Cries in the Dark (TV Movie 2006) Poster

(2006 TV Movie)

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6/10
Psycho dental hygienist on the loose.
shiannedog17 May 2021
The reviews on this movie were both high and low and I had hoped for better than I got. Eva LaRue acted very well and gets a high grade and the other performers were ok but not great. The screen play had some faulty elements which is typical of made for TV movies. Overall I would say it's worth watching to see the lead actress perform so well but be prepared to let a lot of details slide by your critical eye. As far as the plot goes, all I can say is it's a shame that the world has people in it who pursue such sick and evil plans and that these types of crimes can occur. So sad.
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Pretty good, disturbing
vchimpanzee23 June 2009
Carrie is a detective because her father was a cop. Her sister Elle had a different father and she sells real estate with her husband Scott. Carrie and Elle are as close as you would expect two sisters to be. They have a couple of cute scenes together, and there's even some comedy early on.

Carrie and her mother, who outlived two husbands, don't get along because Carrie still doesn't have a man and that, to her mother, makes her inadequate. Elle is pregnant and due any day now, and Rosa, who she meets at the doctor's office, comments that they could share a cab to the hospital.

One night Carrie is planning to have dinner with Elle and her husband, but she is asked to investigate a case involving a sex offender. This could be Davis, the same creepy guy who met with Elle earlier, first claiming he wanted to buy a house, then saying renting would be better since he moves a lot. Detective Wynn, who is a good friend to Carrie as well as a partner, takes the case instead, so Carrie is free to go to dinner.

But dinner doesn't go well. Elle and Scott aren't getting along because Scott is a workaholic. He just HAS to take a business call during dinner. Then he leaves. Carrie ends up having to do the same thing.

Scott returns. Where is Elle?

Hours pass. The police can't do anything this soon. Still nothing. What happened to Elle?

Eva LaRue is too pretty to be a detective (which is a real incentive for guys to watch), but she is a good enough actress. She has one particularly good scene where she makes clear how much the situation has upset her. But Carrie has to be a professional, and that's how she is once that one scene is done--except, of course, her chief keeps having to advise her not to get too involved in the case. This is a movie, though, so that won't work.

Gina Chiarelli gives the standout performance here. We never quite know what's going on, but it's easy to put the missing pieces together. Later, we get to watch the detectives at work.

Adrian Holmes and Anthony Harrison also do quite well here.

There are situations in this movie that can be considered quite disturbing. Don't say you haven't been warned. Other than that, the violence is minimal.

This is a pretty good movie.
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3/10
Good Story Line - Very Unrealistic
jwilli12653 January 2014
The story was based on the very realistic happenings that occur in this sick world of ours today. The problem with the movie is that the actions of the police, the heroine and the parent the movie were so far fetched and unrealistic that it made the movie not worth watching. Over the years, I come to expect Lifetime movies to be a tad on the corny side. But they are generally very clean and devoid of gratuitous sex and violence so I always watch them. To me that is a worthwhile swap. This movie was over the top and very predictable. The movie did have a bright spot and that was Eva. Not her role mind you, but just watching her was wonderful.
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1/10
Insipid drivel
heatherw-329 December 2006
The only redeeming feature of this movie was the acting by Eva LaRue Callahan. The story is hardly fresh (apparently the police in movie-land never listen to the news), the characters were flat as could be, the heavy handed backstory via "conversation" at the start of the movie between the sisters might as well have come via a Greek chorus for its subtlety, relationships were never fully examined... The "surprise" twist at the end was so obvious from the outset, again, where's the Greek chorus when you need it? The biggest problem the movie seemed to suffer from, though, was that it played like a mystery, with the focus being on the "crime solving" instead of the interpersonal relationships, but from the outset the writers basically told us who committed the crime. So instead of either trying to work it out with the police, or spending our time exploring the relationships between the characters, we end up wondering why they're so slow and dense. (And hello, the final scenes tying up all lose ends through more oral exposition is NOT giving your characters backstory and depth in any useful way.) Callahan, though, managed to give her character depth with the weakest of material, so while we never find out exactly why she and her sister were so incredibly close, we do feel it. This, along with hope that at some point the movie would get even a quarter of an inch below the surface, was all that could keep me watching. And as it ends, I'm wondering what I can do to get the last two hours of my Lifetime back.
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2/10
Insipid drivel for sure
clareg-944-9461457 January 2011
Home from work sick and watched this horrid piece of crap. Predictable storyline and no real mysteries here.

