Video Voyeur: The Susan Wilson Story (TV Movie 2002) Poster

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7/10
It's based on a true story-
MarieGabrielle22 July 2006
so the theme is at least followed through, and Angie Harmon does very well portraying the victim of a video voyeur. If this was fiction it would not deserve a thought, but the fact that Ms. Wilson was actually taped by her psychotic landlord is an important fact.

Dale Midkiff is passable as the concerned husband, and Jamey Sheridan is very believable as the creepy voyeur. The audience also sees how a relatively average family, renting a house in New Orleans is victimized by "elders" of the local parish.

While sometimes these movies are completely over-the-top, this one is worth watching as a cautionary tale, and the performances are pretty good.

Jamey Sheridan especially deserves mention- think of Robin Williams in "One Hour Photo", and you will get the picture; a menacing character who we may encounter many times in our life; one never knows what a person is capable of. 7/10.
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5/10
incomplete melodrama...
mcfly-313 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This being based on a true story, the filmmakers weren't permitted handy movie aids like shock surprises or a violent ending. Which hampers this retelling of the Louisiana woman who was unknowingly videotaped by a pervy neighbor. She's peeped, and peeped, and peeped again. Even without knowing the real-life events, we know it's the overly-helpful guy across the street. But all the first hour of the film contains is his spying and good deeds. We get the point after a half hour, and there are no real other avenues for this to go. Finally the point is reached where he tips his hand, so the victim checks out the guys house while he's away. Sure enough, videotapes are discovered featuring her and others in the buff. I don't know if this next part is accurtate or not, but having to sit through the Barney Fife investigation by the slackass police department was pretty grueling. Jr. high school comments made by one cop, while another seems to side with the peeper. Not to mention the church, which all but excuses his wrong-doings. Surprisingly, the guy confesses to the cops, cops a plea, end of movie. It seemed more sensationalistic in the press than within this film. A better-than-usual cast for a Lifetime Network film helps, with the gorgeous Harmon, effectively creepy Sheridan, and journeyman Midkiff. But they all---especially Harmon---belong in features as opposed to this in one ear, out the other fodder.
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6/10
True Story
kimbo81216 February 2005
This is a true story , it actually took place in the town that where I live. The guy was very wrong doing what he did and should have been stopped, who knows where he would have taped next. The story was well acted but could have been better, the sets could have been truer. I am not sure where they acutely filmed the movie, I do not think that it was where it actually took place. The scenery wast not anything like what it looks like around here, that is the only problem that I had with the movie. The actors did a good job of acting. If this deterred anyone else or made aware anyone else as to these things actually happening it was a good thing.
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Good for a TV-movie
vchimpanzee7 March 2006
In this fact-based film, Susan and Gary Wilson and their two children Emily and Orin move into a new house in Monroe, La., across the street from the very helpful Steve Glover, a deacon in the church. Steve, who married his teenage sweetheart Nancy and knew Susan when they all lived in Mississippi, offers to help them in any way he can. He offers them the use of his pool and hot tub, even when no one is home.

The Wilsons get involved in church and community activities. Like so many girls her age, Emily hates getting used to a new place and says she has no friends. Orin also has some trouble adjusting, though he does become friends with the Glovers' sons.

Steve is just a little too helpful to the Wilsons, though he did take care of their house before they bought it. One reason he spends so much time with the Wilsons may be the fact his wife has a career (this may be why her house is always a mess). Susan, on the other hand, stays home. She runs with her friends and plays classical piano, and she is interested in improving her musical skills.

From the film's title, you know someone will be watching something they shouldn't. While Susan is taking a shower, getting in bed, and even making love, we do see blue and white images on a TV screen that look very much like what we are seeing.

At first I thought this would be just an ordinary TV-movie, no different from a hundred others like it. But as the movie progressed, Angie Harmon effectively showed us a range of different emotions. Her character had to go from wanting to hide from the world to solving her problem regardless of the embarrassment it might cause. Plus she was beautiful--she looked just like Sandra Bullock.

Jamey Sheridan also did a good job. From the very start, he seemed nice in the manner of a used-car salesman, though I won't say whether this makes his character guilty of anything. You'll just have to watch.

This movie raised a number of questions about privacy and Christian faith. What do you forgive, and how should you handle it when someone strays? And how much of our lives are we entitled to keep to ourselves?

