Happy Face Murders Explained

Director:Brian Trenchard-Smith
Starring:Ann-Margret
Marg Helgenberger
Henry Thomas
Music:Peter Bernstein
Country:United States
Language:English
Executive Producer:John Cosgrove
Terry Dunn Meurer
Producer:Diane Jeanne
Ned Welsh
Editor:Bill Goddard
Cinematography:Albert J. Dunk
Runtime:100 minutes
Company:Paramount Pictures
Network:Showtime

Happy Face Murders is a 1999 American made-for-television crime drama film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith. It is based on a real story.

It was shot in 21 days[1] and is one of director Brian Trenchard-Smith's favourite films.[2]

Plot synopsis

Lorraine Petrovich (Ann-Margret) frames her abusive lover killing a young intellectually disabled girl by creating details of the murder from clues she picks up from Detective Jennifer Powell (Marg Helgenberger). Powell works the case with law doctoral student Dylan McCarthy (Henry Thomas), whom she repeatedly calls "Doc", despite McCarthy not actually being a doctor yet. After implicating herself, resulting in her jail sentence, she then recants her testimony but no one believes her, until clues surface from the real killer, who leaves messages that he is still out there, has killed before, and will kill again, signing his victims with Happy Faces.

Cast

Reception

David Nusair of Reel Film Reviews gave a positive review on Marg Helgenberger's performance, writing she "provides enough charm to make it worth a look."

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/03/21/brian-trenchard-smith-interview/ "Interview with Brian Trenchard Smith", Movie Fone, 21 March 2011
  2. http://www.screenhighway.com/the-wizard-of-oz-an-interview-with-brian-trenchard-smith/ James Chappell, "The Wizard of Oz: An Interview with Brian Trenchard-Smith", Screen Highway 22 May 2012