A Deadly Adoption

An accomplished author and his wife welcome a pregnant stranger into their home with plans to adopt her baby. What starts as a hopeful arrangement quickly unsettles the couple as the newcomer's presence unsettles their routines and exposes cracks in their marriage. As secrets surface and tensions rise, the home becomes a pressure cooker where trust frays and boundaries blur. In a quiet suburban setting, the invitation to help a wounded woman becomes a test of motives and control. The story stays focused on character choices and the uneasy dynamic between the expectant mother and the would-be parents. It relies on mood and dialogue to build menace rather than overt action, hinting at how far people will go to secure a family.

Directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg, A Deadly Adoption was developed from an original concept by Harper Steele and presented as a Lifetime television thriller. The production emphasizes a restrained, intimate setting and relies on tight performances from Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig and Jessica Lowndes to drive the tension.

Critics noted the unsettling tension and the stark shift in tone from a conventional family drama to a darker psychological thriller. The film grapples with parental desire, manipulation, and the fragility of trust when everyone wears a mask. Viewers were split on comedians in serious roles, but the script keeps the focus on ethical ambiguity and the consequences of deceit.

Although released as a TV movie, it drew attention for pairing Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig in a serious thriller, prompting discussions about casting risks and genre boundaries. Some audiences praised the performances for shedding light on hidden depths, while others questioned whether the tone fit the story. The debate around this unusual pairing stayed in conversations longer than the film's premiere.

Box office data does not apply due to its TV movie nature, released on television rather than in theaters. While Lifetime ratings and streaming viewership are tracked, there is no worldwide gross to report and no theatrical run to chart.