The Lover in the Attic: A True Story (2018)

In the bustling heart of the 1920s Milwaukee, a sordid tale of passion, deceit, and betrayal unfolds. Dolly Oesterreich, a woman of humble origins, finds herself wedded to Fred Oesterreich, the textile tycoon of the Midwest. Their marriage, however, is devoid of genuine affection, born from Fred's lust for a trophy wife, and Dolly's hunger for a lavish lifestyle. Amid this loveless union, Dolly finds solace in the arms of her young lover, Otto Sanhuber, an impressionable repairman initially summoned to mend her sewing machine. Ensnared by Dolly's seductive allure, Otto willingly consigns himself to a clandestine existence in the attic of the Oesterreich's opulent mansion. Hidden from the prying eyes of the society, Otto spends his days with Dolly and his nights in solitude, his only solace the pulp crime fiction he pens. Despite his isolation, Otto harbors dreams of a life beyond the attic, yearning for the day he and Dolly can openly embrace as husband and wife. However, the onset of the Great Depression brings a drastic shift in the dynamics of their forbidden relationship. As financial struggles loom, Dolly and Otto conceive a plan to seize their desired futures. But their individual aspirations diverge, their shared objective merely a façade masking their conflicting agendas. When a gunshot pierces the silence of the Oesterreich household, resulting in Fred's death, Dolly attempts to disguise the murder as a botched robbery. Her ploy fails to convince Chief Detective Herman, whose relentless pursuit of the truth contrasts starkly with Dolly's web of deceit. Escaping to Los Angeles with her ill-gotten insurance money, Dolly immerses herself in the glamorous world of Hollywood, drawing the attention of Herman, a prominent defense attorney smitten by her charm. As Dolly's world of lies and manipulation spirals, her hold over Otto weakens. The once compliant lover now grapples with his jealousy and resentment. Otto finds himself at a crossroads, forced to choose between enduring Dolly's treachery or facing the harsh, yet liberating, hand of justice. In "The Lover in the Attic: A True Story," every secret comes with a price, and every passion harbors the potential for ruin.

The Lover in the Attic: A True Story is a drama movie featuring Molly Burnett and directed by Melora Walters.

The Lover in the Attic: A True Story is currently streaming on Lifetime Movie Club.

It is also possible to buy The Lover in the Attic: A True Story on Amazon Video, Microsoft Store and Vudu.