The script was not well written at all and full of clichés. The only mystery here is what was "Scott", a youngish and good looking guy, doing messing around with "Rosa" who was older and not attractive at all........

The actress who played Carrie the policewoman was okay but I don't get the other reviewers who thought she was so tremendous. Best of the bunch is the actor who played her partner.

A very disappointing movie. From the credits it appears that it is a Canadian production. Surely we can do better than this?
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7/10
Cries in the Dark- Story Within A Story Needs More Telling ***
edwagreen21 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This is a very good film but needed much more telling as there is still a greater story to be told.

A policewoman's sister, who is pregnant, is shot to death and suspicion falls on the husband who has been known to have a roving eye. It turns out that the guy had a one-night fling with some nut case who learned of the pregnant wife and being unable to have children, decides to blow the wife away and take the child for herself and the child's father.

With excellent detective work, the nut job is located. Here is where the story ended but I think there was an even greater story to be told. How will the mother-in-law and sister-in-law be able to bring back the son-in-law into their lives? After all, his philandering did lead to tragedy though he had nothing to do with the murder. Yes, there is a baby involved but can we readily forgive? There was an opportunity for a sensational story here that is overlooked. The woman who played the killer had the temperament of Mrs. Danvers from "Rebecca," and the looks of the late Colleen Dewhurst.
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3/10
Awful story
nightroses30 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This terrible thing has happened often enough and made into film. A pregnant woman killed so that a jealous and nasty other woman can steal the baby. It's heartbreaking and also sick. Here, the film portrays a pregnant woman that comes across a sex offender by accident only she doesn't realise this. The audience is led down the wrong path to think he was the one responsible for what happened. When the lady is found dead, they also discover that her baby was taken out and this was how she died. We later discover that her husband (who comes across as wooden and very emotionless) had an affair with this woman called Rosa. The woman playing Rosa couldn't have been more oddly cast in that role. She looks scary and has a very grim persona. The biggest question I'm wondering is why didn't the police ever ask the neighbours if they heard anything that night. When we got a flashback, there was so much shouting that it would've disturbed neighbours. I dont think this film was cleverly put together as it left holes and issues like that. I didn't enjoy the film that much as it was frustrating and hard to watch.
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10/10
great movie!
payneo21 July 2007
I saw the write up about this movie in the TV guide, so I thought I would tape it and watch it another day since it was on showcase at 7 (a little early for me to sit and watch a movie). As I was setting up my VCR, I started watching it and then couldn't stop! LOL. I thought I would just watch to the first commercial to see if it was any good, but I ended up watching the entire movie. It is suspenseful and the acting was great! I liked Eva La Rue. She was very believable. I don't want to ruin it for people but, towards the end, what a great twist with the letter! Great idea. I liked that it wasn't the run of the mill murder mystery too...a fresh idea. I think anyone who likes a good mystery will LOVE this movie. I highly recommend it.
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8/10
Loved Eva
mitzithebest18 September 2006
I love Eva as the conniving (spelled right?) Natalia on CSI Miami and she was great in this movie too! I thought she brought a lot of compassion to her character and made me really feel for her. Does anyone know when she's doing another movie?

Her and her partner also had a great chemistry and I wanted to see them hook up in the end. I can't believe there have been actual crimes like this. It did also feel like the Lacy Petersen thing at times to. The husband was even called "Scott." I wonder if that was intentional. I just wanted to slap that mother though, lol. And the husband. It was a fun ride though.
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Eva
moviephantasm14 October 2006
I give it an 8 just for Eva alone. I think she did well and had a great tough chick role. Would've liked a little more gore, but hey it's TV I guess...

The villain worked like a Kathy Bates type crazy and her reveal at the end was great.

