The Interrogation of Michael Crowe

Powerful performances from the whole cast and not just an entertaining movie but a educational one Shows how quick judgements and prejudice can effect people in so many ways. An absolute must for any parent I hope you'll never need the education why!! Do not miss the chance to see this gem!!

The main child actor is astonishingly good; a really heart-rending performance. A couple of the cops are good too. Great to see Ally Sheedy again. Unfortunately, the script is too on-the-nose and the lawyer is a really bad actress, so it brings it all down to a 3-star (out of 5) film. Overall, it's sort of entertaining in a "disease-of-the-week" TV movie kind of way, but there are many better films you could be watching...

Cheryl (Ally Sheedy) and Stephen Crowe (Michael Riley) are loving parents to Michael, Shannon, and Stephanie in Escondido, California. One night, someone stabs Stephanie to death. The police is puzzled by the lack of evidence of a break-in and suspicion immediately falls on the family. Detective Baker interviews transient Richard Tuite for an unconnected issue and doesn't even consider him for the case. They isolate the surviving kids from their parents. With relentless interrogation and trickery, they gain false confessions from Michael, his friends Joshua Treadway and Aaron Houser.

Based on the real murder in 1998, this TV movie is at a lower level. It doesn't have the production value to be truly compelling or intense. It would be melodramatic if there isn't a real story behind it. The interrogations are tough to watch due to their inherit unbalanced dynamics. They also drag on for too long. In a way, the audience is stuck inside the room along with Michael and that has some benefits. It shows how a confession could be coerced. It's an uncomfortable watch. The legal wrangling after that in the second half works well enough.

very, very moving movie. kudos to court-tv. you guys did an awesome job. i felt the full range of emotions as i watched. and really - isnt that the definition of a truly great movie??

there were a couple of FIRST's for me tonight. it was the FIRST time i watched "The Interrogation of Michael Crowe. this is the FIRST time i have ever posted a comment on imdb. and after rating over 300 different films over the past one and a half years or so, i give this movies my FIRST 10/10. young Mark Rendell was simply stunning....

Firstly what a great, emotional performance from the young man playing Michael.

I would love to say I'm shocked by this story, but having looked into so many myself, it isn't that surprising at all.

Certainly reminders of the Jon Benet Ramsay case, but with vast differences in wealth and how the family were treated immediately.

Scary and thought provoking!