What a waste of my time!!!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

There are two versions of the original mini-series and one cuts out the Jay Smith trial(DVD version). The VHS version includes the Smith murder trial and is about 90 minutes longer than the DVD. Sometimes, Amazon sells copies of the movie, on VHS, but obtaining a VCR to watch it might be a problem.The movie is true to the book except it cuts out one important character: Rachel (Her real name is Joanne Aiken). Aiken was the only Bradfield girlfriend that did not turn on him. She testified in both of Bradfield's trials but for some reason, she does not appear in the mini-series.The only problem with the movie is the story did not end with Jay Smith's murder conviction, in the mid-1980s. In 1990, evidence from Jack Holt's garage was discovered that led the Pa. state supreme court to overturn Smith's conviction and declare double jeopardy because the police and DA had suppressed evidence that would have probably led to a not guilty verdict, in Smith's murder trial.The movie is truthful to the facts of the case but it left out things like the author of the book paying Holt $ 50,000.00, if Smith and Bradfield were convicted of murder.It is an additive story and to know the whole story, one needs to read a book called "Principle Suspect" by Smith's second lawyer. There are four books about the murders and each provides a unique view of the case that make them worth reading.

I saw this mini series on television many years ago. I purchased the movie but the movie on DVD is way shorter than the mini series. Does anyone know how I am able to get the mini series.My heart goes out to the family and all people involved in this crime. Brad field was a mastermind of weaving a web of deceit and lead all those people into a place that would take years of healing if they ever do. I have also read the book and it is very close to the movie. Thanks so very much for the reviews written by the families and relatives of those involved. It is a breath of fresh air to read them after reading the book and getting only a small amount of understanding of what you must have gone through. I have two children also and the thought of that happening to them is absolutely dreadful. God bless all you do and bring peace into your hearts. God had dealt with William Bradfield. Live your lives as fruitful as possible. Any response greatly appreciated. Thanks and regards

I found this site by accident. I went to Upper Merion too, 1975. I remember Mrs. Reinert and the rest of the English department. It is sad that we will never know what happened to her children. It was so strange watching the whole thing unfold, involving people I knew; then the books and the movie. Like others have said the movie got a lot of things wrong, but I always figured they were intentionally trying to make things look less like the real thing for some reason. Dr Smith was a joke (we called him JC) but he was the principal. I remember him doing morning announcements and just rambling on and on about nothing. It was great cause we missed part of first period, but he was a weird guy. If you wonder how so many people could be taken in by Bradfield I could never figure it out either. Most of my girl friends had Bradfield's class and they just thought he was wonderful, some kind of genius. I never got it, he always seemed so phony to me, but then I never had a class with him. I had Miss Myers for English and what a shock it was to find out she was dating anyone, let alone living with Bradfield. She was a lot mousier than she was portrayed in the movie, always wore her hair in a bun. I've always had one big question that never got answered: The newspaper stories always talked about JCs family: his wife who died and his daughter Stephanie & her husband who disappeared suspiciously, but they never ever mentioned his other daughter Sherry, she was in my class. The movie didn't go into this side story about JCs daughter & son in law, the local cops thought JC killed them too but couldn't prove anything. It was just odd that in all the background stories that were printed, a second daughter was never mentioned. I always wondered why. Did JC do something to her too?

Not familiar with the actual incident this movie is based upon, so cannot comment as to the accuracy of the facts and portrayals presented, but give this movie credit for holding a viewer's attention without being overly sensationalistic. The performances are stellar, and the tone of the movie is realistic and gritty - it feels like Pennsylvania, and it could be the town where you live.I was delighted by a small inside joke. Gary Cole, who plays an investigator in this movie, is sitting in the courtroom while one of the defendants is being questioned. Reference is being made to the books the defendant owned and used as references, including the book "Fatal Vision," upon which another television movie based on fact was made. The camera swings slyly to Gary Cole, who did, in fact, play the infamous defendant, Captain Jeffrey MacDonald, in the movie "Fatal Vision." Very cute.This movie was being broadcast on Lifetime, which I normally tune to when I want to fall asleep. Unfortunately, I was drawn in far enough I never took that nap.