I found this quite entertaining.
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7/10
One of the better made lifetime movies about a True Life Story!
midnitepantera16 July 2021
I remember watching this when it first aired in 2002, and I just re-watched it in 2021. I can't believe that all states still don't have very good laws to protect people's privacy. I totally felt horrified for this poor woman and her family and was doubly horrified at how the church congregation treated her. Hippocrates ALL!! I truly don't get how supposed "Christians" can act like this, what the H*** Bible are they reading from, because while I'm no biblical scholar, I don't understand how these people didn't seem to be able to put themselves in this families shoes and how quick they were to just want to move on and forgive HIM for this heinous crime (and a child was involved people, a child!) And the law or lack of laws, just let him get away with it. Sorry, but if this happened to me and my kid, that dude would be getting a serious, surprise ninja style beat down with the tire iron in my truck! Decent acting and sadly realistic as far as the main character and how others treated this poor family! I guess as long as it's Not you or your kid it doesn't matter. Good God People, Grow a Pair! Stop sticking your head in the sand, because next time it will be you. :O.
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4/10
Keeping watch
Prismark1027 March 2016
This Lifetime made for television film tells an interesting but slightly campy look at voyeurism.

Susan Wilson (Angie Harmon) moves back to her Louisiana hometown with her family. They are given close attention by neighbour Steve Glover (Jamey Sheridan) who comes across as a little too overeager and creepy.

Susan becomes concerned when he seems to be privy to private conversations with her husband, Gary (Dale Midkiff) and sneaks into the his house to discover videotapes of herself in the shower and in the bedroom.

It seems Steve has secretly installed surveillance cameras in their house and has been taping them. To her horror she finds out that the police can do little about this as this type of voyeurism was not a crime. Worse the local church group are more forgiving of Steve and critical of Susan even when it emerges that other people in the town have also been secretly videotaped by Steve.

Susan campaigns to make this type offence a crime and takes the matter to court.

The film is earnest for Lifetime film but does come across as insipid. The neighbour is just too creepy from the word go, everything is black and white when their should had been more shade in characterisation. Harmon does well in the role who at first is shunned by many in the community for bringing the allegations against Steve. However there are flaws in the film. We are told that there was no audio in the tapes, so how did Steve know what Susan was talking about in her house?
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5/10
Not a very nice neighbor
blanche-23 August 2005
This is a TV movie based on a true story. Angie Harmon and Dale Midkiff star as parents of two children who move into a new neighborhood and find that one of the neighbors is on the strange side. At first, he's a little annoying. Then he becomes really annoying. Then he becomes inappropriate, like when he lets himself into their house when his power allegedly goes out. At no time does anyone tell him to get lost or that he's crossed a few boundaries.

After that, he starts dropping hints that make him seem like he's either a mind-reader or has some inside knowledge of their home. That's when they find out that he's run a wire into their house and is videotaping them.

I think I saw this woman on Oprah, and the story is indeed shocking. It's because of this family's experience that there are now laws against this type of thing -- originally, there were none, if you can believe it.

This was an okay movie, very average, with Sheridan being friendly but slimy underneath. Angie Harmon is an attractive and sympathetic as the mother. There's just nothing really special about any of it.
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10/10
Video Voyeurism Law Awareness
donnart-11 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I thought the movie was well done. It brought to light that laws are being put into place for such acts. I had recently been dating someone and had discovered he had a fetish of photographing pregnant women while sitting in a parking lot outside of Babies R' Us stores or walking around crowded places. He would follow them in the stores and then watch them come out & drive around the parking lot to catch what ever angle he could of their pregnant bodies in photos. If they were wearing a crop top with their tummies showing, it was even a bigger turn on and they were photographed. This was disgusting to learn a man I cared about was doing such despicable acts without women knowing it. He was confronted and said he stopped, but he could not control it, as camera cell phones became more popular and allowed him the ability to be more discreet, the behavior continued. I went to the police at one time and they told me that he was not doing anything against the law, unless the women were naked and in undergarments. It is frightening & scary to know people are out there and watching you and you not even know it. The laws need to be tougher and more detailed for Video Voyeurism, but it is a start in the right direction! Ladies be careful!
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5/10
Compelling
homie_g4 February 2003
Not a bad film, acting is a little bit on the dull side. But after you watch it, it does make you look at the ceilings of your own house to see if theres anyone watching you. Aside from the compelling story, there isn't too much to say about this film only that it might possible make you a little paranoid, which I believe is its purpose.
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10/10
Loved the movie, served it's purpose
kidsforjc31 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I love the Lifetime Channel. I know sometimes the movies can be a little monotonous, but overall, I do enjoy the movies based on true stories. I liked the actors, because my heart ached for the Wilson family while I found myself grunting and calling Mr. Glover a jerk. I thought that the issues and script was really good because it was very real. The young son didn't understand why he couldn't play with the neighbor, the teenage daughter showed the puberty signs that we unfortunately all go through, the husband wanting to help his wife and stay calm enough so he doesn't end up in prison for murder, the victimized wife feeling violated to where she couldn't breathe, and lastly to the criminal who doesn't recognize authority with respect and the feeling of being invincible. I also wanted to comment on the Christian values in the movie. Yes, you need to forgive, but you do need to recognize a wrongdoing and make it right. Psalm 1 says to not sit among liars and scoffers. You can forgive and love a person because it's the right thing to do, but you don't have to sit among them and go for the ride. I immediately went online to make sure that Texas has the law into effect. As of today 8/31/08, there are 28 states with a penalty for video voyeurism.
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Pretty good - and I never watch Lifetime movies...
jadesliver1 April 2003
I generally dismiss any Lifetime TV movie. Can you blame me, what with titles like "Mother May I Sleep With Danger", "Danger In Blue Sky Country", and my personal favorite: "Baby Monitor: Sound of Fear"? However, I was flipping through the other night and it was on, and it actually caught my attention and held me. It was very interesting and well done for a television movie. I think Angie Harmon saved it, she's very good to watch. The script wasn't bad. But overall it was the fact that this was a true story and that I learned from watching it that only FIVE states in the US have laws against video voyeurism!! I couldn't believe it!

