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

Ann-MargretGrL

Always INCREDIBLE A-M!

I got this movie because it stars my idol, Ann-Margret, and yet again, she totally and completely blew me away with her performance!!!! It's so hard to picture her as this frumpy little old lady, and ya know what...she REALLY pulls it off well! She has a blast with the role, that's obvious:) And who doesn't love hearing her cry "Sonny boy!" at every guy she meets! She's FABULOUS! Everyone did a great job in this one, and the story was very appealing and instantly had me glued. There's one thing though that they just couldn't conceal... and that's the beauty of A-M:) Even with the padding, grey wig, and whited out eyelashes, she's still the one and ONLY kitten With a Whip! She's gorgeous, inside and out:) KILLER MOVIE! I reccomend this to everyone!!

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.

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."

vivaAM

Ann-Margret does it again!

"Happy Face Murders" is a murder mystery that is too weird to be true, but believe it or not IT IS! Ann-Margret is nothing short of brilliant in her role as Lorraine...it's very hard to even recognize Ann-Margret as a frumpy grandmother, that's how convincing she is. I definatly recommend this movie it is suspenseful, funny, and well acted.

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.