In feeling this film to be "average," I mean it is exactly that -- not great, but good enough to be interesting, and with two attractive leads in Williams and Harden, who probably deserve a higher standing in film than they've been accorded.
Treat Williams has become masterful in portraying the type of "horse's ass" character here (Stephen) - smarmy, manipulative, cold, and (of course) murderous as well.
He played this same type, although in entirely different characterizations, as the Irish thug in "The Devil's Own," and the devious colonel in "Mulholland Falls." An excellent actor, he has also portrayed his share of good guys and strong/tough characters as well.
His character in this film was so thoroughly devious, at every turn, with everyone (including his children), in every way, and at all times, that it was impossible not to feel as much fascination as dislike for him.
Harden's husband was likable and sympathetic, even if a bit oafish "around the edges." And while the Harden's character's (Jenny) dilemmas, for which she couldn't claim an absence of responsibility, warranted her laconic demeanor to a point -- perhaps if she had displayed a bit more energy and thought (both before and after the tragedy and Williams' subsequent chicanery) her marriage problems, and the subsequent added problems which beset her, might have been avoided to a major extent. (Towards the end of the flick, during Christmas holidays, she wandered around in a trance-like manner, seeming naíve about what was going on. In this portion of the story, I found her "creepy," even more than Williams' - no mean feat.) Also, at about this time, every character in the presentation seemed as if the water supply of the community had been laced with massive quantities of Xanax, Valium, or perhaps both.
Finally, I wonder??? Are there ever ANY of these TV flicks of this genre which AREN'T made these days in Canada, or (occasionally) in Seattle?
Treat Williams has become masterful in portraying the type of "horse's ass" character here (Stephen) - smarmy, manipulative, cold, and (of course) murderous as well.
He played this same type, although in entirely different characterizations, as the Irish thug in "The Devil's Own," and the devious colonel in "Mulholland Falls." An excellent actor, he has also portrayed his share of good guys and strong/tough characters as well.
His character in this film was so thoroughly devious, at every turn, with everyone (including his children), in every way, and at all times, that it was impossible not to feel as much fascination as dislike for him.
Harden's husband was likable and sympathetic, even if a bit oafish "around the edges." And while the Harden's character's (Jenny) dilemmas, for which she couldn't claim an absence of responsibility, warranted her laconic demeanor to a point -- perhaps if she had displayed a bit more energy and thought (both before and after the tragedy and Williams' subsequent chicanery) her marriage problems, and the subsequent added problems which beset her, might have been avoided to a major extent. (Towards the end of the flick, during Christmas holidays, she wandered around in a trance-like manner, seeming naíve about what was going on. In this portion of the story, I found her "creepy," even more than Williams' - no mean feat.) Also, at about this time, every character in the presentation seemed as if the water supply of the community had been laced with massive quantities of Xanax, Valium, or perhaps both.
Finally, I wonder??? Are there ever ANY of these TV flicks of this genre which AREN'T made these days in Canada, or (occasionally) in Seattle?