Lies of the Heart: The Story of Laurie Kellogg (1994) (TV)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Michael Toshiyuki Uno

Writer (WGA):

Judith Paige Mitchell (written by)

Release Date:

31 January 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Plot:

This is the fact-based made-for-TV movie of Laurie Kellog, who was accused of the murder of her husband Bruce in May 1992...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Courtroom | Human Relationship

Cast

Gregory Harrison	...	Bruce Kellogg
Jennie Garth	...	Laurie Kellogg
Steven Keats	...	Peter Orville
Francis Guinan	...	Dennis Bender
T.C. Warner	...	Nicole Pappas
Robin Frates	...	Marlene
Alexis Arquette	...	Denver McDowell
Sharon Spelman	...	Linda Francis
Jeff Doucette	...	Ed Francis
Virginya Keehne	...	Kristi Mullins
Gina Philips	...	Alicia
Phil Buckman	...	Chuck Sebelist
William Wellman Jr.	...	Judge
Robert Cavanah	...	Ross
Robert Factor	...	Lew

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Germany:16

Company:

MDT Productions

Quotes:

Bruce Kellogg: What do you want?
Laurie Kellogg: Orange Juice.

Based on the true story of Laurie Kellogg...

this film is important because it does inform the audience about the tragic case of Laurie Kellogg, a young girl with few options, who married Bruce Kellogg to escape her maudlin existence in a trailer park-she was a young girl who did not realize what she had gotten into, until it was much too late.

Some reviewers have critiqued the performances as over-the-top; not true to the real story, but the message is still clear- Laurie Kellogg did not deserve the horrible marriage she was in, and her friends helped her to get out of it, in the most desperate fashion.

In psychology, the "blame the victim" mentality is promoted by people who tout that we live in a just and perfect world, which anyone over the age of 20 should realize is NOT true. Laurie was a victim who felt trapped, intimidated by a sadistic and physically abusive husband, who raped her, sexually molested other young girls in the neighborhood, and verbally and emotionally abused her.

Jenny Garth is very good as Laurie, and Gregory Harrison appropriately narcissistic and hateful, as her sadistic husband. I would recommend this film to anyone in an abusive relationship- whether verbal or physical, it is just as damaging. It is sad there are still people in real life who believe Laurie is a victim by choice; No one CHOOSES to be abused, their self-esteem is systematically denigrated by the abuser. 8/10