A Killer in the Family

I always liked Robert Mitchum in the movies I saw with him as it always looked very natural and convincing in every role. And when I found this movie on YouTube and seeing that it stars James Spader and Eric Stoltz (two actors I usually like because they are too very natural), I had to see it, and I was right.

Gary Tison (Robert Mitchum) was serving a life sentence for murder and various other crimes. Despite this he looked like a good father and his family went often to visit him in prison. Under his fatherly exterior he was a manipulative and despicable man. And this manipulator managed to convince his three sons (James Spader, Eric Stoltz and Lance Kerwin) to help him and his cell mate escape from prison to the Arizona wilderness, leading to a manhunt. The best part is that after the escape Gary Tison murdered folks (including an entire family for stealing their truck and their stuff) and terrorized his sons for keeping them in line, and they will finally see that their father is NOT the man they thought he was (innocent and loving). All goes well and unpunished not until a final showdown with the police in the desert at night (possibly the coolest scenario).

The main reason for watching this is for the acting. Mitchum is great as a very menacing and evil man that knew how to kill people and how to force his sons for doing his deals. James Spader and Eric Stoltz were very good, while Lance Kerwin was a bit annoying.

In the end, a well acted and scary TV movie, but still a must see for its compelling plot and characters.

This thing is certainly no masterpiece but worth a look to see a young James Spader give a truly sympathetic performance. Mitchum is a true legend but here he is just walking through. However, Spader (as always) gives it his all. His character was trying to make something of himself and was just looking out for his brothers. He is disgusted by his father and effortlessly matches him wit for wit, throwing in some verbal zingers - I just wish his character physically outsmarted him as well. I don't want to spoil the ending but have to say his fate was cruel and unfair.

This was on tv all the time? Really? I never see it. I had to track down a bootleg from a collector - quality is OK but it sure would be nice to have this thing commercially released on video and dvd. It's a must for Spader fans - it's his best early pre-stardom performance.

Great movie. The moral? Criminals are manipulative people not clever enough to legally pursue their happiness. Don't get taken by them, too. Robert Mitchum is again a convincing criminal. Prefer his Max Cady (CAPE FEAR, 1962) over De Niro's (CAPE FEAR, 1991) ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Deliberately bad 2 I don't want to see it 3 I didn't finish and or FF'd through it 4 Bad 5 I don't get it 6 Good 7 Great but with a major flaw 8 Great 9 Noir with moral 10 Inspiring with moral.

Remember when American TV movies were decent? It's been 30 years now since those days, but occasionally they'll show up on DVD or on the TV and you'll remember just how compelling and, well, adult they were back then. Certainly not watered down to avoid upsetting anybody, like the ones since then have been.

A KILLER IN THE FAMILY is a great little movie, a wonderful thriller with some truly memorable moments. It's based on a true story too, showing how a murderer's three teenage boys help him to escape from prison, before joining him on what becomes a journey of horror. There are some shocking moments in this, all the more surprising because they come totally out of the blue.

The cast is excellent. Robert Mitchum is still completely menacing as a bad guy, decades after he excelled in the likes of NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, but the actors playing the children are just as good. James Spader is the voice of conscience, Eric Stoltz the go-along, and Lance Kerwin (SALEM'S LOT) the youngster who's completely out of his depth. To say too much about this film would be to spoil it, other than to say it's completely compelling and well worth tracking down.

This wasn't Robert Mitchum's best work. The movie based on a true story is well worth watching if you should see it listed. It was a TV movie and not available on VHS or anything. Both Robert Mitchum and Stuart Margolin (Angel - Rockford Files) give good performances in their roles.