Brian Hoffner (Fatal Fiancé)

**Brian Hoffner** aka **Mark Pfeiffer** (Greg Perrow) is the main villain from the 2021 Lifetime film *Fatal Fiancé* (alternate title: *A Bride's Nightmare,* airdate January 2, 2021)

## Backstory

Brian Hoffner's backstory revealed that he was the boyfriend of Faith Keppler for some time, though he would make degrading comments regarding her appearance in public and was controlling towards her. As a result of this, Faith was sent to therapy where she was diagnosed with PTSD.

## Events

Entering the events of the film, Brian became the fiancé of main protagonist Leah Mitchell under the alias Mark Pfeiffer, and they were planning on getting married. Faith, who had learned about Leah, began stalking her, and followed her to her car. Faith then screamed at Leah that Mark was dangerous and that she cannot marry him. After the incident with Faith, Mark showed Leah a picture of him and Faith when they were dating, and Leah recognized her as the woman who she had seen. Mark/Brian then made up lies about Faith, stating that she would confuse him for other people, and she was extremely manipulative. Faith continued stalking Leah, and on the the day of Leah and Mark's wedding, Faith chloroformed Leah and took her to a remote cabin.

After tying up Leah, Faith went on to tell her how Mark wasn't who he said he was and that she was just trying to help her. Mark, who noticed that Leah was missing and saw the security footage of Faith breaking in, drove to the cabin (since it was a place that Mark & Faith used to spend their summers together). Mark broke into the cabin, only to be held at gunpoint by Faith. Faith asked why he wouldn't leave her alone and when she saw that Leah had broken free from her restraints, Mark strangled Faith with his bare hands. Leah picked up the gun and warned Mark that Faith couldn't breathe. Eventually, Mark let go of Faith before they went home.

Later on in the film, Faith appeared at their doorstep to try and talk it over with Mark. Mark explained to Faith that he wasn't the same man that he was 5 years ago and that he wanted to let the past be, And that despite everything, he was willing to forgive her. Faith told Mark that she didn't want Leah go through what she was been through, and when she referred to him by his real name, Mark snapped at her. Faith threatened to tell the police everything about Brian when she suddenly started coughing. Mark/Brian started laughing maniacally and revealed that he had poisoned her tea. Mark stood there as Faith succumbed to poisons, stating that she was too trusting. Afterwards he took her body into the woods.

Mark then installed secrurity cameras inside of the home and hacked into Leah's phone so he could track her every move. It was at that moment that Leah started having suspiscions of Mark and wondered if Faith was actually telling the truth leading to her doing reasearch and making a visit to Faith's psychiatrist Dr. Jane Batra. Dr. Batra explained that Faith wasn't psychotic and that she was really suffering from PTSD as a result of an abusive relationship with Brian. At that moment, Faith entered the room and passed out on the floor, leading to her being hospitalized. Mark/Brian tracked Leah to Faith's hospital room and made an attempt to kill her, but his attempt was thwarted when a security guard entered the room, causing him to leave without giving the guard his name.

## Climax

Leah and her friend, Priya returned home to look for more evidence, only to find a safe hidden in their closet with the passcode corresponding to Brian (his real name). An ID was found inside the safe, among other things. Priya then got a call from Brian (who was posing as a police officer) ask them to go to a secure location, which was Leah and Mark's wedding venue. After attacking Priya, Brian confronted Leah and told her that there was no police coming. He also revealed that he intentionally hid the safe in plain view so that Leah could find it, as well as planting many tiny cameras all over the house. Brian explained that it was for her own good and wondered what had happend between them. After hearing all this, Leah slapped Brian in the face, leading to him going on a rant about how Faith ruined everything and how him and Leah were meant to be together.

## Victims

* Faith Keppler (attempted to suffocate at the hospital, stopped by security guard)
* Priya (shoved to the ground, but survived)
* Leah Mitchell (attempted to shoot, stopped by Priya)