically abusive. When Jade decides to leave Ed, he tells her “If I can’t have you, nobody will,” a threat which becomes very real when she discovers he has hired someone to kill her. Knowing no one will believe her, Jade realizes the only way to escape Ed is to make him believe the hitman completed the job and that she is dead. La’Myia Good plays Jade’s sister Leigh. 

The movie is produced by Jarrett Creative. Executive producers are Julie Insogna Jarrett, Seth Jarrett, and Meagan Good. Seth Jarrett directs from a script written by Barbara Kymlicka.

In “Beyond the Headlines: Faking Death,” airing immediately after the movie at 10:00 pm, writer Elizabeth Greenwood discusses her research on the phenomenon of “pseudocide,” or faking one’s own death.  Based on the experience of Jade in Death Saved My Life, Greenwood discusses the main reason why women fake their deaths, and why the disappearing woman in books and movies is so popular. She also presents real-life cases of faked deaths that have captured the public eye, and why people resort to such lengths to disappear.

“Death Saved My Life” joins Lifetime’s lineup of upcoming “Ripped from the Headlines” movies, which include “Girl in the Basement,” starring Stefanie Scott, Judd Nelson, and Joley Fisher and directed by Elisabeth Rohm, and “The Long Island Serial Killer: A Mother’s Hunt for Justice,” lead by Kim Delaney and executive produced by Deborah Norville.

Watch the “Death Saved My Life” trailer: