Not one of Elizabeth Montgomery's best films, but she delivers a wonderfully evil performance. Dale Midkiff is also great as the almost pitiful rapist. Both actors have been in better movies, but they still make this one well worth watching. The twisted relationship between mother and son alone makes for an interesting film. The fact that it was based on a true story makes it all the more frightening. I enjoyed it very much. Fans of Liz and Dale won't be disappointed. What lacks in the script is more than compensated by these two gifted performers. Ignore the negative comments here. We miss you Liz! Why are there not more EM films on VHS or DVD. At least this film is available now. Hopefully more to come! Lets get A CASE OF RAPE and LEGEND OF LIZZIE BORDEN on DVD!
10 Reviews
Decent true life story
MattyGibbs10 January 2016
A man dominated by his overbearing mother becomes a serial rapist. Based on a true story this explores the relationship between the rapist and his mother.
Despite the unpleasant story line this manages to hold your attention throughout. The crimes themselves are committed off screen. Although the script is possibly a bit too straightforward the cast do a fine job. Elizabeth Montgomery is superb as the spiteful mother and Dale Midkiff is good as her son. Good support is given by Heather Fairfield as Midkiff's unsuspecting girlfriend.
Although it's predictable it's still interesting to see Midkiff's life unravel as his crimes start to catch up with him.
As far a true life made for TV movies go this is pretty good and is worth watching.
Despite the unpleasant story line this manages to hold your attention throughout. The crimes themselves are committed off screen. Although the script is possibly a bit too straightforward the cast do a fine job. Elizabeth Montgomery is superb as the spiteful mother and Dale Midkiff is good as her son. Good support is given by Heather Fairfield as Midkiff's unsuspecting girlfriend.
Although it's predictable it's still interesting to see Midkiff's life unravel as his crimes start to catch up with him.
As far a true life made for TV movies go this is pretty good and is worth watching.
For Elizabeth Montgomery Fans
numberone_16 December 2001
This movie was based on an actual case, and it appears to relate the components of the real-life story rather well, though most of the acting is rudimentary and the characters are portrayed as one-dimensional; portraying them this way was either (a) due to limitations in writing, or (b) necessary so that the plot could progress without any holes.
In any case, Elizabeth Montgomery completely steals the show and compels the viewer to keep watching. Her performance in this movie is reason enough to watch it, and is testimony to her profound and multi-dimensional abilities as an actor. Elizabeth Montgomery is one of a very small subset of actors that can make virtually any role "go" (a/k/a believable, compelling, thought-provoking).
In any case, Elizabeth Montgomery completely steals the show and compels the viewer to keep watching. Her performance in this movie is reason enough to watch it, and is testimony to her profound and multi-dimensional abilities as an actor. Elizabeth Montgomery is one of a very small subset of actors that can make virtually any role "go" (a/k/a believable, compelling, thought-provoking).
strange, chilling!
msvarniej3 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
E. Montgomery holds the story like no one else! Everyone does great work however. This story is much like the Sante Kimes and son story, two warped individuals full of deception and evil as they plot and scheme highlighted with their toxic, incestuous relationship.
Frederick Coe, son, has never had a chance of real success mainly because he is his moms puppet. She colors every aspect of his life, so much so that he hardly has any thoughts of his own.. He has an internalrage however whichis played out violently thru the rape of many women He tries to have a relationship with his girlbut mom interferes all the while treating him with heartless behavior and criticizing his every action.
Frederick Coe, son, has never had a chance of real success mainly because he is his moms puppet. She colors every aspect of his life, so much so that he hardly has any thoughts of his own.. He has an internalrage however whichis played out violently thru the rape of many women He tries to have a relationship with his girlbut mom interferes all the while treating him with heartless behavior and criticizing his every action.
Quite obvious
0llin1 October 2004
I think it was a very obvious plot since the very beginning, in spite of the apparent good relation that the guy keeps with his mother to the outside world while is very notorious how possessive the woman is towards the son and how he feels about her doing that.
