Seduced by Madness: The Diane Borchardt Story

I'm not usually one to watch many Lifetime movies. My wife frequents the channel, though and sometimes only through boredom in it's purest form, will I watch a Lifetime movie with her.

But I must say that I thouroughly enjoyed this movie. I'm not the sentimental type by any means, but even I could not hold back tears as Ruben is shot as he's coming up the basement steps, thinking the person coming down is his son (it's actually the killers), saying, "I thought I was gonna have to drag you out of bed at this time of night."

Diane got away with the crime for about six months, then one of the boys cracks and shoots his mouth off to the wrong person, who then out of guilt, feels compelled to go to the cops, who felt that Diane was involved from the get-go.

The funeral scene is the most disturbing scene to sit through. Where Diane put's on a grief show, crying over Ruben's corpse. Then she runs out of the chapel, and into the bathroom wipes the crocodile tears, and puts on lipstick and smiles, What a b!tch!

I remember reading this story in the newspaper back in 1994 when it happened.

I like the picture so much I had to record it.

Extremely well-directed and acted true-life chronicle of Diane Borchardt, a Wisconsin high school teacher who charmed some of her students into carrying out the murder of her husband. Originally shown in two parts on television, the film has the production values of a theatrical feature, and Ann-Margret is nothing short of riveting in the lead. Abandoning her kittenish persona (and all traces of a sympathetic good nature), Ann-Margret is nothing short of chilling in her portrayal of Mrs. B., a cunning and calculating monster. The younger players are also very good and the film is gripping if extremely unpleasant. Difficult as an entertainment, it is still a strong achievement, which is a testament to the talents of director John Patterson and writer Carmen Culver.

Granted Jefferson isn't the Los Angeles-type city it is shown as in the movie - 'tis merely an average small town in Wisconsin, and the Borchardt house looks nothing like it does in real-life, the movie is still a pretty good dramatic representation of what really happened, although many things have been changed. The reason I had trouble with this real-life drama, is that I lived in Fort Atkinson at the time of this murder mystery (which is Jefferson's neighboring city). Jefferson is not covered in gang symbols or palm trees, etc. etc. But the acting was well-done (Alanna Ubach gives a knockout performance as Shannon). Having seen Peter Coyote for the first time in this movie he will always remain Ruben Borchardt in my mind (of course, he was also in E.T., but I had only seen that movie when I was a youngster). Diane Borchardt was a lucky woman - while she is very unattractive bitch, Ann-Margret portrays her in this movie.

Basically the movie goes like this: Ruben Borchardt is (somewhat reluctantly) murdered by three teens, Josh, Doug and Michael, by orders of his wife (their teacher) Diane Borchardt. The rest of the movie is one big flashback that explains how Diane manipulated her students into thinking Ruben abused her (when in truth it was vice versa). One by one, Doug and his friends get pulled into the mix. Ruben's motherless children from his first marriage are forced to see their father go into a depression, while their step-sister is treated as a queen. One obvious change from the real-life events, is the relationship between Ruben and his blooming love for Ruth. But whatever. The story stays pretty true to life, and events used the real sign for "Mrs. B's shop"...(It's so weird, because I remember driving past her shop all the time!)

Knowing my cousin associated with the three teenagers, and his wife had Mrs. Borchardt as a teacher, and I went to school with relatives of the Borchardts, it makes the movie all the more real to me, but as a movie, most will just find it pure entertainment with great acting, even though it is inaccurate in certain areas.

By the way - yes they really did arrest her while she was at school.

After losing his wife in a tragic car accident, a father by the name of "Ruben Borchardt" (Peter Coyote) marries a woman named "Diane Kay Borchardt" (Ann-Margaret) with the hope that she can help him raise his two children "Brook Borchardt" (Hedy Burress) and "Chuck Borchardt" (Tobey Maguire). During this time, Diane becomes pregnant and gives birth to another child they name "Regan Borchardt" (Veronica Lauren). Unfortunately, not long after giving birth to Regan, Diane becomes quite hostile to Ruben's children by his first wife and begins to despise him in the process as well. So much so that, Ruben eventually finds the love and affection he needs in the arms of another woman named "Claire Brown" (Leslie Hope). Unable to hide his love for her any longer, Ruben subsequently asks Diane for a divorce--and that's when things really begin to spiral out-of-control. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that, not only was this movie based on a true story, but it also bore a remarkable similarity to another event that happened just a few years earlier involving a married woman named Pamela Smart who likewise manipulated high school students to murder her husband as well. Interestingly enough, a good film was also produced about that incident under the title of "Murder in New Hampshire-the Pamela Smart Story" starring Helen Hunt and Hank Stratton. On a side note, I should also mention that another film titled "To Die For" starring Nicole Kidman was also somewhat related to the Pamela Smart story but was presented more as a dark comedy with little regard for historical accuracy. But I digress. In any case, what really impressed me about this particular film was the outstanding performances of Peter Coyote, Ann-Margret and, to a lesser degree Tobey Maguire, as all three totally owned their roles. Admittedly, being a two-part miniseries, the film runs a bit long (200 minutes) but, even so, I still found it worth the time spent, and I have rated it accordingly. Above average.

There was a time when these true crime mini series were blockbuster entertainment nowadays they've been reduced with lower production values horrible scripts and unknown casts and shown on lifetime if your lucky you can catch them rerunning one of the classic ones.I wouldn't consider this one a classic like the burning bed or Fatal Vision but it boasts a fabulous performance by Ann Margret playing a socialpathic school teacher who manipulates a student to murder her husband peter Coyote gives a fine performance as well as the doomed husband but this is definitely Ann Margrets film who walks away with every scene she's in! The script can't avoid obvious clichés but it still is a fascinating watch. My only complaint is the annoying stupidity of Coyotes children who were warned by their father of what his wife is capable of and about money that he hid for them but basically do nothing and even let their wicked step mother to get her claws on the money If you enjoy true crime movies you should enjoy this! It's worth it just to see Ann Margrets performance