Dan Byrd Movies
For an actor who claims not to enjoy horror films as recreational viewing, Dan Byrd certainly has racked up his fair share of genre credits. Yet, despite prominent roles in such high-profile frighteners as Firestarter 2: Rekindled, Mortuary, and The Hills Have Eyes, young Byrd also managed to build the foundation for a successful television career and squeeze in roles in such family-friendly fare as A Cinderella Story in between stints of fending off mutants, vampires, and sadistic serial killers.A devoted actor since the age of eight, the Marietta, GA, native honed his craft in numerous stage roles before making the transition to the screen with appearances in Judging Amy, ER, CSI, Touched by an Angel, and Joan of Arcadia. While The Hills Have Eyes marked Byrd's first substantial role in a feature film, he has since gone on to appear as the son of John Travolta's character in the 2006 crime thriller Lonely Hearts and as one of many whose lives collide in the most unexpected of ways in the ensemble drama Jam. Additionally, Byrd has set himself apart from the pack by taking home honors at The Burbank International Children's Film Festival for his performance in The First of May, and by winning a Young Artist Award for his role in the Emmy-nominated television series Any Day Now. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2009
A fortysomething divorcée (Courtney Cox Arquette) with a teen son considers reentering the dating pool, which just happens to be full of younger men. ~ Joe Friedrich, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Courteney Cox Arquette, Christa Miller, (more)
- 2007
This CW sitcom was set in Medora, Wisconsin, where dwelled the Tolchuck family: Father Gary (Scott Patterson), mother Franny (Amy Pietz), son Justin (Dan Byrd) and daughter Claire (Lindsay Shaw). Desperate to fit in with the cool kids at school, the nerdish Justin (who narrated the series, Malcolm in the Middle style) decided if he couldn't make friends, he'd "import" one. Thus, he talked his parents into being the sponsors for an exchange student from Pakistan, an amiable Muslin teenager named Raja (Adhir Kalyan). Though Justin and Raja formed an immediate bond, mom Claire was a bit frightened by her guest, her head filled with news reports of middle-east terrorism and such. Conversely, dad Gary was quite impressed by Raja's courtesy, loyalty, and strong work ethic--and besides, he was getting $500 a month for sponsoring the kid. As for Claire, she was too preoccupied with being the "dream girl" of every jock in school, and the actual girlfriend of classmate Jeffrey (Harlan Jackson), to concern herself with Raja. In case the reader hasn't caught on by now, the purpose of this series was to dispel viewers in the post-9/11 era of the idotic assumption that every Muslim posed an eminent threat to the American way of life: Indeed, Raja may have been the most lovable and nonthreatening TV alien since Robin Williams' Mork From Ork. Aliens in America debuted October 1, 2007. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dan Byrd, Adhir Kalyan, (more)
The great nephew of famed outlaw Butch Cassidy sets out to redeem the family name and discover his distant uncle's true fate in this Wild West adventure for the entire family. Legend has it that Cassidy died during a late night gunfight in Bolivia, but some historians remain convinced that the elusive outlaw eventually managed to make his way back to the United States - where he was rumored to have lived well into old age. When inquisitive teen Roy Parker discovers an antique belt buckle that once belonged to his notorious uncle, he makes it his mission to uncover the truth about his Great Uncle Leroy and finally lay the legend to rest. But dispelling old rumors isn't Roy's only motivation, because Great Uncle Leroy was said to have hidden a rather substantial buried treasure before his death as well. Now, as Roy, his best friend, the girl of his dreams, and his arch nemesis set out to solve the greatest mystery of the Old West, they quickly find themselves forced to outrun a dastardly varmint who is intent on claiming the treasure as his own. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Todd Robinson's Lonely Hearts features John Travolta and James Gandolfini as Elmer C. Robinson and Charles Hildebrandt, a pair of homicide detectives who are on the trail of lovers on a crime spree. The evil duo of Ray Fernandez (Jared Leto) and Martha Beck (Salma Hayek) take advantage of elderly widows, stealing as much money as they can after gaining the victim's confidence, and then murdering their mark. Robinson becomes drawn into the case too deeply in order to help him confront his feelings, as his wife has recently killed herself. The story is based on the real life "Lonely Hearts" killers of the late '40s, the infamous couple whom the director's grandfather played a large part in bringing to justice. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Travolta, James Gandolfini, (more)