Plus alternatively some cases of rape to a lot of women, making at least to me, the immediate connection of who was behind it, because we didn't get to know more people that you could believe were other possible "suspects"...yes i know is not an episode of Murder she wrote but a real life story film showing us simultaneously what was going on since the beginning, what to me means a big: BOOOORIIIIIIIIIING moment...so if you just want to be right about it, you just need to stay until the whole thing ends.
So you can watch it if you really don't have anything better to do or because you were put into quarantine and there is nothing else showing on TV, otherwise don't...unless you like this type of film.
Plus alternatively some cases of rape to a lot of women, making at least to me, the immediate connection of who was behind it, because we didn't get to know more people that you could believe were other possible "suspects"...yes i know is not an episode of Murder she wrote but a real life story film showing us simultaneously what was going on since the beginning, what to me means a big: BOOOORIIIIIIIIIING moment...so if you just want to be right about it, you just need to stay until the whole thing ends.
So you can watch it if you really don't have anything better to do or because you were put into quarantine and there is nothing else showing on TV, otherwise don't...unless you like this type of film.
Chilling Saga of a Mama's Boy
lavatch3 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
"Sins of the Mother" was a 1991 film based on the rape trial of Frederick Harlan "Kevin" Coe in 1978-81. The film was especially troubling in its depiction of the high threshold of evidence required to convict Coe in that era. Despite what appears to be overwhelming physical and eyewitness evidence, it was still an uphill battle to gain a conviction in the pre-DNA era.
The filmmakers chose to focus extensively on the relationship of Kevin and his domineering mother Ruth. The toxicity came across in the love-hate relationship in which the mother would humiliate, taunt, and belittle her son, then shower him with adulation. At one point, Kevin contemplates moving from Spokane to Los Angeles. Of course, he feels compelled to bring along his smother mother, as opposed to breaking ties with her, as part of his plans.
One of the most interesting characters in the film was Ginni Perham, Kevin's long-suffering girlfriend. While the film does not suggest that Ginni was physically abused, she was certainly mentally traumatized by living with her psychopathic husband and having to interact with his controlling mother. The actress playing Ginni turned in a moving, understated performance.
The mother's true colors came out when she was caught hiring a hit man to murder the judge and prosecuting attorney in her son's trial. But, based on the data provided on screen at the close of the film, she escaped with minimal time served in this shocking, real life drama.
The filmmakers chose to focus extensively on the relationship of Kevin and his domineering mother Ruth. The toxicity came across in the love-hate relationship in which the mother would humiliate, taunt, and belittle her son, then shower him with adulation. At one point, Kevin contemplates moving from Spokane to Los Angeles. Of course, he feels compelled to bring along his smother mother, as opposed to breaking ties with her, as part of his plans.
One of the most interesting characters in the film was Ginni Perham, Kevin's long-suffering girlfriend. While the film does not suggest that Ginni was physically abused, she was certainly mentally traumatized by living with her psychopathic husband and having to interact with his controlling mother. The actress playing Ginni turned in a moving, understated performance.
The mother's true colors came out when she was caught hiring a hit man to murder the judge and prosecuting attorney in her son's trial. But, based on the data provided on screen at the close of the film, she escaped with minimal time served in this shocking, real life drama.
Sizzling True Story!
Sylviastel16 June 2008
Few stories are worth adapting to the screen. Elizabeth Montgomery gives a mind-bending brilliant performance as Ruth Coe, the beloved and twisted mother, of serial rapist Kevin Coe. It's not enough that her own son has been found, arrested, convicted, and imprisoned as the South Hill Rapist in Spokane, Washington. The South Hill Rapist struck usually in the mornings during his mornings when he jogged. He also struck about forty known victims and there were probably more than fifty knowing some who didn't report the crimes to the authorities. All the while, Mommy Dearest Ruth Coe refuses to believe any evidence and defends her son to the hilt. Elizabeth Montgomery's performance is chilling as is Dale Midkiff who plays her son. Now the real Kevin Coe might be released unless the state of Washington can place him on a island where he can be imprisoned for life as a dangerous sex offender. Even to this day, Spokane has not recovered from the years of terror as the South Hill Rapist struck and attacked his female victims.
