The Family That Preys

This 2008 movie written, directed and produced by Tyler Perry is about the inner workings of two families--one upper crust and the other working class--that become inextricably linked by scandal. Wealthy socialite Charlotte Cartwright and her dear friend Alice, a working-class woman of high ideals, have enjoyed a lasting friendship throughout many years. Suddenly, their lives become mired in turmoil as their adult children's extramarital affairs, unethical business practices and a dark paternity secret threaten to derail family fortunes and unravel the lives of all involved. There are a lot of spoilers here due to the nature of the movie.


 * All-Star Cast: Alfre Woodard as Alice, Kathy Bates as Charlotte, Sanaa Lathan as Andrea, Taraji P. Henson as Andrea's sister Pam, and Robin Givens as Abigail Dexter.
 * Evil Matriarch: Played with in the character Charlotte.
 * Freudian Excuse:
 * Henpecked Husband: Andrea's husband, and it is not Played for Laughs. She emasculates him at every single opportunity and viciously shoots down any attempts of his to be a loving man towards her.
 * Laser-Guided Karma:
 * Melodrama
 * Mighty Whitey: Andrea feels this is why Charlotte paid for her wedding.
 * The Mistress:
 * Open Secret:
 * Playing Against Type: Sanaa Lathan. She is mostly known in her roles from Brown Sugar and Love and Basketball, in which she plays headstrong, independent but ultimately good women. Most people were shocked to find out she's one of the antagonists and that she played it so well.
 * Southern Belle: Charlotte.
 * Shout-Out: To Driving Miss Daisy. When Charlotte gets a new car, Alice asks where Morgan Freeman is.
 * Stealth Pun: The title is a play on the old saying, "The family that prays together stays together."
 * Who's Your Daddy?: Andrea's son.
 * Your Cheating Heart: