Reviewing a Hat Trick of Villainesses from "Sorority Sister Killer"

Sorority Sister Killer completed Lifetime's back-to-back days of sorority-themed thrillers, following Secrets of Sorority Row. In this film, the focus is on best friends Lacey Montgomery and Tara George, who are pledging to the Kappa Tau Pi sorority, which has Courtney McCray as president. After being welcomed by Courtney, younger sister Ella, and their mother (as well as the sorority's den mother), Lana, the girls start their pledging, which happens to include a hazing ritual that consisted of excessive drinking and bullying one of the pledges, Tiffany, by hurling fat-shaming comments at her and forcing her to take off her dress. This sets off Lacey, who leaves the house, but Tara remains, causing friction between the two friends.

Both girls argue over what occurred on two occasions, with the second time taking place during a sorority party. As Lacey would learn, it would be the final time she would speak to Tara, as Tara was found dead, with the assumption that she jumped to her death. The assumption of suicide turned into a realization that Tara was killed, and the main suspect was Lacey, with Courtney hurling accusations and even Lana suggesting to Rebecca Wiles (Lacey's mother) that Lacey may be involved. All the while, Lacey goes on her own investigation, and it sees her being chased by a hooded stalker, who shoves her towards an oncoming car, only to be saved by Ella.

The suspicion towards Lacey increases, though surveillance video of Lana entering Lacey's room in a hooded disguise turns that suspicion towards her. All the while, Lacey receives a messages from Tara's phone, and tracks that phone to not only Lana, but Courtney as well, with Lacey over hearing the mother-daughter pair arguing over their failed plan to kill Lacey. Lana denies everything when Lacey confronts them, but Lacey later sees Ella with Tara's phone and pursues her to the roof of that same building where Tara was killed. Lana and Courtney track them, with the former attempting to talk Ella down, only for Ella to cut off her mother and give a shocking statement: Ella was the one who killed Tara.

In addition, while Lacey thought that Tara was defending the sorority, she actually felt the same as Lacey regarding the hazing, and planned to report them. Ella promised to do something but advised Tara not to tell the administration, and she hid once Lacey appeared and confronted her for what would be the last time. It was after Lacey left that Ella suddenly shoved Tara over the roof and to her death, and after Lana and Courtney found out, they worked to frame (and even attempt to kill) Lacey to cover up for Ella.

Ella stated that something had been wrong with her, as she had been having headaches lately. It was at this moment that Courtney not only admitted to the hazing, but she revealed that she replaced Ella's anti-anxiety medication with Adderall, which caused her headaches and led her to kill Tara. Lana expressed shock over Courtney's actions, though all three McCrays hugged each other after Courtney apologized for what she had done to Ella, with the embrace coming just as police arrived at the building.

So with that, let's analyze the villainesses involved:

Ella McCray: Despite being the actual killer, Ella McCray is clearly the least evil out of the trio. Even though Ella was adamant on protecting the sorority (a contrast to her lackadaisical demeanor), it was only due to Courtney's tampering of her medication that Ella became murderous and erratic. As we saw in the film, Ella was still willing to help Lacey in her investigation, and expressed extreme remorse for what she had done. Ella was played by Carolyn Grundman, who was making her Lifetime film debut. Grundman played Ella's emotions, remorse, and guilt very well; I was truly feeling for her during her emotional confession. It won't be the last time we see Grundman in a Lifetime film; she is set to appear in another sorority-themed film, Sinister Sorority.

Courtney McCray: Out of the three villainesses, Courtney McCray is the only one whose heel persona was established before any crime was committed in the film. It was early in the film that Courtney displays a sweet an innocent demeanor, only to go into her true "alpha bitch" persona once no one is watching. Courtney's demeanor plagued not only Lacey and Tiffany, but she messed with Tara as well, as she forced Tara to engage in a sexual act with Lacey's ex-boyfriend, Lex, after learning that they hooked up again. Even Ella was a victim, as Courtney's "prank" involving her medication led to Ella's murderous actions.

Of course, Courtney turned up her villainy with her accusations and attempt to kill Lacey, and though she apologized to Ella for her "prank," there's still the attempt on Lacey that outweighs whatever remorse she may have. Courtney was played by Lani Randol, who actually served as one of the briefcase models on Deal or No Deal during the show's brief revival. Randol played Courtney's callous personality very well, though I think she could play a good girl just as well as she could play a villainess. Her IMDB doesn't have a lot, but it will eventually. Deal or No Deal always leads to big things. Just ask Meghan Markle.

Lana McCray: Despite Ella being the actual murderer and Courtney's personality, IMO, Lana McCray was the most villainous out of the trio. She did start out as a genial character in her introduction; however, Lana's heel turn began with her comments about Lacey to her own mother, as she suggested that Lacey could have killed Tara. She even resorted to attempting to have Lacey killed as well, stalking and pursuing her before shoving her towards Courtney's path, only for Ella to save her. The reveal clearly showed that Lana was leading the quest to cover up for Ella, though in all fairness, Lana was completely in the dark about Courtney tampering with Ella's medication. Even so, Lana was completely treacherous--to the point where I even expected her to be the actual killer instead of being part of a cover-up.

Lana McCray was played by Christy Tate, who did an amazing job portraying Lana's ruthless nature in the character's villainous quest, though we also see Tate shine in scenes where she shows Lana to be a caring mother to Courtney and Ella. Similar to Randol and Grundman, this was a Lifetime film debut for Tate, and here's hoping she does more in the future!

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All three are featured on Villainous Beauties Wiki! Click here for Ella, here for Courtney, and here for Lana!