So, this was pretty good. The first Lifetime Movie I actually watched and could say I liked. I just watch Lifetime for Golden Girls and Nanny - both shows you should watch if you don't already, by the way!
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10/10
video voyeur
pljfreedom25 May 2008
Video Voyeur exemplifies the beautiful changes people can make if they have the courage and the resources to fight for change. The man who committed the crimes that he committed did so because of male supremacy and misogyny. It is very important that people realize that violence against women and children (both physical and non-physical violence) is a consequence of hatred for women (and children) just because they are females (and children.) Perhaps some men are mentally or emotionally ill, but even those people attack women for the most part. Serial killers usually kill women. Think about it! Exeptions do not destroy this generalization. Misogyny is hatred of women just because they are female and feminine and because they are not men. That part about "not men" is also critically important because people fail to see this. Likewise, supremacy is deeper than a sense of being superior to other people because of gender or race or nationality or religion or politics or whatever. It cuts so deep in society that many people do not even realize that their behavior is a product of supremacy. It is the same with misogyny. Few people, before Feminism forced society to be more aware and sensitive, knew that a "dirty joke" is a put-down against women.
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10/10
interesting , informative, very good
ocs900028 February 2002
Warning: Spoilers
a good true life movie, a very informative story revolved around voyeurism and the ability of others to use cameras and hidden equipment to invade privacy in your home ! . the plot unfolds quite predictable , but where the 2 actors come to the fore is when they discover the equipment and then you see the turmoil and strain this places on the family and them coming to terms with it , also the mentality of a " small town " towards a previously respectable member of the community and a sort of local embarrassment and small attempt to make light of it and cover up . but the family pursues the matter and he is found guilty , this leads to a campaign to change laws and protect others . dale midkiff does the job of lead actor well but to me is sort of typecast in films of either domestic violence - where he usually plays the violent husband or domestic films like this , if you like this try dale's other films - especially those made for tv
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Realistic True Story
Mothman211828 December 2002
This movie was a very realistic movie.It was a Lifetime movie.Some of Lifetime's movies are not good, but this one was very good.The actors were great.Their acting was good most of the time.This movie has alot of feelings in it.Sometimes they were happy, mad, and most of all sad.Anyway, this movie is a realistic true story.
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10/10
We should have more movies made about sexual abuse!!
csimmons-123 January 2002
I appreciate someone writing about sexual abuse. It shows how deeply a woman is scarred. The movie opens up a whole new can of worms. Why is it not illegal to capture someone's naked body everywhere in the world. That should be a privacy issue that is addressed by our law makers.
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10/10
I was appalled at the bastard Steve Glover's behavior!
BreanneB21 May 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This was an excellent movie. Although, I can't stand that prick Steve Glove and his wife Nancy. His behavior was dirty and unacceptable before and after. He had no remorse for what he did none at all. Who does he think he is? Whats also shocking is that it was not even a law when it happened. How the hell could it not be? People said she was overreacting when it happened and it's like what she does not have the right to be angry about it? Oh please come on. The police also should have been nicer, they were jerks. Thank God it's now illegal to videotape someone without their permission. Kudos to the cast and crew and filmmakers!
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good movie
Sunshine14clr30 December 2002
this movie talks about video voyeurs. you can find them about anywhere nowadays. the internet, tv, you name it. unfortunately, they're very common in our hightech world. the people that commit this hideous crime are one step above the law. technically (before susan wilson) there wasn't a law. what he was doing wasn't illegal. the man was a sick little you know what that had the whole town backing him up. people, whatever the "reason" there is no excuse for that kind of behavior or action. it just disgusts me how low people have gotten these days. it must of been awful for susan wilson because this man was a trusted neighbor! how would you react if someone you trusted did this to you? anyways, the acting was ok. angie haromon did well in her role as well as jamey sherridan and the whole cast. i have a recomendation for tegan moss, get rid of that little southern belle in distress accent because its really annoying. lol! check out the movie. it airs on lifetime a lot. well done. 9 stars out of 10.
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8/10
A New, Invisible Threat!!!
lavatch8 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Susan and Gary Wilson moved into what they hoped would be their dream home in St. George Parish, Louisiana. But their dream turned into a nightmare when they discovered they were being videotaped in their bedroom and bathroom by a neighbor.

