No One Would Tell (1996 TV Movie) User Reviews

Good commentary on a true case...

[MarieGabrielle · 7/10 · 3 June 2007]

While we certainly see an abundance of these films on LMN, the message is important, and not to be discarded.

Candace Cameron is quite good as a 16 year old involved in an abusive relationship. Fred Savage is the school hunk who also comes from a troubled family. Michelle Phillips as Cameron's mother is pretty good, as she has a tendency to be involved with an abusive partner as well. At one point- when Bobby is abusing her daughter, she tries to reason with her to get out of the relationship. Cameron replies- he loves me at least I have that- you never did.

We see the mind games and denial that exist in these complex abusive relationships. Sometimes the abuse is subtle, psychological, but always degrading.

This is a good film for young women. Self-esteem is often non- existent and takes time to develop. The problem is that denying the abuse, or pretending it doesn't exist only makes it worse. The victim often loses her friends and is isolated. The twist at the end of the movie is a bit unexpected, and should be taken to heart. This was a true, tragic story. If you liked this film you may also enjoy "When No One Would Listen" with Michelle Lee and James Farentino. 7/10.

i just watched this movie for the first time

[ama_rla_2004 · 7/10 · 5 November 2006]

The events in this movie seemed oddly familiar towards the end. It was then that I realized this movie was about a girl I knew. She was 14 and he was 16. They lived in Beverly MA. He used to babysit my younger sister until my mom witnessed Jaime hit Amy for the first time. She was a beautiful girl,smart,popular and friendly. I was only 12 at the time but I invited her to my birthday party. She disappeared 3 days before that. I remember all these reporters and even CNN came into the neighborhood for a story. The people who kept quiet were afraid to speak up, they were afraid of Jamie. They found Amy almost a month later at the bottom of a pond minutes from where I lived. I remember the shock that we all felt. It only intensified when we found out that someone who lived amongst us was responsible for this. This movie hit close to home. It also didn't stray from what really happened.

Everything's Not Fine

[lavatch · 7/10 · 9 July 2021]

"No One Would Tell" was made in 1996, and it has become a bit of a classic in having been shown in schools for educational purposes. The the film has held up well as a case study of co-dependency, physical abuse, and a code of silence among eyewitnesses for the victims of domestic violence.

The tragedy focuses on young Stacy Collins, whose mother Laura is also in an abusive relationship. The two women are following the same path until Laura finally puts an end to her relationship with Rob. But the young, impressionable Stacey is unable to say "no" to Bobby Tennyson, the kid from a broken family, who is possessive, controlling, and ultimately a killer.

Stacy's mom Laura refers to her daughter as "strong and independent." That description demonstrates how little Laura knows her daughter. Stacy's friends at North High School know a different side of Stacy, who is welded to the abusive Bobby. But when they hear Stacy's refrain of "everything's fine" in the relationship, they are frozen in passivity even after seeing the bruises on her body. When she finally does break off the relationship, the unstable and crazed young wrestler takes her life and dumps the body in a lake.

The best scene in the film was the trial of Bobby Tennyson. The witnesses appear almost as group portrait of the enablers who refused to take a stand to support their friend. The judge admonishes the witnesses in the courtroom for their errors of omission, issuing a plea to all those listening to stand up against domestic violence.

One of the best "In Class" movies I've seen

[SnoAmy · 15 January 2002]

I was forced to watch this in Health class like many other movies. But this was actually really well done. It showed how someone can actually get sucked into an abusive relationship. For something of this nature being showed to a class of immature 15-year-old's there were actually very few things to laugh at. They showed it with very little cheese. and I think the judge at the end was actually kind of like a message to everyone out there. This movie almost made me cry. And I never cry.

Not a bad film

[lisafordeay · 6/10 · 27 June 2014]

No One Can Tell is based on real events and tells the story of this shy girl who falls for a popular guy from the wrestling team. But when the two go out together she notices that his behaving really bad to he and end up beating her up. Can she stay with him and should she tell someone on him?