Alexandre Aja directs this remake of Wes Craven's film The Hills Have Eyes. In this update, a family is taking a cross-country road trip when their trailer breaks down, leaving them stranded in the desert of New Mexico. There, they find themselves under attack by the savage "hill people," who were deformed by radiation during nuclear testing. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aaron Stanford, Kathleen Quinlan, (more)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre director Tobe Hooper returns to his rightful place behind the camera to weave this gruesome tale concerning an abandoned small-town funeral home with a dark and deadly secret. Local legend has it that the Fowler Funeral Home in Santa Loraina, CA, is plagued with death of the most unnatural kind. Rumored to have been purchased to launch a ranching business by Zeb Fowler, the land was subsequently converted into a funeral home when the cattle all began dying of a mysterious and undiagnosed ailment. When Zeb and his wife gave birth to a hideously disfigured boy named Bobby soon thereafter, the story took a strange turn as the pair attempted to shelter their son by covering his face with a burial shroud. After young Bobby disappeared at the age of eight and his parents were found brutally murdered a decade later, rumors began to swirl around the community that Bobby may still be alive. Now single mother Leslie Doyle (Denise Crosby) has moved into the long-abandoned and hideously decrepit home with aspirations of restoring it and taking on the role of town mortician for the town of Santa Loraina, and, along with her children, Jonathon (Dan Byrd) and Jamie (Stephanie Patton), she is about to discover that some legends never die. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
A car wreck causes the lives of 15 strangers to unexpectedly collide in this independent comedy drama. It's Father's Day, and Ted (William Forsythe) is out on the road with his 19-year-old son Josh (Dan Byrd). When Josh slams on the brakes to avoid hitting a dog along a two-lane highway in the country, his car is rear-ended by Lorraine (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a cellist en route to a gig. Josh's car hits a telephone pole which soon blocks the road, and a traffic jam results. Among the folks waiting for the road to clear are Lilac (Gina Torres) and her lesbian girlfriend Rose (Mariah O'Brien), who is about to have a baby and needs medical help. Jerry (David DeLuise) and Curt (Christopher Amitrano) are a pair of half-bright rednecks who have stolen an ATM machine and are trying to figure out how to liberate the cash from it when they're enlisted to help Rose have her child. Divorcé Dale (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is spending the day with his kids Robert (Skyler Gisondo) and Brianna (Marissa Blanchard), but he isn't sure how to break the news he'll soon be moving away and won't see them very often. Gary (Jonathan Silverman) and Judy (Julie Claire) are a bickering yuppie couple at odds over the fact they haven't been able to have a baby. Amy (Amanda Detmer) is on her way to her wedding, and her friends Stephanie (Amanda Foreman) and Jen (Elizabeth Bogush) are there to lend support, but Amy is having second thoughts and Stephanie knows something that would have a very serious effect on the nuptials. And Mick (Alex Rocco) is a middle-aged man traveling with his wife Ruby (Tess Harper) who ends up acting as an advisor on affairs of the heart to several other stranded motorists. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
A feisty octogenarian on the verge of his ninetieth birthday invites his three grown children to his upcoming birthday celebration with the explicit understanding that when the festivities end, so does his life, in a dark but light-hearted family comedy directed by Jeff Hare and starring Peter Falk. Morris (Falk) has lived a full life, but now the time has come to end his impressive run. When Morris goes to mortal extremes to reunite his three estranged children, his morbid declaration helps his offspring to realize that, even in old age, the importance of one individual should never be underestimated. David Paymer, Laura San Giacomo, and Judge Reinhold co-star in the one comedy that proves you're never too old to stir up a bit of mischief. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Falk, Laura San Giacomo, (more)
Cute but geeky high-school student Samantha Martin (Hilary Duff) is knocked off her feet by her father's untimely death, which leaves his diner and Samantha's well-being in the care of Fiona (Jennifer Coolidge), Sam's thoroughly wicked stepmother. Not one to take on such menial tasks as dishwashing and mopping floors, Fiona exploits Sam's dependence as a method of hoisting any dirty work off her own shoulders. School is hardly a break for Samantha, particularly when Shelby (Julie Gonzalo) is around; spoiled, wealthy, and popular, Shelby treats Samantha nearly as badly as Fiona does. Samantha's life is irrevocably changed, however, by two events: a makeover of epic proportions and a sudden electronic correspondence with a mysterious young man. Due to a misplaced cell phone and a series of fateful coincidences, Samantha and her Prince Charming develop a romance through text messages and e-mails, and ultimately promise to meet face-to-face at the biggest school dance of the year. Of course, getting there doesn't go smoothly, and Samantha may miss her chance to meet her dream date -- none other than Austin (Chad Michael Murray), the most popular boy in school. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hilary Duff, Jennifer Coolidge, (more)
- 2002
Brooding over his best friend's suicide, 15-year-old Scott Hardwick (Dan Byrd) clambers onto a high-rise ledge and threatens to jump. Scott's plight is cruelly exploited by radio "shock jock" Buzz Wescott (Dan Byrd), who hopes to parlay this tragedy-in-the-making into a lucrative national radio hookup. Posing as one of the detectives on the scene, Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli) is already aware that Scott needs her help...but it takes quite a while to realize that Buzz is also a lost soul in need of salvation. This episode was directed by series regular John Dye (Andrew). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
