In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness

Pay no attention to the other post saying this movie sucks, because it doesn't. This movie is based on a true story, that I as well as everyone that live around this area either grew up hearing about or lived through. Sometimes true stories may not present the rosiest of pictures, and this movie most certainly is far from rosy. Most of the movie is true, and follows along with the book written by a local author named Jerry Bledsoe, however somethings have been changed and made more Hollywood. If you are looking for a love story like Gone with the Wind, you're looking in the wrong place. If you are looking for a historical movie about a real life serial killer from Reidsville North Carolina, then this is the movie for you.

I wasn't originally going to comment on this movie, but, after reading some of the other reviews, I felt like I needed to add to this.

Although most reviews of this film have been somewhat positive,there are a few of the reviews which have noted how unbelievable this story is and how this movie is not worth the time. I disagree.

Some people may not realize that this is based on true events that happened in the mid 1980s in North Carolina. As a local high school student when this all came to the forefront, and also having been lucky enough to be able to read Jerry Bledsoe's original articles when they were published in the Greensboro "News and Record" (the local paper where he was writing at the time), I can honestly say that most local folks were both amazed and disturbed by the whole situation and the senselessness of it all.

If you are interested in this movie and would like to learn more about the Klenner, Sharp, Newsom, and Lynch families, I suggest that you read "Bitter Blood" (by Jerry Bledsoe) -- the book on which this mini-series was based. The movie was good, but never have I found a crime novel that was as intriguing as this. A long read, but worth the time.

One of the best casts ever on a little network, this director obviously comes from New York and knows all the great unsung actors living there.

Marian Seldes, Anne Pitoniak, Tom Aldredge are all great to see on screen, and do a great job, but the film belongs to Carradine and Willis. She gives a terrific performance, and he's right up there with her. It's a little long, yes, but if you can get into the story it's well worth it.

As many tv movies go, this two-part mini-series could sometimes be weak in the writing and acting departments, but still held a fascination because a) the events are true, and b) the climax took place just a few miles from my parents' house. In fact, I was acquainted with a relative of one of the families involved.

Some have commented on the lack of plausibility of the story, but the movie stayed true to the actual events for the most part. In fact, it even left out some factual details that did not seem implausible, but real life is often stranger than fiction. (I recommend reading Jerry Bledsoe's book "Bitter Blood," where the entire story will blow you away. The movie is based on this book.)

Regardless of the weak nature of a tv movie-of-the-week, including the disruptions for commercials when I first saw it broadcast over two nights, the series of tragedies that unfolded were still heart-wrenching and made my pulse race. If you can get past those usual weaknesses, you will find an amazing true story of a strange couple who, when put together, seemed to lose all perspective on reality and unleashed a diabolical plot to retain full custody of the woman's two little boys from a previous marriage. If the movie is available for rental, it's probably worth checking out, but not as light-hearted viewing.

This movie was amazing! I was a little girl when all of this happened and to know that this happened in my own hometown. After I saw this movie, I went and researched everything to know about it. Then, I watched the movie again. These characters were true to their characters. It was amazing. Eveybody I talked to about this (who was involved) & who saw the movie, said this movie was wonderful! I thought it was wonderful, too. And it was eerie that this happened in my home town and that I actually know where the Newsom house is!! I really thought this movie was wonderful!