In Broad Daylight (1991) (TV)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

James Steven Sadwith

Writers (WGA):

Harry MacLean (book)
William Hanley (teleplay)

Release Date:

3 February 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Len Rowan is coming to town ... for the last time.

Plot:

The fanatically uncompromising Len Rowan and his family insult and terrorize the citizens of a small town for years...

Plot Keywords:

Psychological Drama | Based On Book

Cast

Brian Dennehy	...	Len Rowan
Cloris Leachman	...	Ruth Westerman
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Adina Rowan
Chris Cooper	...	Jack Wilson
John Anderson	...	Wes Westerman
Ken Jenkins	...	Bob Webb
Robert Schenkkan	...	Rev. Don Douglas
David Neidorf	...	Marshal Paul Harris
Tony Frank	...	Sheriff Phil Lewis
Bill Thurman	...	Virgil Teague
Brandon Smith	...	Todd Lacey
Colleen Keegan	...	Darlene Rowan
Bill Bolender	...	Frank Snow
Greta Muller	...	Madge Summers
Dedra London	...	Cindy Rowan

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:PG | UK:15

Company:

Force Ten Productions Inc.

CREEPY TRUE STORY

I want to chime in on this film because it really scared the H-E-Double Bamboo Sticks out of me, motivated me to read the Playboy article about the incident, and then the well-researched book by the same name.

Brian Dennehy is perfectly cast as the villain -- although the real guy was even creepier, more violent and sociopathic. The film doesn't give any real back story, which is a possible but negligible shortcoming. The book, however, does a good job of illustrating how this poor country boy developed into the alienated monster he was, and how he fit (or rather didn't fit) into the community.

This story could have taken place in any small town. I happen to be from Missouri, and every summer I pass through and visit similar one-light towns in the Ozarks. (Just so we're straight on the geography, Skidmore, where this took place, is NOT near Springfield, per one reviewer, but in the northwest corner of the state.) The impression I always get is that because the townsfolk know each other, they are careful to get along with their neighbors. IBD is about how to deal with someone who has no intention of getting along with the neighbors.

I won't spoil the ending, but it is shocking, and a relief, when it comes, especially after the buildup of suspense and terror -- and it really does seem to render "justice." Love the line from the old farmer: "I didn't see nothing. And if I did, I wouldn't tell you."

This is an atmospheric TV movie that works as quality cinema.