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IMDbPro

When the Bough Breaks

  • 19941994
  • RR
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Martin Sheen and Ally Walker in When the Bough Breaks (1994)
CrimeDramaMystery
Police detectives investigate the apparent serial killing of several children, after finding severed hands.Police detectives investigate the apparent serial killing of several children, after finding severed hands.Police detectives investigate the apparent serial killing of several children, after finding severed hands.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
    • Michael Cohn
    • Michael Cohn
  • Stars
    • Ally Walker
    • Martin Sheen
    • Ron Perlman
    • Michael Cohn
    • Michael Cohn
  • Stars
    • Ally Walker
    • Martin Sheen
    • Ron Perlman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 29User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Photos34

    Martin Sheen and Ally Walker in When the Bough Breaks (1994)
    Martin Sheen and Ally Walker in When the Bough Breaks (1994)
    When the Bough Breaks (1994)
    Martin Sheen and Ally Walker in When the Bough Breaks (1994)
    Tara Subkoff in When the Bough Breaks (1994)
    Tara Subkoff in When the Bough Breaks (1994)
    Ally Walker in When the Bough Breaks (1994)
    When the Bough Breaks (1994)
    Martin Sheen and Tara Subkoff in When the Bough Breaks (1994)
    Ally Walker and Tara Subkoff in When the Bough Breaks (1994)
    Ally Walker and Tara Subkoff in When the Bough Breaks (1994)
    Tara Subkoff in When the Bough Breaks (1994)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ally Walker
    Ally Walker
    • Special Investigator Audrey Macleah
    Martin Sheen
    Martin Sheen
    • Captain Swaggert
    Ron Perlman
    Ron Perlman
    • Dr. Douglas Eben
    Tara Subkoff
    Tara Subkoff
    • Jordan Thomas…
    Robert Knepper
    Robert Knepper
    • Lt. Jimmy Creedmore
    Scott Lawrence
    Scott Lawrence
    • Sergeant Footman
    John P. Connolly
    • Sergeant Belvin
    Dick Welsbacher
    Dick Welsbacher
    • Coroner Vince Hess
    James Medina
    • Sergeant Delarand
    • (as Jimmy Medina)
    Ron Recasner
    • Dr. Singer
    Juan Antonio Devoto
    Juan Antonio Devoto
    • Danny
    Christopher Doyle
    Christopher Doyle
    • Howard Speckett
    Mark Daneri
    Mark Daneri
    • Detective Sam
    Michael Raysses
    • Sonar Technician
    Taylor Brock
    Taylor Brock
    • Anchor
    William A. Porter
    • Old Man
    Karen Radcliffe
    • Mrs. Klugman
    Tim Halligan
    Tim Halligan
    • Mr. Klugman
      • Michael Cohn
      • Michael Cohn
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Tara Subkoff's debut role.
    • Goofs
      When Audrey looks at the photo at Dr. Eben's house, then goes to the actual place, over thirty years after the photo was taken, although there are some changes, the house looks almost exactly the same, especially at least two of the bushes growing in the front on the left as one sees them, as if in reality the photo was taken at the time the movie was made. Even after say five years, one would expect the same house to look a bit different, certainly having greater differences than shown here, comparing the 1962 house to the one in 1993.
    • Quotes

      Audrey Macleah: Well, it seems to me that you don't have a crime scene. And, you don't have any identifiable remains unless you make some assumptions. Now, in order to go forward and profile a suspect, you need a victimology. I mean, without that as a base you really don't have anything, do you?

    • Connections
      Followed by Perfect Prey (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      MY HEROINE
      Written by G. Morrow, E. Tomney, R. Urula, Billy Lee Riley (as B. Riley)

      Performed by Rage to Live

      Published by Brazen Blue Music (ASCAP)

      Courtesy of Bar/None Records

    User reviews29

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Some Good Suspense
    Up until near the end this film held my attention. There's plenty of suspense. Set in Houston, the story involves a hotshot young investigator named Audrey Macleah (Ally Walker) assigned to assist police Captain Swaggert (Martin Sheen) in a grisly case of severed hands.

    The plot plays out in segments corresponding to dates, beginning on July 4th and spans a period of about two weeks. During this time, Macleah interviews a young boy in a mental ward, chases a prospective child killer, and ends up in a spooky old house that contains some spooky surprises. This thriller genre film sports foreboding background sounds and music to enhance the scary visuals.

    Unfortunately, the ending collapses into a pile of unresolved issues and an incoherent resolution that left me confused. It's like the scriptwriter knew exactly where he wanted to take the story, but then near the end got his pages all mixed up, or lost, and used pages from another script to complete this one. Baffling.

    The casting and performance of Walker is also baffling. She comes across as jittery and abrasive, in marked contrast to Sheen who gives a convincingly realistic performance. But maybe Walker's problem relates more to the Director's style. The film exhibits good production design and color cinematography. Amplified sound effects convey an appropriate immediacy to scenes.

    Despite the script's loose ends and poor ending, "When The Bough Breaks" is still worth a one-time watch due to superb suspense through most of the film.
    helpful•7
    1
    • Lechuguilla
    • Jan 17, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 7, 1994 (South Korea)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Osmosis
      • Osmosis Productions Inc.
      • Prism Entertainment Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 45 minutes
      • Color
      • Ultra Stereo

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