Rick Bitzelberger Movies
Upon realizing that an incoming MegaMart and a charming stranger (Tobias Mehler) may bring about the downfall of the small town Christmas ornament company she works at, a dedicated employee (Monica Keena) attempts to save the company and bring her town together before Christmas Day. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Monica Keena, Tobias Mehler, (more)
- 2005
Originally titled Secret Santa, this made-for-cabe holiday treat stars Howard Hesseman as Fred Nickells, a lonely old eccentric who intends to spend Christmas Eve driving around town in a limo and tossing huge wads of money to deserving pedestrians. To this end, Nickells hires chauffeur Shannon McManus-Johnson (Andrea Roth), a single mom who'd much rather spend the Night Before Christmas with her son Trevor (Jason Spevack). Meanwhile, reporter Peter Archer (Yannick Bisson), determined to learn the motive behind Nickells' Yuletide generosity, uncovers a startling secret that could well determine the future of himself and Shannon--but will it be for the better? Chock full of cute "inside" references to earlier Holiday films, Crazy for Christmas made its Lifetime network bow on December 7, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Crazy for Christmas screenwriter Rick Bitzelberger makes his feature directorial debut with this brutal true crime drama based on the shocking case of Ed Kemper, the Santa Cruz serial killer who earned the nickname "The Co-Ed Killer" due to his penchant for preying on pretty young college students. An outwardly normal and unremarkable man, Kemper's decidedly low social profile helped him successfully deflect the suspicion of even Detective Tom Harris, a longtime friend of the secretive sociopath. Later, when Detective Harris is assigned to catch the killer, he is caught completely off guard by the revelation that his old friend Ed is to blame for the savage slayings. Now trapped in a vicious game of cat and mouse with the man who was once his friend, Detective Harris attempts to outsmart Kemper before the rampaging madman takes any more lives. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
