A Christmas Visitor

Hallmark found a different plot for a Christmas movie. This one is about a family that has struggled for years after a son was killed during the Gulf War (1990-91). They haven't celebrated Christmas since that time. But other problems in the family lead them to decide to do it this year. And a stranger enters their life – a young veteran from that very war.

The plot takes on some interesting things as the stranger joins the family for its Christmas this year. The cast all are very good in this film. William Devane, Meredith Baxter, Dean McDermott, and Reagan Pasternak all shine in their roles. The setting and technical work make this an enjoyable and heart-warming movie for the Christmas season.

This movie is not about action or thrills. Those seeking those kinds of thrills will not find this movie entertaining. It is a movie about life and the spirit of family, and it is a wonderful story. Every year I watch it with my family, and I always cry at the end, and I am a man of 40! I think the story is great, and I can actually relate with William Devane's character. I think he plays it perfectly. The mom is good, and the daughter plays a great part as well. You actually FEEL for these people, like, you know what they are going through. If you love a warm, good, story, about family, life, overcoming adversity, and just to Believe....then this is a must-see movie. The end alone is worth it.

By far , one of the best heartfelt story for Christmas or anyone who somehow lost a love one and the saddest moment is to spend Christmas without that person... oh my .. it is hard for me to type this as it is...

Mystery started when the father hit his car on the road and met a backpack guy (Mathew) who helped him carry the Christmas tree ... and requested the guy to spend the night and to pretend that he knew his lost son john who joined the gulf war and died...

Now , when Mathew met the mother and the daughter , he pointed things out about john which surprises the father how come he knew things about his son...

Don't miss the last part.. i know i was definitely surprised ....

I just love TV-Movies .. they concentrate on the story line and the characters.. its as if you can feel the intense emotions from the actors... i just wonder ...if i were William Devan ( the father) i would have been so emotional i mean , i like his blank look but i was hoping some suppressed tearful acts will definitely moved the audience as he is the veteran star in this movie ...

But all the same , i loved this movie to death .. i kept a copy in my heart... i had to repeat the last part to hear what they say to each others...

I have seen alot of christmas movies, especially this year, most of them are boring, but i watched this one the other night, and it is truely one of the best movies about the true meaning of christmas I have seen in a long time. Stars William Devane and Merideth Baxter as the parents of two children, the oldest son John goes off to fight in the gulf war and dies before christmas, the family gets the news on christmas eve and from then on they never celebrate christmas again. 10 years later when their daughter finds a lump in her breast. William Devane asks for a sign from God to help them get their lives back.

Its a wonderful christmas movie, its not as exciting as some movies, but not everyone has to have santa claus and rudolph. I highly recommend this movie.

There are many Hallmark Christmas movies. Some involve romance, but all of them concern maintaining or regaining the Christmas spirit, that feeling of generosity and thankfulness that we associate with the holidays. "A Christmas Visitor" wraps a dramatic story of loss around the familiar Christmas themes.

George (William Devane) and Carol Boyajian (Meredith Baxter) are parents who lost a son to the Gulf War. Twelve years later, George decides it is time to reclaim the spirit of Christmas they abandoned when their son died during the Christmas season. Daughter Jeannie (Reagan Pasternak), who has shared their sorrow, is dealing with the possibility of breast cancer.

Their lives change when a stranger comes to their small town on Christmas Eve. Matthew (Dean McDermott) is a veteran who also served in the Persian Gulf. He is surrounded by mystery and it is not clear if he actually knew the Boyajian's son.

Predictably, this is a tearjerker, and it adds patriotism to the usual emotional mix. It is all done tastefully and with optimism. Devane plays his central role with understated elegance. The possibly paranormal elements of the film are ambiguous and one wonders if some unifying scenes were left on the cutting room floor. Still, the film has a tender spirit that might leave the viewer with a smile and a tear.