Eh blah!
BandSAboutMovies7 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The bizarre relationship between an overbearing mother and her son, a convicted rapist? Sounds like a giallo, but it's a 1990's made for TV movie. That said, it's based on a novel by Jack Olsen and also based on a true story.
Yes, Kevin Coe (Dale Midkiff, Pet Sematary) may be a horrible real estate agent, but he's good at one thing: assaulting and murdering women. Maybe that's two things. Regardless, he has to put up with the taunts of his socialite mother (Elizabeth Montgomery, Bewitched, The Legend of Lizzie Borden).
Now, his new girlfriend Ginny Perham is getting too close and she just might unravel all his secrets. Hey - Talia Balsam is in this, which makes me happy, as I always celebrate when her dad shows up in horror films. And Caroline Williams - Stretch from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 - shows up.
Not much else happens, sad to say. Maybe I was hoping for more of a trip into the psychosexual mind - I blame the trailer for Torso for that line - but got nothing.
Yes, Kevin Coe (Dale Midkiff, Pet Sematary) may be a horrible real estate agent, but he's good at one thing: assaulting and murdering women. Maybe that's two things. Regardless, he has to put up with the taunts of his socialite mother (Elizabeth Montgomery, Bewitched, The Legend of Lizzie Borden).
Now, his new girlfriend Ginny Perham is getting too close and she just might unravel all his secrets. Hey - Talia Balsam is in this, which makes me happy, as I always celebrate when her dad shows up in horror films. And Caroline Williams - Stretch from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 - shows up.
Not much else happens, sad to say. Maybe I was hoping for more of a trip into the psychosexual mind - I blame the trailer for Torso for that line - but got nothing.
Not sweet beautiful Samantha anymore.
rangerz-801-34548828 January 2020
As most EM fans, I was excited to view this made for TV movie. First, I read the book the movie is based. Difficult to believe anyone would perform such acts on women; however, I was raised where nothing such occurred.
Must admit, it was difficult to watch Liz portray Ruth Coe. Decades of watching Bewitched had America convinced she truly was Samantha Stephens. America's favorite tv witch. Now, along comes this made for tv movie with Liz as a cold heart and exceptional at mind games. Not the Samantha we all recalled. Some convinced themselves it was Samantha's kooky cousin, Serena, playing the role of Ruth Coe. Well, that softened the blow somewhat. Dale Midkiff was rather believable as her son 'Coco'. I've never been involved with anything near this; even remotely. But to watch America's favorite tv witch turn into an evil Serena; well, that was very scary. But I digress.
Liz's turn in her 1974 movie, A Case of Rape was terrifying, to say the least. I imagine it would be difficult if not impossible for a rape victim to watch either.
Liz had ignored signs of her cancer returning, thinking she had it beat. She filled her time left with making movies up until her passing. Suppose that's how she wished to handle the situation. Nonetheless, she will most prominently be known as America's beautiful nose twitching witch of Bewitched.
Thank you.
Jon Monsarrat review: Disturbing and boring
johnnymonsarrat27 April 2004
Sins of the Mother is a real life story about cruelty. Unfortunately, there isn't much to the story. Lots of awful stuff happens, no plot twists, just pain and hate.
I'm sure it's true to life, but not much of a movie. The mom is real evil though.
Who should see this film:
-- Nobody
-- Hateful mothers who seek to control everyone
I'll give Sins of the Mother a staggering 3 out of 10, which is the lowest I'll give any film I actually sat all the way through.
I'm sure it's true to life, but not much of a movie. The mom is real evil though.
Who should see this film:
-- Nobody
-- Hateful mothers who seek to control everyone
I'll give Sins of the Mother a staggering 3 out of 10, which is the lowest I'll give any film I actually sat all the way through.
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