Dead by Sunset (1995) (TV)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Karen Arthur

Writers (WGA):

Ann Rule (book)
Wesley Bishop (written by)

Release Date:

19 November 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Drama

Plot:

A doctor meets a handsome, successful man and soon marries him--unaware that he cheated on his first wife, raped her, abused and tortured his children, and when his wife was about to leave him, murdered her. |

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel | Based On True Story

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Ken Olin	...	Brad Cunningham
Annette O'Toole	...	Cheryl Keeton Cunningham
Lindsay Frost	...	Sara Gordon
John Terry	...	Mike Shinn
Sally Murphy	...	Susan Keeton
Titan Crawford	...	Jesse Cunningham
Cody Crawford	...	Michael Cunningham
Clay Malensek
Michael Scheinman	...	Phillip Cunningham
Michael Harney	...	Det. John Raines
Jill Alexander	...	Lyn Minero
April Arwood	...	Dana
Lee Baldino	...	Patrolman McCoy
Robert Blanche	...	Bailiff
Tim Blough	...	Berkowitz

Runtime:

Netherlands:185 min | 240 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Portland, Oregon, USA

Company:

Craig Anderson Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: After Brad kills Cheryl in her car and sends it flying down the highway, the headlights turn off and on between shots.

Movie Connections:

References The Sword in the Stone (1963)

The husband with a past

"Dead by Sunset" has a "Movie of the Week" look about itself. It is surprising to read some comments to IMDb as to the length of the movie, when it was a sort of mini-series on television to begin with. The film was shown on Starz Mystery recently. The fact it was based on a novel by Ann Rule we had read, made us watch it.

As directed by Karen Arthur, the film offers some good moments. The story is based on a real incident, that happened in Oregon. Since it was filmed on the original locations, "Dead by Sunset" offers some glorious views of Portland and its suburbs.

We are introduced to the Cunningham family. Right away, one realizes there's a problem with Brad, the intense husband of Cheryl, a lawyer with a major firm. Our suspicions are confirmed by a series of incidents staged by Brad in order to make his wife appear as a bad mother because she has custody of their three children.

When Sara, a doctor, is introduced to Brad by a mutual friend, she has no idea who this man is, or the role he will play in her life. Brad, who is a misogynist, has been brought up by his macho father to hate women and never to trust them. Brad's own mother was cut from his life and he has grown to resent her, which is the same contempt he feels for Cheryl, the mother of his three sons.

The film has some good moments because of the acting Ms. Arthur got from her cast. The three principals, Ken Olin, Annette O'Toole, and Lindsay Frost, make good appearances in the film.