Joe Cacaci Movies
- 1999
One of several direct-to-video movies to make their American TV bows on the Lifetime cable channel, Total Stranger was filmed under the title Stranger in My House. Having just emerged from a nasty divorce, and with her daughter off at college, lawyer Patti Young (Lindsay Crouse) decides to make financial ends meet by taking in a younger female tenant, a student named Lara (Zoe McLellan). What Patti does not suspect--until it is too late--is that the deceptively sweet-natured Lara is a "serial invader", who has a habit of taking over the houses and lives of the people who trust her. The problem: Patti cannot get anyone to believe that Lara is sinister as Patti (and the viewer) knows she really is! Also starring Jay Thomas and Dan Lauria, this psychological thriller made its cable-TV debut several years after filming wrapped in 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lindsay Crouse, Zoe McLellan, (more)
- 1999
This fact-based TV movie begins in 1987, as high-school athlete Alex Kelly (Matthew Settle) awaits his trial for the rape of one girl and the intimidation of several others. Rather than face the justice system, Alex flees to Europe, where he spends virtually the next decade, with covert financial help from his family. Falling in love with a girl in Sweden, Alex builds a whole new life for himself. Ultimately, however, Interpol tracks Alex down, whereupon the story takes a dramatic new turn. Told from the point of view of Alex's female victim, the film does nothing to whitewash its protagonist, even though actor Settle manages to invest his character with a modicum of sympathy; plus, the viewer is left to ponder whether the fault lies entirely with Alex, or with his upbringing. First broadcast by CBS as Crime in Connecticut: The Return of Alex Kelly on March 16, 1999, the film has since been rerun on cable as The Return of Alex Kelly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew Settle, Cassidy Rae, (more)
- 1997
Brian Dennehy not only stars in this made-for-TV drama, but also serves as director and executive producer. Accused of raping his associate Rebecca Daly (Alice Krige), powerful attorney Eddie Brannigan (Brian Dennehy) elects to defend himself in court. Dismissing Rebecca's charges, Eddie insists that he merely "seduced" the willing woman, and that she is trying to make a name for herself at his expense. As the litigation proceeds, Eddie and Rebecca each build up a strong and vocal army of public supporters--while Brannigan's son Eddie Jr. (Reed Diamond) finds himself uncomfortably caught in the middle. Its title tinged with irony considering the outcome of the story, Indefensible: The Truth About Edward Brannigan was originally telecast November 25, 1997, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, Reed Diamond, (more)
When post-partum depression causes the reawakening of long-dormant and traumatic memories of childhood rape by her father, an angry young mother takes her tormentor to court and in so doing nearly destroys her family. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joanna Kerns, Michael Brandon, (more)
