I remembered this movie having watched it many years ago. My second viewing, some 18 years later, was almost as good. We have to bear in mind that the movie might look a little dated by today's standards. This is the story of small-town Emily Briggs and how she moves to California and gullibly exposes herself to danger from the smooth-talking, basketball-playing guy across the street (i.e. Jason Barnes played by Scott Valentine). He's not a very convincing rapist even though the scene was 'tastefully' done by today's standards. Most of the movie deals with how Briggs has to struggle to get others to believe her and even more so getting Barnes into court. At around 90 minutes, the movie is easy to watch and has some good lessons, especially for trusting young women.
4 Reviews
Enjoyable (if not simplistic & essentially manipulative)
akg96-127 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I would have liked something more in-depth about the alleged rapist, so that we could see a little bit better how such a thing comes about. Does the "good guys" vs the "evil_doers" get a little old & shallow to you too? Although, guess I just like justice prevailing. A well done movie, if not predictable & obvious how it would turn out. After all, we do live in a (new?) politically correct era. Now that we "know" that things are suppose to be getting better, I guess we can rest assured & go asleep/get numb, & just have another beer. Why not a movie about the rapist background, history, abuse, & the society he came from? Too radical? Guess we have to expect corporate media to just be in the business to make money playing on our sympathies & our (unconscious) ego's identifications. It like a culture war & war against real people, & ultimately YOU are the target. At least somebody (something) is get enriched, but it isn't you/us.
You okay, hun?
mark.waltz11 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Standing in a long line of people trying to report crimes, rape victim Melissa Gilbert just turns around and walks out. Battered and bruised, she's in no mood emotionally for support from a stranger, overhearing a battered wife declaring angrily that she doesn't have time to fill out forms, insisting that she'll be dead. Gilbert, only having recently met her assailant (Scott Valentine), has just moved to Southern California for a job, leaving a boyfriend (Barry Tubb) behind, now must find the courage to stand up and see that this creep never does this again, having been accused ofthe crime before.
It's a rush from the acquaintance being made by Mr. Charmer, all of a sudden being not so charming. The attack is brief but brutal, and even more uncomfortably the ride he attempts to give her, and his denial of the crime just makes him all the more vile, especially when he begins to harass her. This reveals that the system of putting rapists away needed many changes back in the early 90's in a way that exposed criminals like Valentine's character while showing the nobility of true gentlemen like Tubbs.
There's a powerful scene and incredible shocking reality from Gilbert where she panics while making love with Tubbs, and the aftermath of his gentility. So the film isn't about making men appear bad. It's one man, and the script goes out of its way to appear fair. Crystal Bernard as Gilbert's best friend and Bebe Neuwirth as controversial real life attorney Gloria Allred who takes Gilbert's case. Well acted and powerfully believable although much has changed on this subject that have added even more controversy and created more difficult cases making the viewer conflicted on the topic even though it's obvious that Valentine is guilty.
It's a rush from the acquaintance being made by Mr. Charmer, all of a sudden being not so charming. The attack is brief but brutal, and even more uncomfortably the ride he attempts to give her, and his denial of the crime just makes him all the more vile, especially when he begins to harass her. This reveals that the system of putting rapists away needed many changes back in the early 90's in a way that exposed criminals like Valentine's character while showing the nobility of true gentlemen like Tubbs.
There's a powerful scene and incredible shocking reality from Gilbert where she panics while making love with Tubbs, and the aftermath of his gentility. So the film isn't about making men appear bad. It's one man, and the script goes out of its way to appear fair. Crystal Bernard as Gilbert's best friend and Bebe Neuwirth as controversial real life attorney Gloria Allred who takes Gilbert's case. Well acted and powerfully believable although much has changed on this subject that have added even more controversy and created more difficult cases making the viewer conflicted on the topic even though it's obvious that Valentine is guilty.
pretty good TV movie
MichaelM2423 October 2001
Okay, now I'm not much for TV movie dramas, but this one was pretty good. The highlight of the film, without a doubt, is Melissa Gilbert. She is a truely great, underrated actress, and her performance in this film is (I think) one of her best. Never has any actor in a TV movie made me feel so much sympathy for their character. There's equally-good support from co-stars Crystal Bernard, Scott Valentine, and Barry Tubb, but Gilbert is the standout in this fact-based telefilm.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