A Las Vegas photographer is murdered and his befouled corpse is dumped at a rural "body farm," the location where the CSI team normally studies cadavers of crime victims. Grissom (William L. Petersen) investigates, and as is customary, he finds more than first meets the eye. This time, however, Grissom is working at a disadvantage: several members of his own staff have lodged complaints about his job performance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The child who could start fires with her mind is all grown up and still trying to find out the truth about what happened to her in this made-for-TV sequel to the sci-fi fantasy Firestarter. Nearly 20 years ago, Charlene "Charlie" McGee (Marguerite Moreau) was trained by a mysterious government organization who wanted to exploit her special and very dangerous gift, though Charlie learned the government operatives were not to be trusted when they murdered her parents. Charlie ran away from them as a child, but now in her mid-twenties, she's decided she wants to know more about the people who shaped her strange destiny -- just as Rainbird (Malcolm McDowell), the man who shaped Charlie's pyrotechnic gift years before, finally finds her after years of search. To Charlie's horror, she discovers a number of other children with bizarre talents. Charlie is soon on the run from Rainbird again, and her only allies in flight are a former associate of Rainbird turned enemy of the state (Danny Nucci) and fellow test subject (Dennis Hopper). Firestarter: Rekindled originally aired as a two-part miniseries on the Sci-Fi network on March 10 and 11, 2002. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marguerite Moreau, Malcolm McDowell, (more)
Its titled derived from a circus term describing an inexperienced performer in his first season, director Paul Sirmons film is adapted from author Gail Radley's popular novel of the same name. The story centers on the friendship between an eleven year old foster child named Cory (Dan Byrd) and an elderly nursing home patient named Carlotta (Julie Harris). Cory has been bounced from foster home to foster home, and he's never felt like he's had a real family. Carlotta feels like she's been forgotten by the world, and rails against the strict rules of that the nurses try and enforce on her. Together, Cory and Carlotta run away to join a traveling circus. Now, under the guidance of the energetic circus owner (Mickey Rooney), this old has-been and young spring chicken prepare to dazzle the crowds and start a new life. Charles Nelson Reilly co-stars as a kindly clown who helps mentor Cory, and Joe DiMaggio appears as a mysterious stranger who encourages the young boy to chase his dreams. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julie Harris, Dan Byrd, (more)
Inspired by actual events, The Price of a Broken Heart tells the tale of a marriage shattered, and a wife who refuses to play the victim. Joe (Timothy Carhart) and Dot (Park Overall) have been married for nineteen years: They've got three sons, a lovely home, and Joe's career is on the upswing. But Joe's office assistant Lynne (Laura Innes) has always wanted a perfect family of her own, and now she's convinced that her dream is finally within reach. With cool calculation, Lynne lures Joe into an extramarital affair that spans a passion-fueled three years. Eventually, Joe breaks down and reveals the affair to Dot. Enraged at the betrayal and determined to strike back at the women who tried to break up her family, Dot sues her husband's mistress for $1 million under an archaic North Carolina law known as "alienation of affection." The law was designed to protect husbands and wives from predatory home wreckers, but can it still be enforced in an era where fifty percent of marriages fail anyway? As the trial gets underway, Dot endures humiliation and the media frenzy in a noble bid to show Lynne just how strong true family ties can be. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laura Innes, Park Overall, (more)
- 1998
This TV drama, Lifetime's first original dramatic series, explores the relationship of white Mary Elizabeth O'Brian (Annie Potts) and black Rene Jackson (Lorraine Toussaint) who grew up together as good friends in segregated Alabama of the early '60s -- with Mae Middleton portraying Mary Elizabeth as a girl and Shari Dyon Perry in the role of the young Rene. After Mary Elizabeth became pregnant at 19 by her childhood sweetheart Collier Sims (Chris Mulkey), she and Rene drifted apart. With the death of Rene's civil-rights lawyer father, James (Courtney B. Vance), Mary Elizabeth attends the funeral, and their friendship begins anew, even though the two women followed divergent paths: Attorney Rene chose a career over a family, while Mary Elizabeth has several children from her beer-swilling hubby. Intercutting past and present, the series advances on a dual track, contrasting present-day progress with Alabama attitudes during the Civil Rights era. With music by Bob Hilliard, Burt Bacharach, the Temptations, and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, the series premiered August 18, 1998 on Lifetime. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Annie Potts, Lorraine Toussaint, (more)
- 1985
- PG
This teen drama with a dash of humor is set in the 1960s and features a musical overview of that era. A group of college kids are out for a fun weekend at the beach, hoping to find romance and excitement. Beer is consumed in great quantities and a number of rivalries and flirtations occur. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Redmond, Robert Peacock, (more)
