Vengeance: The Story of Tony Cimo

Giving this movie a 3 out of 10 is being very nice. This not so typical TV movie was originally done for CBS and is a cruel fate for an interesting and sad story of murder in the South. Its a shame for the family of the victims that this is the version that was presented for those unfamiliar with the story.

Both the director and writer were TV veterans that were in the twilight of their careers, and both coincidentally died 3 years after this movie was made. Its hard to say what's worst with this train-wreck, the direction or the writing. With its horrible editing, badly performed scenes and clunky dialog, it's a close race. The acting wasn't much better than the script, but you can't blame the actors given what they had to work with, in bad made for TV movies they usually go hand in hand. One possible exception was with one of the villains played by Brad Dourif, who gave one of his usual creepy and effective performances, too bad it was all at the end of the movie. I have to also mention and give an honorable mention to the annoying early 80s synthesized sound track, that added the perfect touch to this unwatchable masterpiece. It would have been a typical and average soundtrack if done in 1980, too bad it was done in the late 80s. Bad made for TV movies were a dime a dozen in the 70s and 80s and this one is no different. They filled in the slack time for the big 3 networks and where effective for the low money spent to get the low ratings they received. Unfortunately a replacement was found for them in the endless bad reality TV we now sit through. I guess pick your poison, I personally pick the endless investigative TV news shows of the 90s.

Vengeance: The Tony Cimo Story, a 1986 CBS fact based movie deals with one man's crusade to seek justice for his murdered parents in a small South Carolina town. This movie would have been a routine, melodramatic crime drama had it not been for four actors. William Conrad, Brad Dourf, the up and coming Michael Beach, and the late versatile thespian Brad Davis. The performers are one of the best joys one would get out of watching this movie.

Michael Beach, who would go on to heat up the screen in films like One False Move, Soul Food, and Waiting to Exhale is the killer in this film of Davis parents. Beach plays a recent New York transplant, who is a trouble maker, that eventual kills the elderly couple. Rudolph Tyner played by Beach commits this vile act while committing a robbery in the couple's rural, owned convenient store. He is later arrested, put on trial, and sentenced to death. The story does not end here.

Brad Davis is the grieving son of the elderly couple murdered, just when it seems like his parents murder will be dealt with through the legal system, many surprises unfold that will not bring about the speedy and fair conclusion of a murder case where the evidence is overwhelmingly against Beach. Brad Davis is the glue that keeps the sole together in this movie. Davis talent is reminiscent of John Garfield, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Montgomery Clift, Rod Steiger, and Tupac Shakur, just heavy weight method acting.

This is a good movie, the producers got a certain moral point across. Justice is not simply had and sometimes people will seek their on form of justice in desperate situations. I give this movie ***1/2, superior. Brad Davis performance is **** excellent. Check it out, it can be seen on late night television.