User reviews

I am a survivor of sibling abuse. It sounds like a joke, but it's not. For ten years I was beaten by my older brother as a way for him to release his anger at my parent's divorce and whatever else was going wrong in his life. I never realized that it was a problem that other people suffered from until I watched this movie. I was pretty much ready to buy into the fact that my black eyes and scars were a result of "sibling rivalry" and it was normal. It's not normal. This was the only movie/TV show I have ever seen that addressed the issue that I held/hold so dear to my heart. I feel it was wonderfully acted and that people can learn from it. It is sad that most didn't. I will forever remember this movie as the only thing I could use to communicate to my mom what was going on. If I could get this movie on VHS, I would. Just to keep it and remember...and maybe help others in the future...

I played the young Anthony in the water fight scene at the beginning of the movie. Light blue shorts. Someone else has my movie credit :(

The movie itself is pretty awesome. An amazing cast for a straight to TV movie filmed in Vancouver. I remember watching Corin Nemic on Parker Lewis Can't Lose when I was 5 and it was cool to mee to childhood hero.

I wasn't allowed to watch the movie when I was a kid but it still holds up well today.

Fantastic Story line and acting just fantastic. It startet a bit boring but after 5-10 minutes it got better and better. And you could feel the desperation from the poor brother and felt with him. One of the strongest movies I have seen in a long time. I give it a strong 8 out of 10

Johnny Cortino is a 21-year-old hoodlum returning home to Baltimore after a stint in California; exactly why he's back is not clear and, when confronted for details, Johnny is able to fast-talk his way out of every corner he is backed in to. Yet, it is clear that his widowed mother Marianne is glad to see her son that - despite his problems - is still the apple of her eye. And it is equally clear that 17-year-old Anthony is terrified that his older brother is back in the house.

As soon as Johnny returns home, the war of intimidation quickly resumes, and Anthony finally reaches the breaking-point when, after a particularly nasty beating by Johnny, he pulls a gun on his brother and shoots him to death. With Anthony facing a life sentence for murder, Marianne has one chance of saving him: following years of denial about Johnny's bullying, she is torn between upholding his memory and defending her younger offspring, but also realizes she must confront the terrible truth about Johnny and, before the eyes of the world, admit there has been a lifetime of sibling violence. In the end, the verdict is read and Anthony is found not guilty.