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Unspeakable Acts

  • TV Movie
  • 1990
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
593
YOUR RATING
Unspeakable Acts (1990)
BiographyDrama

The story of child psychologists Dr. Laurie and Joseph Braga and their involvement in one of the worst child sex abuse scandals in the U.S.The story of child psychologists Dr. Laurie and Joseph Braga and their involvement in one of the worst child sex abuse scandals in the U.S.The story of child psychologists Dr. Laurie and Joseph Braga and their involvement in one of the worst child sex abuse scandals in the U.S.

  • Director
    • Linda Otto
  • Writers
    • Jan Hollingsworth
    • Alan Landsburg
    • Hesper Anderson
  • Stars
    • Jill Clayburgh
    • Brad Davis
    • Sam Behrens
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    593
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Linda Otto
    • Writers
      • Jan Hollingsworth
      • Alan Landsburg
      • Hesper Anderson
    • Stars
      • Jill Clayburgh
      • Brad Davis
      • Sam Behrens
    • 12User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos12

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    Top cast40

    Edit
    Jill Clayburgh
    Jill Clayburgh
    • Laurie Braga
    Brad Davis
    Brad Davis
    • Joseph Braga
    Sam Behrens
    • Tom Herschell
    Gary Frank
    Gary Frank
    • Neil Harrison
    James Handy
    James Handy
    • Jeff Samek
    Mark Harelik
    Mark Harelik
    • Richard Maxwell
    Season Hubley
    Season Hubley
    • Jackie Harrison
    Terence Knox
    Terence Knox
    • Dan Casey
    Valerie Landsburg
    Valerie Landsburg
    • Maggie Rivera
    Maureen Mueller
    Maureen Mueller
    • Shari Herschell
    Bebe Neuwirth
    Bebe Neuwirth
    • Susan Maxwell
    Jeff Seymour
    Jeff Seymour
    • Tony Rivera
    Gregory Sierra
    Gregory Sierra
    • Frank Fuster
    David Patrick Wilson
    David Patrick Wilson
    • John Hogan
    • (as David Wilson)
    Laura Owens
    • Jeannie Pierson
    Bess Meyer
    Bess Meyer
    • Illiana Fuster
    Paul Eiding
    Paul Eiding
    • Abe Laeser
    Jenny Gago
    Jenny Gago
    • Christina Royo
    • Director
      • Linda Otto
    • Writers
      • Jan Hollingsworth
      • Alan Landsburg
      • Hesper Anderson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews12

    6.2593
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    Featured reviews

    8freebird-10

    Excellent TV movie about difficult subject

    Unlike the McMartin trial, there are no questions here. These folks are pure and simple child molesters. A very good adaption from a very good, large volume, so kudos to the screenwriter for boiling it down. Clayburgh and Davis are great as child shrinks. Again, character drives the story of child molestation in a daycare home. See it and weep, and learn.
    1mkcoehoorn

    How NOT to Interview Children

    In the late 80s, this case was held up as the gold standard for child interviewing techniques. However, since the early 90s these same techniques have been debunked again and again. Child welfare agencies now say this is Exhibit B for how not to interview a child (with Exhibit A being the McMartin Preschool case).

    If you want to learn more about working with abused children, watch The Boarder. Do NOT watch any movie based on a child abuse case from the 80s. They contain bad information about child abuse investigations.
    8camilleemillymoore

    We must protect the innocence of children

    Omg this was so heartbreaking and raw and real. Children are so trusting in untrustworthy adults. Bc of this movie I know I'm at an older age of 32 years old. But thank god I got a degree in criminal justice when I was younger. I'm think about going back and going into social work to help children.
    3cockezville

    Lifetime Schlock

    Dear Lord, what a horribly done film on child abuse. This production represents why Lifetime Movies get such a bad rap. This subject has been represented better since this time, but the direction, the melodramatic acting, the soundtrack is dismal. Brad Davis is horrible in this film and Jill Clayburgh looks embarrassed to be in this 1985 film. It is 35 years later so I have to give it a bit of a pass. But not much.
    4adarthraider

    Bad acting. Holes in movies, Kids speaking adult dialogue

    Get to the point. The movie is not able to get the Point across. It's unrealistic and unconventional. This movie should never have been made on such a touchy subject of child abuse. There's no way the young victims gave their stories in adult dialogues

    Besides the performance...

    it's difficult to think that the techniques used to questions those young victims at the time actually happened. Yelling at the children... Thank goodness times have changed and victims are more protected.

    For a 90's movie I'm so surprised that it wasn't well thought out. And for such a controversial subject. I believe a lot of this story didn't happen and they came up with most. It's actually sad.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The movie is based on the nonfiction book "Unspeakable Acts" by Jan Hollingsworth, police reports, court documents, interviews, and news reports. The names of the children and their parents in the movie were changed out of respect to the victims.
    • Goofs
      The cordless phone base on the table next to the tennis court isn't plugged into anything.

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 15, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • The Joseph Mazzello Fan Page, Unspeakable Acts
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Abgründe des Lebens
    • Filming locations
      • Charleston, South Carolina, USA
    • Production companies
      • Campbell Soup Company
      • Landsburg Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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