This was on True Movies 1 today and I never seen it before. If you seen the likes of Sleeping With The Enemy or Enough or even Safe Havan than these three movies have one thing in common 'Domestic Abuse' in a relationship. The real story of this was about a 14 year old who falls for a 16 year old who murders his girlfriend and dumps her body in the river. Here this movie does exactly the same as the real life events that occurred in 1991.

Overall it was a good movie and its very realistic.

Sadly realistic

[forgottenlord · 10/10 · 9 April 2002]

I watched this movie as a part of my CALM curriculum. I found it to be very interesting in how she responded to what he did. I have always wondered why people don't get out of abusive relationships, now I know. It is interesting that she never even figured out how much he didn't care about.

What a great movie!

[badgirl9 · 6/10 · 23 February 1999]

For a tv movie this one is excellent. About an abusive relationship. After watching this I developed a strong sense of power in me. I don't think Stacey had that. Although It ended tragiclly I'm glad she realised what Bobby was doing is wrong. All girls should watch this. Hopefully it will be repeated.

I know this story and used to live in a town twenty minutes away!

[BreanneB · 5/10 · 27 May 2015]

This was a very sad story that happened in a town twenty minutes away from where I used to live. In fact the girl's parents and the father of Beth Brodie came to my school to do a seminar on dating and domestic violence. I had the pleasure of meeting them. There is a sad part unfortunately, the two boys (this includes Beth Brodie's ex/killer) are both now eligible for Parole. Even though they originally weren't Massachusetts passed a new law that people 16 and under at the time of their crimes is now eligible. I hope they never get out.

Candace Cameron and Fred Savage give excellent performances in this movie. This movie is extremely vital for ALL teens to see. It will help them learn and recognize the red flags of abuse.

Abuse Is Not To Be Taken Lightly

[Noirdame79 · 9/10 · 17 December 2006]

That's the message here; and this is what can happen if action is not taken. Candace Cameron and Fred Savage leave their days as child stars behind in this 1996 NBC television movie, based on a true story. Stacy Collins (Cameron) is a junior in high school who is shy and uncertain, but when she begins dating handsome senior and star of the school wrestling team, Bobby Tennison (Savage), she feels loved and protected. But behind his charming exterior, Bobby's sweet behavior (leaving her flowers in her locker, giving her gifts, etc.), is a controlling, possessive nature which Stacy tries to dismiss. But he closely monitors her every move and feels threatened if she spends time away from him. Physical violence is commonly introduced. Their friends suspect that things are not as rosy as they seem, but only Stacy's best pal Nicky (Heather McComb) tries to persuade her to end the relationship. Trapped in the feelings of isolation and blaming herself for his inexcusable actions, Stacy lives in fear. Bobby's cousin informs Nicky that he had also mistreated his previous girlfriend (who transferred to to get away from him), and after yet another public fight (during a great school dance, where the nifty 50s is the theme), Stacy, encouraged by Nicky, tells Bobby that it's over. A truly unnerving moment in the hallway after she breaks it off, when he tells her he will never give her up. Through the wired glass of the classroom door his face is like cold, evil granite, his gaze like the black coals of hell. Bobby, under the guise of wanting to stay friends, asks her to come over to his house to give him a haircut. Inevitably, another spat occurs, and, instead of taking her home, he takes her out to a nearby lake where they had their first date. Only Bobby returns to the truck, to the horror of his friend Vince (Eric Balfour), and with blood on his hands. "If I can't have her, no one's gonna," Bobby chillingly states. Stacy is missing; her frantic mother Laura (Michelle Phillips), and friends search for clues, along with the local police; Stacy's ex-boyfriend is strangely calm. Vince, riddled with guilt, makes an anonymous call to the cops, telling them to go look out by the lake. He is eventually brought in for questioning, while Nicky informs Laura of Bobby's abusive tendencies. Vince tells what he knows, and then the investigation moves to Bobby, who finally cracks under the pressure. When Stacy refused to go back to him, he had slit her throat and dumped her body in the lake. Sally Jessy Raphael makes a special appearance as the judge who hands down the life sentence to a stone cold Bobby. She then admonishes all others involved for not speaking up - this is what can happen if you don't.

