Bad to the Bone (TV 1997)

A bad girl uses her brother to kill her lover.

Director:

Bill L. Norton

Writer:

Rob Fresco

Stars:

Kristy Swanson, Jeremy London, David Chokachi

Cast

Credited cast:
Kristy Swanson	...	Francesca Wells
Jeremy London	...	Danny Wells
David Chokachi	...	Waldo
Christine Tucci	...	Martina Dobbs
Ben Browder	...	Brent Rohrbach
John Bourgeois	...	James Bacarelli
Kevin Hicks	...	Griffin
Patti D'Arbanville	...	Marilyn Wells
Bill MacDonald	...	Stan Goldstein
Paulino Nunes	...	Car Salesman
Marcia Bennett	...	Judge
Shane Daly	...	Hank
Stephanie McClellan	...	Amber
Patrick F. Gallagher	...	Truck Driver
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Trevor Bain	...	Campus Cop #1

Storyline

Frankie Wells is an evil manipulator. She murders her mother to get her inheritance, but doesn't get caught. Then, two years later, she gets her brother, Danny to murder her boyfriend. Frankie and Danny get arrested because the police are suspicious. He feels really guilty, and confesses everything, but saying that only he killed him, not Frankie. They are both sentenced to 100 years in jail, but Frankie does not return for trial, and runs away. Danny finally realizes that his sister was using him and he tells the police that Frankie masterminded everything. He calls her to ask her to call back, so the police can trace her. She does, and Danny tells her he is angry and betrayed that she used him like any other man.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | told in flashback | femme fatale | title based on song | brother sister relationship | 

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Taglines:

She's every man's dream (if you can get past the whole murder and adultery thing).

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 October 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Lächeln der Kaltblütigkeit

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wilshire Court Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Features America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back (1988)

User Reviews

Boring to the Bone!

First of all why are there so many flicks about supposedly luscious females on the evil make? And the females aren't that luscious. In this, yet another boring tale of murder and intrigue, we have the likes of a bimbo named Francesca, played by an inept actress by the name of Kristy Swanson. She manages to travel around luring men and then knocking them off. To me, she was so obvious. I thought this actress had nothing to offer in the looks or performance department. She's skinny to the bone, with no chest, no hips, no butt. I think this actress must be anorexic. I suppose the blame should go to the casting people, Penny Ludford and Dan Shaner, one or both of them could have done better in casting the pivotal role of Francesca. The director, Bill L. Norton, couldn't do that much with this actress. It's like he gave up on getting a performance out of her. Along the travels of our little murderess, is her brother, Danny, played on a level of another planet by Jeremy London, who gets sucked into her schemes by murdering her lover, Waldo, played by hunk David Chokachi. Here is where I got sick. Watching this gorgeous guy, who certainly could have done better in getting himself a better looking doll, fall for her phony line and then take the dirt she flung at him. She gets hot and cold with a guy who, in my mind, could have any girl he wanted. Why waste it on her? Casting people take note. Don't ever put such a handsome dude in a role opposite such a not so attractive gal and make us believe this is life. No way. Why are there so many of these grade B made for TV dramas about these pathetic women who fool so many men in believing they mean what they say, and then get away with murder? The only exception was in the movie "Malice". But then, the dame was none other than Nicole Kidman, who makes all these other imitations look like losers. And Nicole had a vulnerability to her that was appealing. And she certainly acted the rings around the others, let alone was also a knockout in the looks department. There was at least a believability in why the male population wanted to get into her bed. I give this film a 4 out of 10, and I'm being nice, for the looks of David Chakachi on film. Let's see more of this hunk! I must also mention the good looks of Ben Browder as another victim to this loser. And the best acting goes to Patti D'Arbanville as the mother who should have slapped the girl's face way back when. I loved it when Victor Ertmanis, the motel manager, called her bluff and sent her packing. The writer, Rob Fresco, needs to give our villain a lot more suffering in the end. Not enough retribution in this view's opinion.