The Accidental Witness (2006) (TV)

Director:

Kristoffer Tabori

Writer (WGA):

Michael Rhodes (written by)

Release Date:

2006 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

Victor Sandeman is a senior partner with Brunel Global Securities. He is experiencing major financial problems...

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Natasha Gregson Wagner	...	Christine Sternwald
Currie Graham	...	Victor Sandeman
Aaron Pearl	...	Jeff Monroe
Scott Hylands	...	Detective Bill Malone
David Lewis	...	David Brunel
Enid-Raye Adams	...	Maggie Wexler
Sarah-Jane Redmond	...	Mary Lane Ferris
Don MacKay	...	Raymond Brunel
Peter Benson	...	Joseph Brockway
Ty Olsson	...	Detective Ed Reigert
Linda Darlow	...	Detective Eleanor Douglas
Brenda Crichlow	...	Dorothy Adler (as Brenda M. Crichlow)
Linda Ko	...	Dr. Jetwan
Krista Morin	...	Erika
Louise Grant	...	Dog lady

Also Known As:

The Killing of a Stranger (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

Greece:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Granville Square, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

120dB Films

Trivia:

This film was previously titled "The Killing Of A Stranger".

Movie Connections:

References "The $64,000 Question" (1955)

Good story with predictable ending and a soap opera romance

Though the ending is highly predictable, the events leading up to the ultimate confrontation between killer and victim are filled with thrills and suspense. The weakest part of this made-for-TV flick is the blossoming romance between Christine (Natasha Gregson Wagner) and her part time live-in Jeff (Aaron Pearl). Too much time is taken away from the action to devote to this relationship which degenerates into soap opera melodrama.

The plot is excellent. A highly ambitious second-rung corporate executive, Victor Sandeman (Currie Graham), is losing his life style as a result of poor investments. He sees a way out via a company merger, but the old man who runs the business opposes the deal. Victor decides to murder the old-timer so his weak-willed highly malleable son will be in charge. Thus the merger will be approved through Victor's manipulation of the heir. One problem, while carrying out his nefarious ploy with the old man's body still in the trunk, he rear ends a vehicle. The driver whose car is hit, Christine Sternwald, remains adamant that all the information needed for insurance purposes be provided. This leaves Victor in a quandary. He makes up his mind to get rid of the accidental witness. This leads to several neat complications in the story involving mistaken identity, frustrating lures, and a police investigation into a homicide made to look like a heart attack leading to a car crash.