Apparences trompeuses

Original title: Happy Face Murders

TV Movie
1999
R
1h 38m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Ann-Margret, Marg Helgenberger, and Henry Thomas in Apparences trompeuses (1999)

An eccentric older woman (Ann-Margret) implicates her brutal & controlling lover in the murder of a young intellectually disabled girl. Absorbed with "Murder She Wrote" and "Matlock", she cr... Read allAn eccentric older woman (Ann-Margret) implicates her brutal & controlling lover in the murder of a young intellectually disabled girl. Absorbed with "Murder She Wrote" and "Matlock", she creates details of the murder from clues she picks up from the detectives (Marg Helgenberger... Read allAn eccentric older woman (Ann-Margret) implicates her brutal & controlling lover in the murder of a young intellectually disabled girl. Absorbed with "Murder She Wrote" and "Matlock", she creates details of the murder from clues she picks up from the detectives (Marg Helgenberger, Henry Thomas) on the case. Implicating herself and sentenced to jail, she then recants h... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

408

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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User reviews13

5.7408

Featured reviews

4michaelRokeefe

How easily the web is woven. Twisted and murderous.

This crime tale is weird, suspenseful and filtered with off beat humor. Situational drama does little to help this well acted, but trying story line. The hardest part of watching is seeing Ann-Margret as an enabling granny that tells one lie on top of another.

Marg Helgenberger is the movies brightest spot. Nicholas Campbell is on the edge and totally believable. Henry Thomas seems to have phoned his part in from a phone booth, sorry.

A quirky little murder mystery that features brutal truth. Give it a shot.

hx1950

Based on Real Events

The made-for-TV movie, HAPPY FACE MURDERS, is based on the activities of Keith Jesperson. Jesperson was a long-haul truck driver and 30-ish in age when he committed his first murder circa 1990. Prior to that time, he lived a "regular" life- employed, married with children, etc. Jesperson's killings took place along his truck routes in the west and northwest United States. Jesperson's first "kill" was a woman he "picked-up" in a bar. This first murder is said to have been sparked by Jesperson's becoming angry when the woman demanded money as payment for their "night out." Jesperson dumped the body in an area he assumed would be secluded enough so as to prevent the body's discovery. However, the body was discovered by hiker's within 24 hours. Thus begins the odd story depicted in this movie. Keith obviously didn't know when he was "well off."

6moonspinner55

Granny with a whip

Made-for-cable movie is appropriately quirky and darkly comic. Clues regarding a small-town sex murder leads a wise female police detective and her rookie partner (Marg Helgenberger and Henry Thomas, both excellent) to a twisted grandma who keeps changing her story. Off-putting details and a few nasty sequences made me wince, but the actors certainly don't look embarrassed, especially Ann-Margret as the granny with a whip (she has a ball!). The story threads are complex and engrossing, but I had trouble with the presentation, which borders on smut with a bigger budget. Some funny lines and memorable bits (like A-M referring to her "bad ticker"), but overall just so-so.

7MystiKef

People are strange

I saw this at the Directors Guild the other night at the premiere. It's a very strange story, especially since it is based on truth. It makes you think about how many truly bizarre people we actually have in our world. Watch this when you get the chance. It will be on Showtime.

6Tinyhippy

amusing thriller/black comedy

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It had my full attention throughout, which is sometimes difficult for a film to do. There were no dull parts, and it got more and more amusing as it went on! I'm not sure which category this film comes under. It is a thriller, but also a comedy, and a murder mystery. Either way, it was a good film.

The lovely Henry Thomas made a great appearance, although his character didn't seem necessary, he was good to watch as always. The little comedic moments between him and the character Jen were wonderful to watch. I would give this film a 7. Sure, it's not the best movie ever made, but it kept my attention, and that's got to be a good thing.