The Stranger Within (1990 TV Movie) User Reviews

A great-potential movie

[Swampstor · 6/10 · 28 June 2003]

Stranger Within is a movie that had a great potential, a great plot, a great story-line. But, it has become more likely an ordinary thriller at the end of it. Many scenes started to be rather unbelievable, illogical (i.e. Mark's strength, his 'ability' to move the body that fast).

On the other side, I'm not trying to say I hated this movie. In fact, I liked it. If you're checking IMDB now to see if it's worth a watch, watch it. You won't be disappointed, especially if you like 'high voltage' movies as Stranger Within is.

Overall, I rate it a 6/10.

Not for new parents!

[BandSAboutMovies · 7/10 · 30 September 2018]

1974. Grove's Mill, Minnesota. Widow Mare Blackburn's (Kate Jackson, Charlie's Angels) loses her 3-year old son and never sees him again. And that's just how this movie starts!

For sixteen years, Mare has blamed herself for the loss. But now, she's finally found love again with Dan (Chris Sarandon, Fright Night), who has moved to Minneapolis after the suicide of his son.

Then, her son (Rick Shroeder, Silver Spoons) shows back up. At first, she doesn't believe that it can be him. But he quickly gains her trust, as he knows plenty of things only her son could know.

Mare is pregnant again and not sure she wants to have the child. And Dan still isn't sure that Mark is her son. After all, Mark claims to be from Emerald City, Idaho. That town does not exist.

Mark falls off the house and Dan saves his life. They talk and Mark shows him a birthmark that matches up to his baby photos. But Mark starts being a creep, telling Mark about the baby and knowing about his son's suicide. He has no idea how to keep a secret, despite having so many of them himself.

Everything goes wrong when Mark shoves Dan into the water while ice fishing, then cuts all the power and phone cords to the house. He even shuts down in Mare's car, trapping her in the house.

Yet when a cop comes, Mare has to finally listen to reason and learns that even if this man is not her son - a fact she'd be fine with - he's also a dangerous maniac. He attacks the cop with a hammer and then tells her that it's her fault that his life is so bad.

There's a moment here where Mark says that there were other kids - there have certainly been other mothers that he's killed - and it's chilling, because he may have known Mare's son. There are no easy answers. And luckily, the cop's father shows up to save the day.

This TV movie - which originally aired on November 27, 1990 - was directed by Tom Holland, who also brought us Fright Night and Child's Play. This is a tight movie, packed with drama and well worth seeking out. However, like most TV movies, you're stuck looking on the grey market or YouTube.

PS - This is the first movie I've ever watched where Chris Sarandon's character didn't sell everyone out or prove to be untrustworthy. I still will never, ever fall for him in anything he does.

First class acting!

[altea · 24 March 1999]

"The Stranger Within" is one of those stories that keeps you glued to your seat untill the end!

Having your 3-year old son abducted in a grocery-store is every mother's nightmare. After several years of pain and guilt Mare found some happiness with her new boyfriend Dan. What is she going to do when one day a handsome boy appears on her doorstep claiming to be her long lost abducted son? Can he prove who he claims to be? Is it a setup? What is his gain by tormenting Mare with her past? Will Mare choose between her new boyfriend and her son? The chemistry between Rick Schröder and Kate Jackson is incredible! Both actors give a top notch performance resulting in horrific screen moments and tension. You keep on guessing untill the end whether or not Mark is the lost son! Whatever the outcome, this movie stays in your memory for many years to come!

A word of advice: do not go near the frozen lake!

Overacting Hall of Fame

[Kennybee · 2/10 · 20 July 2005]

THE STRANGER WITHIN had the potential to be a campy cult classic. The worst parts were a heavily clichéd script and Rick Schroder's overacting. Made up to resemble Charles Starkweather, Schroder was Evil with a capital E. If he was a better actor, he would have been more convincing as a cunning, conniving, charming sociopath next door.

The bleak, remote, rural atmosphere was chillingly effective. But Schroder's over the top style robbed all subtle nuance from it. Evil that is human, not ham-fisted, is what haunts. When Schroder boldly announced he was Kate Jackson's son at their first meeting, it was obvious the screenwriter was going to beat the viewer over the head instead of delivering an intelligent, thoughtful script.

