The Morrison Murders: Based on a True Story

I saw this movie the other night on USA and I must admit, I was impressed. TV movies are normally boring and dull, but I am gonna say that I thought this movie was entertaining and suspenseful.

The ending is shocking, twisted, and wonderfully played out. It surprised me and scared me at the same time.

The script was all that strong all the time and some of the acting was a little different. However, when this movie is on TV watch it. You are not gonna be disappointed.

The musical "score" quote in this TV movie to me right back to the mid-90s. It could have been Matlock or in the heat of the night.

The score did nothing to enhance the cinematography, branding it as a mid-90s TV movie and leaving no doubt, but the story was interesting if not captivating. It's pretty standard mid-90s TV movie fare. I generally like many TV movies and a six is not a bad rating for one.

ABOUT MY REVIEWS:

I do not include a synopsis of the film/show -- you can get that anywhere and that does not constitute a meaningful review -- but rather my thoughts and feelings on the film that hopefully will be informative to you in deciding whether to invest 90-180 minutes of your life on it.

My scale: 1-5 decreasing degrees of "terrible", with 5 being "mediocre" 6- OK. Generally held my interest OR had reasonable cast and/or cinematography, might watch it again 7 - Good. My default rating for a movie I liked enough to watch again, but didn't rise to the upper echelons 8- Very good. Would watch again and recommend to others 9- Outstanding. Would watch over and over; top 10% of my ratings 10 - A classic. (Less than 2% receive this rating). For Lifetime Movies for Chicks (LMFC), drop the above scale by 3 notches. A 6 is excellent and 7 almost unattainable.

I don't usually like this sort of movie but was working at home and wanted something to halfway watch while I did. I got so engrossed I gave up working to just sit and finish watching the last half hour uninterrupted. And I sure don't usually shed tears over this sort of show, but I was crying at the end. A lot of emotional nuance. Great acting, and good southern feel. John Corbett is one of the most talented actors out there, and the guy who played Luke was really good too. Highly recommend.

Very good for a TV movie! Good acting & directing. Walker's wife was particularly good (thought she was Charlize Theron). The story was told with some subtlety and portrayed the anguish when one's sibling turns out to be VERY troubled.... and the conflict between justice and mercy in trying to get closure. We've seen so many depictions of cruel, autocratic bible-belt fathers and the damage they can do to their families, but this was a sensitive and subtle version of a much-repeated story.

(When you're having a rough day, and all you have energy for is watching TV movies, it's a lucky break to find one this well done. Of course, I am biased. Can't help but feel a bit favorable toward anything with the delightful "Chris Stevens" in it)!

Three members of a wealthy family are found dead in their home, victims of gunshots. Real-life names, including the family surname, have been changed for this movie. Though the story is set in Georgia, the actual crime took place in Alabama, in September of 1988. Also unlike the movie, the actual crime went cold for four years. And the real-life killer was arrested in Oklahoma City.

The film is a pretty good reenactment of events after the killings, with a plot that is straightforward and easy to follow. The script downplays the whodunit element in favor of a crime/character drama. As a result, mystery is rather minimal. The killer comes across as conspicuously stupid. Toward the end, law enforcement sets a trap for the killer. And the unpredictability of the trap's outcome ups the suspense.

Background music is a bit generic, consistent with the film's TV production. Overall casting and acting are acceptable, though the actor who plays the sheriff seems a little out of place in the South. The camera is fairly static. There are lots of close-ups as we would expect for a character drama. Sets and costumes are mediocre.

The story's significance is reduced in the minds of some viewers because the story is described in the form of a made-for-TV film. And that's my main criticism. But it is a sad story, and no less real for all those who were in any way connected to it.

"The Morrison Murders" is worth watching for anyone interested in true crime. Despite the overall sadness of events, there's a slight twist at the very end, one that takes a little bit of the sting out of what one normally would expect, given the circumstances.