Under Heat is an incredible story that suffered in the translation from novel to screen due to artistic differences between Peter Reed (the director, who also shares a writing credit) and Michael Brown (author of the book, who shares a writing credit). The story itself interweaves two sons' dilemmas of AIDS and heroin addiction with their mother's breast cancer. The minor flaws with the film deal with these gaps between the novel and the picture. Reed, as director, took complete control over the script: he made multiple writing requests and undertook changes himself. The acting is well-done overall. Lee Grant, the mother, and Roger Knepper, Milo, both do a good performance in the movie. Unfortunately, Peter Reed died of AIDS the same year the film was released.