Those who remember Savage as the wholesome Kevin Arnold on "The Wonder Years" will be surprised at how effective he is - romantic and attractive one minute, angry and obsessive the next. The way Bobby treats his mother, his abusive father's past, and his anger in the wrestling ring are subtle hints of things to come (as is the moment when Stacy takes a shower at Nicky's house - it's pretty obvious that she is being watched). Cameron, who has always excelled at playing kind, naive, gentle characters, does a great job, as always. Heather McComb is the best friend every girl should have, while Michelle Phillips gives just the right amount of balance as the caring but distracted mother who is too busy with work and her own lowlife boyfriend (whom Stacy despises), to realize the dangerous situation her daughter is in.

Hopefully, stories like this will raise more awareness - too many people have looked the other way.

The DVD: The soundtrack has changed slightly from the version that aired on television - two songs by Belinda Carlisle have been replaced with more current music. The only extras included are trailers for direct to video films.

An OK movie, but it sends an important message that things like this can really happen.

[A_Gonzalez22 · 6/10 · 23 June 2012]

This movie was OK for the most part. Not a big fan of Candace Cameron but I do like Savage. The only reason why I saw this movie was because of a lesson in health class (yes im a teenager) on relationship abuse, so I really appreciate a movie over some notes or worksheets. But most importantly this movie sends a very important message about abusive relationships, don't ask for help or try to escape when it's too late, get help immediately.

Candace Cameron (I forget her characters name i thinks it's Stacy) is surprised to find that one of the most athletic and popular boys in school, bobby, has a crush on her. They go out and the relationship grows more serious to the point where the two have sex (where bobby forced her to by saying it proves her love for him). The girl then finds herself a victim of abuse when bobby hits her for talking to other guys, not doing the things he asks her to do (because she must obey him). When she finally has the courage to leave him, bobby snaps. He finds a quiet place by a lake at night and stabs the main character until death. Her body is found and Bobby's friend who was there that night confesses that bobby was the one to kill her, wrap her body and throw her body into the lake. Bobby is sent to prison for life and justice is served. A pretty OK movie, good lesson though. I give it a 6.5/10

Fred's Savage

[jamesreviewsthings · 4/10 · 4 October 2018]

For some reason we watched this film about murder in health class. Although the message at the end of the film is basically exactly what we were reading in the packet about toxic relationships. The movie is very silly, although I really enjoy Fred Savage and Candace Cameron in it. It supports the whole stereotype of the squeeing girlfriends who are just happy and ditzy and yell out things like "nice body" to random people just to peer pressure their friends. Not a fan of that -*ahem* "Mamma Mia". Practically the entire movie is followed note for note out of the relationship textbook. It's practically not even a movie. Except that part where Bobby freaking murders someone. If you look at the movie from that it basically a poorly written "Twin Peaks" ripoff. The reason I'm giving this a four is that the messages of relationships can be positive and somewhat subtle, I like some actors, and it's strangely entertaining in a way. If you really want to, watch this movie I don't see why you'd be disappointed. It's just not much good.

eye opener

[tygerizs1221 · 10/10 · 11 September 2005]

Of course for a guy it would seem ridiculous! but in the eyes of a woman i see a struggle between love, fear, and devotion. I may not be so suttle but it gets the message across that no matter how much you love someone abuse is not acceptable!!! no a days this is something that is happening more and more and i think if a lot of woman would watch this movie they would see why this is just no going to work!overall this is an excellent movie and it deserves more recognition than it gets. I highly recommend this movie to both men and women. It's got great actors and exceptional plots. This movie would make any movie night fun!

He's so different! He's so special! He's so nuts!

[kapelusznik18 · 6/10 · 22 October 2015]

***SPOILERS***The moment that pretty but shy Stacy Connins, Candance Cameron Bure, laid her eyes on high school wrestling champion Bobby "Cute Butt" Tennison, Fred Savage, during a wrestling match, which he won, it was love at first sight: For both Bobby as well as his butt. At first everything was just lovey dovey between the two until Stacy took her eyes of him and his butt for only a moment to talk to a friend of hers. It's then that Bobby lost control and turned his pent up aggressions, in feeling he wasn't the great lover that he thought he was, on her with a white hot fury.

