Michael Cutt Movies
- 1994
We'd rather not rehash the sordied Menendez murder case in this space; besides, it isn't necessary, inasmuch as no fewer than two TV movies were produced on the subject in 1994. The first was Fox's Honor Thy Father and Mother; the second, telecast less than a month later, was Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills. Two hours longer than the first film, Menendez spends half of its running time recounting the events leading up to the Menendez brothers' murder of the parents, while the second half devotes itself to their overpublicized trial. Lyle and Eric Menendez are played, respectively, by Damian Chapa and Travis Fine. Edward James Olmos and Beverly D'Angelo costar as the ill-fated parents, while Margaret Whitton is cast as attorney Leslie Abramson. Once past the most lurid aspects of the case-notably the Menendez boys' insistence that their crime was motivated by extreme parental abuse-this 4-hour wallow gets pretty tiresome. Menendez was originally telecast in two parts, on May 22 and 23, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward James Olmos, Beverly D'Angelo, (more)
- 1993
Tim Matheson stars in this made-for-TV movie based on a true story. Roger Paulson (Matheson) is a divorcee who wants to start dating again. Roger thinks he's found the perfect woman, but he learns she's been keeping a few secrets from him -- some of which have deadly consequences. Dying to Love You also stars Tracy Pollan and Christine Ebersole.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1990
- R
Hider in the House is a well-made and produced but ultimately unsatisfying and formulaic slasher thriller. Tom (Gary Busey) was an abused child who learned to avoid the abuse by hiding under sinks, in closets or anywhere he could be out of sight. After spending 10 years in a mental institution for setting a fire that killed his parents, Tom is released and finds a newly built house where he makes his home in the attic. The house is bought by Julie (Mimi Rogers) and Phil Dryer (Michael McKean) and their children. Tom begins to feel that he is part of the family, but when Phil is unfaithful to Julie, Tom plots his revenge. Busey is compelling in his role and builds Tom's character with skill to show him as both a dangerous and sympathetic psychopath. Unfortunately, the film does not fulfil its potential and slides into a predictable, formula ending, but the skillful direction and the good performance of Busey make this film well-worth viewing. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Busey, Mimi Rogers, (more)
- 1988
Something Is Out There is an expensive (and expansive) sci-fi TV movie in the tradition of the miniseries V and the theatrical picture The Hidden (1988). LA cop Joe Cortese finds himself with an unlikely partner--gorgeous extraterrestrial Maryam D'Abo. Both Earthling and alien are on the hunt for an evil entity called a "xenomorph," which has escaped from D'Abo's spaceship. The xenomorph has the capacity to take over the bodies of humans and to assume any shape (Alien meets The Thing). The creature design is courtesy of makeup maestro Rick Baker, while the special effects are cooked up by Star Wars' John Dykstra. Still, the one element of Something Is Out There that sticks in the memory is also the simplest: Maryam D'Abo is attracted to Joe Cortese because she thinks his hands are beautiful. Too insubstantial to be stretched out over four hours (and two consecutive evenings),it nonetheless resulted in a TV series, which lasted from October to December of 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
In this gory horror outing, students of anthropology are out doing field work when they are set upon by an enraged (and later inflamed) Bigfoot who attacks them and then impregnates one of the women. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
