You know those Lifetime movies that just sort of stick in your brain? The ones where you're screaming at the screen because the protagonist is making the absolute worst choices imaginable? The Wrong Crush is exactly that kind of ride. Released back in 2017 as part of the massive "The Wrong" franchise produced by David DeCoteau, it’s a staple of weekend marathons. But honestly, if you try to look up The Wrong Crush cast on the fly, you might get a bit tangled up. Why? Because Vivica A. Fox is in practically all of them, and the rotating door of handsome "villains" can start to blur together after a while.
It’s a classic setup. High school track star. A new guy who seems perfect. A mom who—thankfully—actually has some intuition for once. But the magic of these movies isn't really the plot; it's the specific energy the actors bring to these hyper-dramatic roles.
The Core Players in The Wrong Crush Cast
Let’s get into the actual people who made this movie what it is. At the center of the storm is Victoria Konefal, who plays Amelia. If she looks familiar, it’s probably because she’s a heavy hitter in the soap opera world. She’s best known for her role as Ciara Brady on Days of Our Lives, a part that earned her a Daytime Emmy. In The Wrong Crush, she captures that specific brand of teenage vulnerability that makes the thriller aspect work. You actually care if she gets hurt, which isn't always a given in this genre.
Then you have the "crush" himself. Ricardo Hoyos plays Jake. If you grew up in the 2010s, you know him as Zig Novak from Degrassi: The Next Generation. He’s got that "bad boy with a secret" thing down to a science. In this film, he’s playing a guy who was obsessed with Amelia while they were in rehab together—only she didn't realize the extent of his fixation. Hoyos is great at flipping the switch from charming to genuinely unsettling in about three seconds flat.
And of course, we have to talk about Vivica A. Fox.
She plays Gwen, the school principal. It’s funny because Vivica isn't just an actor in these films; she’s often a producer. She’s built an entire empire out of these "Wrong" movies. While she isn't the one being stalked in this specific installment, her presence adds a layer of "prestige" to the Lifetime ecosystem. She’s the anchor.
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The Supporting Faces You Definitely Recognize
It’s not just the leads. The supporting The Wrong Crush cast members are seasoned pros in the made-for-TV world.
Lesli Kay plays Linda, Amelia's mother. Like Konefal, Kay is soap opera royalty, with long stints on As the World Turns and The Bold and the Beautiful. She plays the protective mother role with a lot of grit. She’s the one who first starts smelling a rat when Jake shows up, and her performance keeps the stakes feeling grounded even when the plot gets a little wild.
Then there's Pedro Correa as Javier. He’s the "good guy" foil to Jake’s "bad guy." Every thriller needs that one person who is clearly the better choice but gets sidelined for the first two acts. Correa plays the role with just enough sincerity that you’re rooting for him to survive the inevitable confrontation.
Why the Casting Works Better Than You’d Expect
Normally, these movies are dismissed as "guilty pleasures." But the reason The Wrong Crush stands out among the dozens of other titles in the franchise is the chemistry between Konefal and Hoyos.
It's about the eyes. Seriously.
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In many TV thrillers, the villain is either too cartoonish or too boring. Hoyos plays Jake with a desperate sort of intensity. You can see why Amelia might be fooled by him initially. He doesn't come off as a monster immediately; he comes off as a guy who is "misunderstood." That’s a much scarier villain in real life.
The casting directors for the "Wrong" series, specifically working under DeCoteau’s direction, have a formula. They find actors who are technically overqualified for the material. When you take people like Lesli Kay and Victoria Konefal—who are used to the fast-paced, high-emotion world of daily soaps—and put them in a 90-minute thriller, they don't phone it in. They treat the melodrama with total sincerity.
A Quick Note on the "The Wrong" Cinematic Universe
If you're confused about which movie is which, join the club. Vivica A. Fox has appeared in over 25 of these movies. There’s The Wrong Roommate, The Wrong Child, The Wrong Student, and The Wrong Cruise.
What makes the The Wrong Crush cast unique is the youthful energy. While many of the other films focus on suburban housewives or professional women being targeted, this one leans heavily into the "Young Adult" thriller vibe. It feels a bit like a darker, more adult version of a Nickelodeon show, which makes sense given Ricardo Hoyos’s background.
Realism Check: The Stalking Tropes
We should probably be honest about how these movies portray obsession. In The Wrong Crush, the "troubled past" is used as a massive red flag that the protagonist ignores. While the movie ramps everything up to eleven for the sake of entertainment, it does tap into a real-life fear: the idea that someone from a vulnerable period in your life (like Amelia’s time in rehab) could follow you back into your "normal" life.
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The cast handles this transition from "rehab buddies" to "stalker and prey" quite well. It’s a nuanced shift. It isn't just about jump scares. It's about the slow erosion of boundaries. Jake’s character doesn't just show up with a knife; he shows up with flowers and "accidental" meetings.
Where is the Cast Now?
Since 2017, the stars of this film have stayed pretty busy.
- Victoria Konefal: Continued her massive success on Days of Our Lives, becoming a fan favorite and a social media influencer.
- Ricardo Hoyos: He’s moved into more indie film work and guest spots on major network procedurals. He’s also stayed active in the Toronto acting scene.
- Vivica A. Fox: Basically a mogul. She has her own hair line, hosts shows, and continues to produce and star in about four "Wrong" movies a year.
- Pedro Correa: He’s moved into directing and producing his own projects, showing a lot of range beyond the "nice guy" roles.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re planning a rewatch or seeing it for the first time, pay attention to the pacing. The movie moves fast. One of the hallmarks of the The Wrong Crush cast performances is how quickly they have to establish deep history with each other. Within the first ten minutes, you have to believe Amelia and Jake have a complicated bond.
It’s currently available on various streaming platforms, usually bundled with Lifetime Movie Club or available for rent on Amazon.
Pro Tip: If you're a fan of the genre, watch it back-to-back with The Wrong Student. It’s a fascinating look at how the same production team uses different actors to tell variations of the same "obsession" story.
Actionable Steps for Fans of The Wrong Crush
If you enjoyed the performances in this film, here’s how to dive deeper:
- Follow the Soap Pipeline: If you liked Victoria Konefal, check out her Emmy-winning clips from Days of Our Lives. Soap acting is incredibly difficult, and her work there explains why she’s so good in The Wrong Crush.
- Explore the Franchise: Don't just stop at one. Look for the "Wrong" movies specifically directed by David DeCoteau if you want that specific, campy-but-intense atmosphere.
- Check Out Ricardo Hoyos’s Early Work: If you want to see a totally different side of the "villain," watch his later seasons in Degrassi. It gives a lot of context to his ability to play complex, brooding characters.
- Verify the Credits: Always use IMDB or the official Lifetime website when looking up these casts. Because the titles are so similar, it’s incredibly easy to accidentally look up the cast for The Wrong Boyfriend or The Wrong Girl instead.
The staying power of The Wrong Crush comes down to a cast that understood the assignment. They didn't wink at the camera. They played the fear, the obsession, and the protective instincts as if they were real, and that’s why we’re still talking about it years later.