Stacy despite being abused by Bobby where in some cases she had to be hospitalized still stuck with him feeling that he, as well as his cute butt, was too good to give up even if it meant that she'll end up dead sticking with him. Finally coming to her senses,after being beaten black and blue all over, Stacy decided to call it quits and leave Bobby forever to his own world of mindless violence. Her biggest mistake was telling him that with no one around to protect her from him when he got the word from her and that was a fatal error on Stacy's part.

****SPOILERS**** Based on the true story of the murder of 14 year old Amy Carnevale by her love crazed and mentally deranged 16 year old boyfriend Jamie Fuller in 1991 the movie shows that love is strange like the song says and it gets even stranger when it involves a nut case who can't take no for an answer. In this case Bobby Tennison who because of his insecurity, in coming from a dysfunctional family, that lead to murdering his girlfriend Stacy Collins. Who was in love with the creep despite all the abuse that he subjected her too and couldn't let go of him until it was too late.

No one Would Tell...You How bad this movie is

[Horrorible_Horror_Films · 3/10 · 16 August 2006]

Hilarious comedy starring two likable child stars (Fred Savage and Candace Cameron) who obviously cemented their transition to the huge stars they are today with their performances in this all time classic film, not.

No doubt this 'masterpiece' has been inflicted on health classes everywhere, just seeing one frame of this movie screams 'lifetime televesion for women TV movie of the week.' So, if you like abuse of any kind, this is the film for you. Its got a good beat and its easy to dance to.

I can't believe Kevin Arnold grew to be so mean in his later years of high school, what a jerk

Very good movie for TV.

[llihilloh · 1 February 2001]

'No One Would Tell' is an excellent movie. The acting is great, the writing and main characters are nice, but the thing I liked the most is that it was based on a true and very serious topic.

Candace Cameron Bure is perfect as the sweet and battered Stacy Collins. She truly did capture the look of a typical teenager in love. Of course, she put up with a little more than what most girls do, but she was still the teenager in love. Real quick comment about the casting for the role of Stacy. Bure, who was twenty at the time, was still able to pull of the sixteen year old look. Not too many people care but this is one of the most annoying things in the movies today; having people trying to play high school students who are clearly in their late twenties +. Fred Savage was terrific as the evil and very controlling boyfriend, Bobby. He was very believable as an abusive guy who will go to any lengths to keep his girlfriend. Both lead roles were nicely sketched out as well as the actors who brought them to life. Everyone else such as Stacy's girlfriend, and the couple's friends are also good.

The writing is decent. Being that this is supposed to be a serious movie, I know that it isn't supposed to have comedy. But it wouldn't hurt to throw in a few funny lines here and there.

One minor problem I had with this movie was that although it was entertaining the whole way through with hardly any boring parts, there were too many twists with Bobby and Stacy's relationship. The whole 'I love you, I love you not' thing was played out a little much. Also, it was sort of a let down to find out that Stacy gets murdered only two or three minutes into the film. This could have been changed but the rest of the movie leading up to that point was good that it could stay the same as well. Either way would be good for me.

This is a terrific movie to show to someone who is an abusive relationship or just anyone in general. It deals with a serious topic and hopefully another film like this will come along again. Excellent TV movie with a great cast!

So so movie about an important topic

[Havan_IronOak · 6/10 · 24 August 2002]

This movie is centered on an important issue, men's physical abuse of women and why women permit it. Unfortunately there wasn't much useful insight to be had here.

It was interesting to see Fred Savage play against his type as the abusive boyfriend and one can understand how the film makers would cast someone who seems so gentle and harmless as the abuser.

I really wanted to like this movie and it does center around an important issue but unfortunately it doesn't deal with the issue.

No One Would Tell Synopsis

[orcinusorca84 · 10/10 · 16 May 2005]

I had originally seen this movie when it first came out, and then again a little while later. I was fortunate enough to tape it when it re-aired on USA network. I've watched it here and there since I've taped it, and just felt like taking a look at what was online about it. There seems to be some confusion or assumptions about the contents of the movie and what all happened. The basic plot line was pretty well explained by everyone so far, but I'll just put it in my own words.

