Im Schatten des Schreckens

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.

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.

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.

Honestly some of the worst acting I've seen in a movie. Not sure which performance was worse, Elizabeth Montgomery or Dale Midkiff's! They were both terrible!

As for the story it was slow, boring and it just didn't seem to know what it was trying to achive.

Whoever cast the film should never work in the film industry ever again.

Midkiff's protagonist was completely unbelievable and he never felt like the crazed rapist he was meant to be portraying. He just seemed arrogant and never felt dangerous at all.

There were many plot holes including his girlfriend who you see once for like 30 seconds.

One positive was the make up artist done an ok job with some of the injuries.

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!