Extremely annoying: Schroder's overuse of people's names. He called Kate Jackson "Mom" nearly every time he addressed her. Was that supposed to be a sign of his psychopathy? Odd aside: Captain Bender looked like a much younger man made up to resemble an older man.

Very predictable film that could have been excellent if Schroder was half the actor Richard Thomas was in YOU'LL LIKE MY MOTHER. This film had a similar atmosphere to the intense and disturbing YOU'LL LIKE MY MOTHER, but the latter featured excellent acting and writing that kept it from becoming trite and tiresome. THE STRANGER WITHIN had no such saving graces.

I love this film...

[Carlo Houtkamp · 10/10 · 29 March 2000]

The Stranger Within is a film I think I am in love with. It does have more than one flaw (we all do) but I keep watching it over and over again. The film's quality outweighs the minor flaunts (which include some cliches, like a heroic cop trying to come to the rescue) by far. For one, there is Kate Jackson's as well as Rick Schroder's terrific acting. These two actors seem to be made for each other and the way they score in The Stranger Within just screams for more joint ventures. Tom Holland did a wonderful job directing them and I hope the three of them will work together once more. The story by John Pielmeier is stirring, gripping, suspenseful and even credible (although he really should have abandoned that cop story line). He uses everyday situations and events, and what I like most about his narrative is the emphasis on emotions and humanity. The script does not judge any of the characters and we really sympathize with all of them. It makes The Stranger Within a tragedy as much as a mystery. The sudden violence is not subtle, but it nevertheless results in some clever and fascinating scenes and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Violence and tragedy keep taking turns appealing to the viewer's imagination and compassion and especially the scenes of Schroder and Jackson in the kitchen, where naturalness as well as impact of the dialogues reach the highest levels, are stunning. The music by Vladimir Horunzhy is sober and electronic and that suits this film remarkably well.

I just wonder why Tom Holland made this film for television and not for theater release. It would have been a hit in European film houses, and wide screen format would have done more justice to the solid camera work by James Hayman and crew. Therefore I suggest The film will be remastered and provided with full opening and end credits in order to prepare it for international theater release. Maybe Holland still has some cut scenes which should be in it and could be inserted. I don't think the film will ever become a hype (thank god) but it does not deserve to be lost in oblivion

Very good AND very disturbing!

[bluesnaggletooth316 · 10/10 · 2 September 2005]

This has to be Rick Schoeder's most 'differrent' (for lack of a better term) role to date, in my opinion. I don't think his performance in "Bad Seed" comes even CLOSE to this one. His turn as "Mark" I would have to say HAS to be one of the ten creepiest characters EVER portrayed on film! The thing I remember most about this movie were the sketches that "Mark" had. Those were some of the creepiest pieces I've ever seen. I think that the 'fear factor' of this movie is underrated when taking those sketches into account. I would have to give it a 10 simply for the fact that this was a television movie, when it was honestly creepy enough for a theater release. Get the popcorn and turn off the lights for this one, but only if you're ready for the nightmares to come!

Keeps you guessing till the end

[tracyholley-89934 · 10/10 · 16 July 2020]

Good little suspense movie. Kate Jackson was beautiful and Rick Shroeder was terrific as the long lost son who has returned as a psychopath. If you are a Kate Jackson fan then this movie is well worth the watch.

Outstanding Emotional Roller Coaster

[robert23-1 · 9/10 · 13 July 2017]

I have been a fan of both Kate Jackson(Charlie's Angels and Ricky(Rick) Shroder("Silver Spoons")both of whom are my favourite actors. I have had the pleasure of watching movies of both but by far Rick's performance in this movie is an absolute "tour DE force The "roller coaster" ride he took us on was nothing short of phenomenal. Initially his character was sooo believable that the eventual turn of events and ending was a complete shocker. The casting director obviously knew that these roles were tailor made for both exhibited by the on-screen chemistry. This movie was very worth watching even though the plot development may have seemed to be predictable. Nevertheless, Rick's performance is worth it all

Classy suspense...

[RosanaBotafogo · 9/10 · 2 June 2021]

Classy suspense, intrigue, a few holes in the script, dark mood, but nothing too surprising these days, but probably a great 30-year-old dramatic thriller, lovely...