Steve Glover was a good old boy, a deacon of the church, a glad-hander, and everybody's Mr. Nice Guy. The only problem was that Steve was a pervert. Worming his way into the lives of the Wilsons, Steve installed the cameras in which he was able to spy on his neighbors in their most private moments.

Because the local police could not find any law that Steve Glover had broken, Susan, Gary, and their children were humiliated in the community. Susan was so deeply affected that she began sleeping in the closet.

The home stretch of the film depicts Susan courageously rallying to challenge Steve in court and eventually take her case into the public sphere to raise consciousness about video voyeurism. One of the most interesting characters is Susan's feisty daughter Emily, who encourages her mother's activism.

While the film may appear dated, it is successful in freezing in time the moment in the late 1990s when the notion of human privacy was being changed forever due to video technology and the internet.

With the convincing performance of the actress playing Susan and a well-constructed screenplay, the film delivered a solid dramatic punch about a vital issue. In this regard, Susan's bill, which was passed in Louisiana on July 12, 1999 may be seen as a kind of landmark in human rights and dignity.
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A lesson to be learned
renzoman330 January 2003
While I agree what the voyeur did was disgusting and a violation, do you think that everyone that has ever peeped on a woman is sick?. Obviously, setting up cameras in someone's own home is an extreme violation but if anyone who has ever peeped (without using video equipment) was convicted, many or even most guys would be in jail. Especially when guys are young, they're curious but they normally grow out of it and talking to your teenage sons about such things, is a good way of assuring they don't do it or continue to do it and stop it developing into situations as we see in this tele-movie. Reacting in a way in which your shocked it goes on or never discussing it, leads to a growing problem or even a culture of acceptance, making it a worse problem. Did you hear about the NFL peeping lawsuit? MOST NFL players in the entire league knew about the peepholes and many joined in whilst the rest said nothing and considered it a perk of playing at that particular place as it was the visiting player's locker room that was adjoined to the cheerleader's locker room. I blame this kind of behaviour on lack of talk about the subject, especially at an adolescent age where young boys are most likely to do it. They then grow up thinking it's ok to look, because, afterall, they're only seeing what the other cheerleaders see all the time, so it couldn't be so bad, right? That's the mentality, which although wrong and should be punishable, is not what I'd consider sick. Being attracted to the bodies of the opposite sex is totally au-naturale but it definitely can become a sickness if it gets to the point of what occured in this tele-movie. Communication and education is the real preventative measure.
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a legal mess
chronicbliss24 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
As it is not all states have laws against this kind of thing, and it's hard to bust anyone for anything but theft of electricity or damage to property (if they bolt the cameras in place, that is). It actually is hard to prove breaking and entering if you gave a neighbor a key, as many people do when they go on vacation. And video, without sound, is legal without knowledge or permission, to protect shop owners with surveillance cameras. And if you're unlucky enough to have this done by an apartment manager or landlord, they have legal access to the entire building. In fact, if you rent your home, the landlord is entitled to make any modifications he wants most of the time, including cameras, to his property. The woman in this movie felt justifiably violated and was treated poorly at almost every turn. I was shocked by her church preaching cart blanche 'forgiveness', but even more so by the police who showed up with a search warrant and then just took what they were handed. Do Louisiana police raid drug houses and just take what they're offered, ignoring the entire house? And why were they not more upset to learn that one of the naked bodies on the tapes belonged to a teenage girl? The fact of the matter is, this is a great movie because it is so realistic. In this case, the police were incompetent, and the victims felt the way almost anyone would. Of course a high school girl is going to worry first about what her friends will think! That's almost all of what high school girls worry about. And no woman is going to want to sleep in a bed she's been violated in, whether the cameras are gone or not. I'm just surprised any husband would be so understanding of his wife. If I can leave my curtains open and prosecute a peeping tom looking in the window, then it should be a much harsher sentence for someone who bypasses any measures I put up to keep myself hidden.
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