For a Lifetime movie it was worth my time and I didn't flick the channel. I would love to see Eva do more like this. Or even to have Eva do a feature film. She has a lot of talent and isn't being used enough. Look forward to seeing her more in CSI Miami too.

When this movie comes on again, can anyone let me know. Thanks in advance.
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10/10
You are a hero Eva!
Ebenezer-42 January 2007
Eva LaRue played the part of Carrie perfectly. I loved seeing her on All My Children and now she is in a movie that taught me how people really act in this world. The scene in the movie that I liked was at the end when she was asking Rosa if she knew who she was. I want to be a police officer when I get older because I want to protect people from harm. Eva you taught me that family is the most important thing in life and how to live your life to the fullest. You are a hero in my eyes. You are an excellent actor and you have the talent to go very far. You are so cool and you are always going to be a role model to me. When I get older I hope to be just like you when I get older. Eva you are the best!
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Leading lady good actress
guilfisher-19 November 2008
In this LMN feature Eva La Rue managed to hold the film together with her performance. It was quite real and at times touching as well as believable. Hats of to this actress. Not too many good ones like this on LMN. She and her fellow team mate cop played by Adrian Holmes worked well together and very natural. You felt they both had done crime work before.

What I found not realistic was the leading man, played by Adam Harrington, having an affair with an older hag of a woman, played by Gina Chiarelli. She was just plain ugly. Why would a good looking young man go for the likes of her? This threw me.

Camille Sullivan had only a little to do in this as La Rue's ill fated sister. However the situation was too close to the Peterson case in real life. Linda Darlow was the often irritating emotional mother of the two sisters. She got on your nerves after a while.

But this is a step up from most of LMN films with La Rue's acting.
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8/10
Enjoyable afternoon mystery
kacarrol-772-44544720 May 2012
I could not stop watching this movie, although I've seen it at least twice since 2006. It was very believable and unpredictable at the same time. Definitely one of the most entertaining lifetime movies- with great acting from everyone. I for one was glad that they cut down on the "blatant gore" factor, something which is very unnecessary for those that enjoy good acting/entertainment. I remember Eva LaRue from " All My Children". She was a was a standout even then. I would definitely recommend this movie for a lazy Saturday/Sunday afternoon with friends or family. I'm not sure what others- who've rated this movie 2-3 stars- are looking for in a good made for TV movie. This one has it!!
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Don't watch if you're pregnant!
Taraisfab25 February 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this movie when I was almost nine months pregnant, and the sad fate of the main character's pregnant sister gave me one or two brief moments of terror when I heard bumps in the night. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the film, and taped it when it showed again, so I can dip into it occasionally. The plot is based on real life cases of 'womb raiders' - people who kill pregnant women to steal their babies.

A police woman who is very close to her sister Elle is perplexed when Elle vanishes into thin air. It first of all seems that a sex offender has abducted her, but when she shows up dead with her child removed from her body, the race is on to find the killer and most importantly, the baby girl who might possibly still be alive.

The characters in the movie were all likable - even the cheating husband had some redeeming qualities. And like other reviewers have said, the standout performance came from Eva LaRue Callaghan. She had the right mix of confidence and humour as a successful policewoman at the beginning of the movie, which changed into anger and determination when she lost her beloved sister, determination and drive when she hunted the killer, and finally, warmth and kindness when she reached out to her overbearing mother and cheating brother in law.

The movie matter is certainly disturbing, although delivered in as gentle a way as humanly possible, and not for pregnant ladies, but once baby is safely delivered, settle down for an enjoyable and engaging couple of hours!!
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10/10
Fantastic by Eva
bbox4330 April 2012
I am a huge fan of Eva La Rue, so when I read that she was in this movie, I had to see it.

And the same with all of Eva's work, I was not let down.

Not only does she portray the role of a police officer exceptionally well (Well, she has been a cop in two other roles so she should know what to do) but she also plays the part of the sister who is unsure of what to do next, which is what I love about it.

When I find this movie on DVD, it will definitely be going on my shelf.

A solid performance by Eva, and overall a fantastic movie.

This movie is definitely one I can watch over and over without getting sick of it.
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