“Happy Face” (2025) starring Annaleigh Ashford & Dennis Quaid / Z-View

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Happy Face (2025)

Created by: Jennifer Cacicio; based on Happy Face by Melissa Moore and SHATTERED SILENCE by Moore and M. Bridget Cook

Director: Michael Showalter (Eps 1), Jennifer Getzinger (Ep. 2), Steven Piet (Ep. 3); Laurel Parmet (Ep. 4); Ramaa Mosley (Ep. 5); Darren Grant (Ep. 6); Samira Radsi (Ep. 7); Darren Grant (Ep. 8)

Teleplay by:  Jennifer Cacicio (Eps. 1, 8); Andrew Gettens & Lauren Mackenzie (Ep. 2); Adam Toltzis & Sal Calleros (Ep. 3); Sarah Beckett (Ep. 4); Erica Saleh & Inda Craig-Galván (Ep. 5); Bam Johnson, story by Andrew Gettens & Lauren Mackenzie (Ep. 6); Tiffany Ezuma & Brandi Nicole Payne (Ep. 7)

Starring: Annaleigh Ashford, James Wolk, Tamera Tomakili, Khiyla Aynne, Benjamin Mackey, David Harewood, Damon Gupton, Michael O’Neill, Charles Zuckermann, Marci T. House and Dennis Quaid.

Tagline: Melissa, You Can’t Hide Forever

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

Melissa is happily married to Ben.  They have two children.  They also have a secret.  Melissa is the daughter of the infamous serial killer known as Happy Face.  Melissa and Rex have kept Melissa’s dad a secret. No one at their work knows.  Their friends are unaware.  Even Melissa and Max’s children are unaware that grandpa is a serial killer.  Melissa’s dad has written her dozens of letters from prison.  She never reads them.  She won’t accept his calls.

Melissa works as a make-up artist on The Dr. Greg Show.  One day she is called into the office.  The Happy Face Killer contacted Dr. Greg.  Happy Face informed Dr. Greg that Melissa is his daughter.  Further, he said that he is ready to confess to an additional murder, but will only make the confession to his daughter.

Melissa thinks her dad is just playing for attention.  She initially refuses to meet.  Then she learns that a man sits on death row for the murder her father is ready to admit he committed.  Reluctantly, Melissa agrees to meet with her dad.  Dr. Greg loves the story.  His ratings are going through the roof as The Happy Face Killer slowly doles out information about the murder.

As the clock ticks down and an innocent man’s execution date draws near, Melissa marriage, her relationship with her children suffer.  Melissa is compelled to try to save the man on death row… but what if her dad is truly playing everyone?

Expect twists.

Thoughts…

Happy Face is based on a true story.

Dennis Quaid is more creepy than menacing.  Which makes him even scarier as a serial killer.

Happy Face (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.