The Morrison Murders: Based on a True Story (1996)

A husband and wife and their youngest son are murdered in this true story. Their two other sons are left to cope with their loss, but the local sherrif begins to suspect that one of the ... See full summary »

Director:

Chris Thomson

Writer:

Keith Ross Leckie

Stars:

John Corbett, Jonathan Scarfe, Maya McLaughlin

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Corbett	...	Walker Morrison
Jonathan Scarfe	...	Luke Morrison
Maya McLaughlin	...	Patti Morrison
Tanya Allen	...	Kimberly Granger
Alex Carter	...	Deputy George Pettygrew
Patricia Gage	...	Aunt Clare
Gordon Clapp	...	Sheriff Byron Calhoun
Barry Flatman	...	Donald Fraser
Marc Donato	...	Beau
Hayley Lochner	...	Michelle
Christine Brubaker	...	Real Estate Agent
Steve Cumyn	...	Deputy 2
Shawn Lawrence	...	Garth
Angela Fusco	...	Flo
John Bayliss	...	Baptist Minister

Storyline

A husband and wife and their youngest son are murdered in this true story. Their two other sons are left to cope with their loss, but the local sherrif begins to suspect that one of the brothers committed the crime, and must convince the other to help him discover the truth.

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Plot Keywords:

man forced to strip | wearing sound wire | male nudity | forced to strip | patricide | 

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Taglines:

The True Story of a Brother's Ultimate Betrayal.

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Genres:

Crime

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 November 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Morrison tragédia

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance Communications Corporation, CTV Television Network, Cosgrove/Meurer Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

A Sad Story

Three members of a wealthy family are found dead in their home, victims of gunshots. Real-life names, including the family surname, have been changed for this movie. Though the story is set in Georgia, the actual crime took place in Alabama, in September of 1988. Also unlike the movie, the actual crime went cold for four years. And the real-life killer was arrested in Oklahoma City.

The film is a pretty good reenactment of events after the killings, with a plot that is straightforward and easy to follow. The script downplays the whodunit element in favor of a crime/character drama. As a result, mystery is rather minimal. The killer comes across as conspicuously stupid. Toward the end, law enforcement sets a trap for the killer. And the unpredictability of the trap's outcome ups the suspense.

Background music is a bit generic, consistent with the film's TV production. Overall casting and acting are acceptable, though the actor who plays the sheriff seems a little out of place in the South. The camera is fairly static. There are lots of close-ups as we would expect for a character drama. Sets and costumes are mediocre.

The story's significance is reduced in the minds of some viewers because the story is described in the form of a made-for-TV film. And that's my main criticism. But it is a sad story, and no less real for all those who were in any way connected to it.

"The Morrison Murders" is worth watching for anyone interested in true crime. Despite the overall sadness of events, there's a slight twist at the very end, one that takes a little bit of the sting out of what one normally would expect, given the circumstances.