Peter Bryant Movies

A handful of heroes become superheroes under unlikely circumstances in this action drama adapted from the long-running Marvel comic-book series. Four astronauts are on a mission aboard a new experimental spacecraft when they are unexpectedly exposed to a massive dose of gamma rays. The accident causes strange and unexpected transformations in all four. Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd), top scientist and leader of the mission, can now stretch his body like elastic and is dubbed Mr. Fantastic. His partner and sweetheart, Sue Storm (Jessica Alba), develops the ability to become invisible at will, and becomes known as The Invisible Girl. Her younger brother, Johnny Storm (Chris Evans), is renamed The Human Torch for his new talent of being able to summon up fire from his body when he chooses. And Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis), pilot for the journey, mutates into a monstrous creature with superhuman strength and muscles like stone, known as The Thing. Together, the travelers become known as the Fantastic Four, and they set out to use their unusual skills to fight crime, quickly gaining a nemesis in another altered hero who uses his talents for evil, Doctor Doom (Julian McMahon). A long-gestating project that had been talked about by a number of filmmakers since the early '90s, Fantastic Four was previously the basis for a pair of animated television serials, and was made into a feature film in 1994 by producer Roger Corman, though that film was never officially released. (Fantastic Four creator Stan Lee has said the 1994 film was made only so that the producers could hold on to the rights to the characters, and that it was never intended to be distributed to the public.) ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Divorced architect Jonathan Rivers (Michael Keaton) seems to lead a pretty good life with partial custody of his young son and a happy second marriage to Anna (Chandra West), a best-selling author. Things take an ugly turn when Anna disappears during a thunderstorm, apparently the victim of a freak accident. Eventually, her body is found, and Jonathan sinks into despair. Then he meets Raymond (Ian McNeice), who claims that Anna has contacted him through EVP, or electronic voice phenomena. Raymond explains that the dead can communicate from beyond via static on common electronic equipment like radios and televisions. Jonathan is skeptical until he starts getting phone calls from Anna's inactive cell phone. He visits Raymond, whose home is filled with audio and video monitors and high-tech recording equipment. There he meets Sarah (Deborah Kara Unger), who has recently received a farewell message from her late fiancé. Jonathan eventually receives what appears to be a communication from Anna, but soon afterward, Raymond turns up dead. Obsessed with maintaining contact with his late wife, Jonathan visits a psychic (Connor Tracy) who warns him that he's going down a dangerous path, "meddling" in the affairs of the dead. Undaunted, Jonathan continues to study EVP and eventually finds that he's getting messages from people who haven't died...yet. White Noise was directed by Geoffrey Sax from an original script by Niall Johnson. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Produced for Canadian television in 2000, Touched by a Killer is based on The Rage of the Blue Moon, a play by Richard Vetere. Isabella Hoffman stars as successful but emotionally needy investigative reporter Nikki Barrington, who has come to believe that death row inmate Tyler Nash (James Wilder) has been wrongly accused of murdering a young woman at a bar. Falling in love with the charming Nash, Nikki does everything in her power to free him from prison before it is too late. She manages to succeed in this pursuit, whereupon the grateful Nash pledges eternal devotion. Before long, however, the ex-prisoner's behavior takes an ominous turn for the worse; and by film's end, a terrified Nikki must disprove what she spent the first part of the film "proving." In America, Touched by a Killer was purchased by the Lifetime cable channel, where it was first shown in 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The made-for-TV Behind the Mask is the true story of Dr. Bob Shushan, a workaholic who disdains any sort of private life--and neglects his family in the process--the better to help his patients at the British Columbian Centre for the Mentally and Physically Disabled. When Shushan suffers a heart attack, his life is saved by the Centre's mentally handicapped janitor, James Jones (Matthew Fox)--and in the ensuing weeks, doctor and patient become closer than any father and son could ever be. Partly out of gratitude, Shushan makes it his mission to locate James' long-estranged biological father. And as a result of his relationship with James Jones, Shushan finally realizes how he has long short-changed his own family, especially his son Brian (Bradley Whitford), whom Shushan has unfairly written off as a failure. The real James Jones makes an appearance at the end of Behind the Mask, which first aired February 28, 1999 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

SG-1's Jaffa crew member Teal'c (Christopher Judge) is bombarded with bad news about his family. Because she believed herself to be a widow, Teal'c's wife Drey'auc (Brook Parker) has married his best friend Fro'tak (Peter Bryant). Worse still, the supposedly dead Apophis (Peter Williams) has captured and brainwashed Teal'c's son Rya'c (Neil Denis). Now the SG-1 team faces two nemeses: Fro'tak, who may betray them out of jealousy; and Rya'c, who has renounced his father and cast his lot with the dreaded Apophis. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

When popular San Francisco Condors basketball star Joe Campbell (Holt McCallany) is accused of rape, nobody--not the public, not his teammates--can bring themselves to believe that the sweet, babyfaced "White Knight" is guilty of the crime. Still, the case against Joe seems pretty solid, thanks to the emotional testimony of alleged victim Jennifer Darling (Jessica Tuck). Enter attorney Abe Ringel (Ken Olin), who has lost several high-profile cases of late and who needs a strong win to get back on top. Sincerely believing in Joe Campbell's innocence--or at least telling himself that he does--Ringel manages to get his client off by thoroughly discrediting and defaming the unfortunate Jennifer. Normally, that would be the end of the story...but in the months following Joe's acquittal, Abe begins picking up disturbing evidence indicating that his client was guilty as hell--and worse, that he is a dangerous serial rapist who uses the internet to stalk his previous victims. In an act of judicial attrition, Abe publicly turns against his former client. And this is when things really get ugly, as Joe orchestrates a vicious plan of vengeance--beginning with the seduction of Abe's own teenaged daughter Emma (Gina Phillips). Based on a novel by famed defense attorney Alan Dershowitz, the made-for-TV The Advocate's Devil debuted October 5, 1997 on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Singer Paula Abdul makes her acting debut in this tense ABC TV movie. Recovering from a vicious attack by a serial rapist, businesswoman Ellen Collier (Paula Abdul) finds comfort and security in her relationship with her loving and supporting new boyfriend, car salesman Jerry Braskin (Adrian Pasdar). But as Ellen slowly comes out of her self-imposed shell, events conspire to persuade her that Jerry is harboring an unsavory secret. By the time Ellen has been confronted with rock-solid evidence that Jerry is the very man who sexually assaulted her, it may be too late to save herself. Based on a true story, Touched by Evil was originally telecast on January 12, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Canadian The Supreme Kid was originally and economically filmed in 16-millimeter. The "heroes" are two drifters, played by Frank Moore and Jim Henshaw. The two are disdainfully referred to as "hippos," or hippie hoboes; one is the domineering mentor, the other the unquestioning follower. While on their aimless trek through the Great White North, the hippos meet a promiscuous young girl, as well as a less appealing holdup man. Morris and Henshaw find themselves with thousands of dollars of stolen loot at the end, but chuck it all to continue their vagabondage. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi