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.

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.

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.

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.

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.