Tödlicher Gefallen

This movie was really good. It is a true case! Read the book, "Death Benefit" by David Heilbroner. There is another movie based on the same case but they changed some facts in the real story which I did not like. In the second movie, they implied the murdered girl had learning disabilities which was confusing and don't understand why they did that. The girl in the real story was mildly retarded. This movie was very accurate to the real story. People want to know THE REAL STORY! And all the details. This movie was very good. Loved the actor that played the lawyer!

Carrie Snodgress is,without a doubt,one of the most talented and experienced actress of the cinema.She makes the public feel something about her characters,in some moments hating them,in others,loving them.Unfortunately,Carrie Snodgress is now relegated to smaller roles as a supporting actress,wich is certainly not good for us,because it hinders her ability of creating memorable characters,and her vast experience as a well-known respectable actress.Nevertheless,in Death Benefit,Carrie is the protagonist of a tense film,which is,in some moments,sad,and in other moments,involving.The film mixes two genres,drama and suspense and,through the precise and moderate direction,please plenty in telling the story of Virginia Mcginess,a cruel and bad woman that does not hesitate in thrust a young girl from a cliff after becoming aware about the money of the insurance she might get.Peter Horton also offers an excellent interpretation(maybe his best) as the lawyer who finally finds his redemption after helping the victim's family.With a good rhythm,that sometimes,just occasionally,sins due it's morosity,the film is a good demand in the video store for the persons who want to see a good suspense movie and know more about the work of this great actress.Carrie Snodgress proves that some people are born with a natural gift for interpretation and,once you have this gift,you might play the role of a kind and caressing mother(in Pale Rider,with Clint Eastwood),or the role of a cold and seductive killer with determination and hate,who defeats,throw down and hold with an incredible calm a bigger and stronger man in a bathtub(in Murphy's Law),but you will always instigate the public in the theater.

I enjoyed both movies. Both are well acted. This one uses the real names of the lawyer and the evil mother. There's a book about Steven Keeney's quest for justice. In the other one, the focues is on the troubled relationship between the murdered daughter and her mother. The mother appears to be the driver behind finding the truth.

I agree with the earlier reviewer; she proves her acting ability, despite a thin script and bland dialogue. Peter Horton is also good, at least not the usual slick lawyer from a firm- (ergo; he is a sympathetic character!!) That is NOT an easy accomplishment, to portray a lawyer AND be a likable character.

In fact, I will not even watch movies anymore about attorneys, courtroom dramas, etc. Writers, please take note after the Scott Peterson and Michael Jackson debacles last year, the phrase "courtroom drama" has been maxxed out, for at least the next ten years. That being said, this film was based on a true story, and there are minimal courtroom settings.

The sociopath is portrayed by Carrie Snodgress, who also played opposite Steve Railsback in the movie "Ed Gein". She does an excellent job, as always. So watch the film for her performance- and for genuine acting, by a talented actor.

I am from Kentucky, I went to a boarding school with the sister of the girl this movie is about. I remember when she found out that her sisters death was not an accident. That has been many years ago. We had lost touch for a few years, but I recently got back in touch with her. I actually talked to her about her sister tonight. Back in boarding school, she couldn't even talk about it. She did tell me that her mother was not portrayed correctly in this movie. She was not a good mother, and she was horrible to her daughter. I would say that if the writer of this movie did research with the family, then the mother was portrayed as she would want the world to know her as.