Not Our Son (1995 TV Movie) User Reviews

A Young Neil Patrick Harris Is Superb

[slightlymad22 · 7/10 · 9 October 2014]

Based on a true story: In 1992 as Seattle is hit by a string of fires, and the police search for the arsonist dubbed "The Seattle Spectre". A family start to suspect one of their own.

As a Brit living in the UK, I knew nothing of the story, and what actually happened. I watched this Simply because it starred Neil Patrick Harris (Barney Stinson in 'How I Met Your Mother') who I had seen in several good made for TV movies based on true stories lately (Sudden Fury/A Family Torn Apart and Stranger In Our Family.

Gerald McRaney is superb as the tortured father, who suspects his son may be the arsonist, and Ari Meyers is also very good as the suspicious sister, and Cindy Pickett is OK as the mother struggling to see where it all went wrong. The rest of the supporting cast sadly leave a lot to be desired with some very dodgy acting.

But the star of the show here is Neil Patrick Harris. Once again he is superb, I've yet to see him in anything where he is less than brilliant. His performance as church going Paul Keller is nothing short of spectacular. His performance during the "last supper" scene is the best of the movie, although all the actors in that scene share the work load in the tension filled scene, it is NPH who lingers in the memory.

a little more info

[damiona · 7/10 · 26 October 2007]

In addition to the previous reviewer's comments, Keller was sexually molested by a firefighter between the ages of 12 and 19. This explains quite a lot about his motives and reasoning. This doesn't excuse him but does give us a lot of insight as to why he resorted to fire as a means of regaining "control" of his surroundings. Most arsonists use the destruction of fire as a means of asserting control that they lost at some point in their lives. Componding the fact that his abuser was employed to fight fire it seems even more "logical" that an individual whose emotional stability has been distorted would resort to setting fires. Keller was the one who was in control of when, how and where the destruction would occur. No one could figure out who he was and therefor couldn't stop him leaving him in total control of the situation. Though these kinds of individuals can't be excused for their actions, their psychology makes for a very intriguing story.

The Seattle Specter

[dtucker86 · 21 September 2003]

Readers Digest had an article on this case called "Stalking The Seattle Specter". Forensic Files also had an episode on this case recently. Paul Keller was one of the worst arsonsits in American history. He set almost 100 fires in Seattle, one of which killed some elderly people in a retirement home. Like the Unabomber, Keller was caught not with brilliant detective work, but by his own family turning him in. His brother saw a composite sketch of the serial arsonist on tv and realized it was his own brother. Paul Keller had been troubled since birth (his father said they had a life of hell with him), but I cannot even begin to imagine him family's horror and grief when they realized it was their son who was the Seattle specter. The Kellers gave the reward money to the victims and publicly apologized to them. This movie is an excellent portrayal of a family's anguish. Gerald McRaney is wonderful as always as the father who has to betray his own son to save innocent lives. Neal Patrick Harris is wonderful and creepy as Paul. He looks so unassuming that its hard to believe the evil that lurks in his soul. By the way, the psychological profile that they did of the Arsonist matched Paul Keller almost exactly, even predicting that he would be a traveling salesman who used his own automobile. What got me about this film and the real life case is that Keller had absolutely no remorse at all for the horror he caused innocent people and his own family. He was a sociopath with absolutely no conscience at all. He seemed proud of what he did when they interrogated him and he bragged about how he eluded the police and firemen.

Excellent TV movie/dramatisation

[Alex1001 · 9/10 · 6 July 2004]

I am not familiar with the case, but this was a gripping account. Very well acted throughout, and very well written and directed. This story is as much about a family breakdown as it is about a dangerous criminal. I also liked it because on the face of it no one would suspect the culprit. This film dramatised the relationships and character of Paul Keller in a way that seemed realistic and also explained his actions to some extent, and left me feeling satisfied that the story had been well told. How truthful the dramatisation was I could not say, but it certainly seemed truthful - whether or not the details are accurate, it has dramatic truth.

SPARKING!!! Identification

[dataconflossmoor · 10/10 · 1 February 2007]

You just never know who is going to be a pyromaniac!! I thought Tom Verica's performance in this movie was sensational!! Neil Patrick Harris was the perennial misunderstood reprobate who resorted to pyromania as a hobby!! It is of course a sickness to be afflicted with such a lethal obsession!!! Tom Verica always plays the well mannered right side of the law...Currently, he is directing episodes of "Boston Legal" the talent is there.. Even on L.A. Law I thought Tom Verica was one of the best parts of the show!! When you think about it, Tom Verica is pretty sensational in basically every way!! Overall, "Not Our Son" evoked a social commentary which SPARKED!! (Pun intended) an identification with the serious illness of pyromania!! I enjoyed this made for T.V film very much and thought it served a very useful purpose!!

Its funny... Neil Patrick Harris

[MarieGabrielle · 8/10 · 4 May 2007]

Always seems to be able to engage the audience. While this is a true story about Keller the serial arsonist in Seattle, it is truly the sign of a gifted actor if he can draw you into his world.

I happened to watch this movie this morning, and at first glance it is yet another true crime LMN movie with Gerald McRaney. Cindy Pickett turns in a decent performance as his mother (We may also remember her from "St. Elsewhere" and the movie "I Know My Name is Stephen" starring Cory Nemec). The story unfolds as the Seattle police have no clue as to who the culprit is, until McRaney decides the family, in good conscience, must turn him in.

I admit I also loved Neil Patrick Harris in "Clara's Heart". I am biased also, as I remember him from the days of Doogie Howser, MD, and he actually looks a lot like my brother, who used to get teased about this. Anyway this film is recommended. 8/10.