WFG RATING: A-

Freestyle Digital Media presents a Painted Creek Productions film. Directed by Harley Wallen. Produced by Harley Wallen and Kaiti Wallen. Written by Geoffrey D. Calhoun and Harley Wallen; based on the novel by Nicole Beverly. Cinematography by Steve McLaren and Nolan Rhys Elias. Edited by Nolan Rhys Elias.

Stars Kaiti Wallen, Mari G., Sean Whalen, Richard Tyson, Shawntay Dalon, Debra Lamb, Pierre S. Aristide, Deon Hunt, Ayden Franklin, Isaiah Franklin, Vida Ghaffari, Harley Wallen, and Marcus Woods. 

The true story of domestic violence survivor Nicole Beverly comes to life in this biopic that highlights a stellar performance from Kaiti Wallen. 

Meeting her future husband Warren in college, Nicole Beverly thought she was living the perfect life. However, as they evolved into marriage, Warren begins to show his true colors. Jealous and possessive, Warren begins to abuse Nicole for years. Even after having two children, Nicole still feels the wrath of Warren especially after the two separate for two years. He constantly tries to get to Nicole, who eventually leaves and attempts to start over.

However, whenever Nicole tries to overcome her past, Warren still finds himself finding her and abusing her. On Halloween night 2018, Nicole finds herself confronted again as Warren puts a gun to her head. However, the police show up in time and Warren is arrested. In court, Nicole finally finds the courage to stand up to her husband and becomes a true survivor, culminating in her advocacy and becoming an author. 

Nicole Beverly’s story is one of going through so much and in the cases of people in similar situations, they don’t always go as planned and end up in fatalities. However, for Beverly, it is the story of survival and overcoming the odds to make a better life for herself and her two sons. Harley Wallen once again shows why he is one of the best indie directors many might not know about. Juxtaposing flashbacks with a trial set in the present day, Wallen gives a chance to show what his wife, Kaiti, can do with a lead role, and it succeeds. 

Kaiti Wallen gives off a very emotionally charged performance in the role of Nicole, who comes off as the sweet and innocent victim of domestic violence from the hands of her husband. We see Nicole’s journey from victim to survivor as she slowly transitions to one who will finally stand up despite her reservations and fears of death. After seeing her in many supporting roles in her husband’s films, this could be, if not THE breakout role Kaiti needed to prove herself as a bankable lead. 

Mari G. goes Jekyll when we first see him as Warren. However, when he starts getting violent, we see him becoming Mr. Hyde due to his combination of alcoholism and jealousy. His obsession with Nicole goes to the point where if he can’t have her, he does anything to make sure no one else can, or try to anyway. In the courthouse scenes, he tries to play himself off as an innocent victim who blows off Nicole’s words and it doesn’t help that he somewhat has an ally in a local cop who was friends with him. 

On top of that, Warren’s lawyer, played with sleaziness by Sean Whalen, doesn’t help matters for Nicole either. However, as the story goes, as Nicole gets constantly put into the corner, it’s only a matter of time to become the motivation and determination she needs to start over. 

Finding Nicole is an emotionally charged journey of a survivor of domestic violence with a breakout performance from Kaiti Wallen. She definitely deserves to get more lead roles after this film.

The film is now playing on Digital.