Candace Cameron Bure plays Stacy Collins, a sweet and innocent high schooler with a crush on the senior "IT" guy, Bobby, played by Fred Savage. He's a popular wrestler who first notices Stacy at one of the wrestling matches when she's the only one in the bleachers standing after two of her closest friends holler "Nice body!" at Bobby. He gives her a smile and it cuts to Stacy and her friend heading to a pizza parlor. There, they run into Bobby and a few of his friends. His buddies tell him that Stacy is the 'nice body' girl, and there starts the relationship. They officially get together on their first date at a beach party, where the audience gets the impression that Bobby is really a sweet, romantic guy. He leaves love notes and flowers in her locker. It's the kind of high school sweetheart that everyone dreams about. But we get first get a glimpse of the real Bobby when he and she are interrupted during a study session in the library. Namely because the person interrupting was a guy, Bobby gets jealous and rudely asks the guy to leave. No sooner does he leave when Stacy's friends show up and join the session. Bobby storms off and Stacy runs after him. During a heated discussion, he loses his temper, grabs her by the arms, and shoves her into the book shelves. It's a chilling moment, not only for what's happening along with the music, but the audience loses whatever likability Bobby's character has. From there the abuse escalates to him throwing her into a wall, to plain slapping her in the face, and not in private either. Stacy finally comes to her senses and breaks it off with Bobby. A disturbing scene is played out at the high school where Bobby tells Stacy that he wouldn't be able to let her go. Feeling the affects of the break, Stacy is at a party at a bowling alley and spilling her feelings to her friend. Her friend gets tired of hearing only about Bobby and tells Stacy that if all she was going to do was talk about him, she should leave. This was a disturbing and sad moment, because it turned out to be the last thing said to one another. After a brief conversation on the phone with Bobby, he convinces Stacy to go to his place and give him a haircut. A couple other people are there and are witness to yet another fight between Bobby and Stacy. He ends up slapping her and she storms out. He sends his friend Vince after her to calm her down, after which he tells Carla, the other person there, that all that happened was that he and Stacy had argued and she left. He then kissed Carla, which just puts another nail in the 'Bobby-is-a-creep' coffin. He finds Stacy and Vince sitting on a swing set outside and tells her he'll take her home. Instead, he drives them out to the lake where the beach party they'd attended had happened. He asks her to take a walk with him in their special place. Unfortunately, she agrees. Another fight ensues. However, this one comes to a bloody end. It's not revealed until later in the movie what he did to her. But he had slit her throat, taped her in black garbage bags, and sank her to the bottom of the lake with a concrete block. The rest of the movie went through the search and the court case. Bobby's friend Vince actually gave Bobby up because he felt guilty for knowing the truth. In a later interrogation, Bobby breaks under the pressure the cop puts on him and he spills the story. It then goes to the next day at the lake where Stacy's corpse is brought up. With her mother and friend there hoping it's not her, the most heart breaking scene happens when her mother breaks down. The only good part for the situation is that Bobby got life in prison without parole. The end sequence showing the abuse that took place, along with a message meant not only for the characters in the story, but also as a message to everyone watching, was very powerful.

According to past posts, this movie was based on a true story. If it is, I haven't heard about it, but I have no doubt it's probably true. This is an excellent movie and I hope there will be a DVD sometime soon because my VHS tape is starting to wear down. Hope this helped with any questions anyone has about the movie. Any questions that anyone has that this post doesn't answer, email me at [e-mail].

Like Christine.

[Jmacri29 · 6/10 · 21 December 2001]

I barely remember this film with Freid and Camran, the film is much like Christine like when Arnie (Keth Gradon) Buys the 58 Fury then later Lebay controls his mind and his friend Dennis (John Stockwell) trys to tell him the car is evil. So in my guess it's kind of like a car drove him Crazy.

Justin

What a stupid movie

[BigFlax · 4/10 · 18 October 1999]

We watched this movie in health class as we were to be looking for examples of dating violence. The film (can I even call it that?) has plenty of them. In fact, it's remarkably cliché. Every example we were supposed to be looking for was repeated practically word-for-word in the movie. Not to mention the ending is shown at the beginning, so it's not really much of a surprise two hours later when the ending comes back. All in all, pretty weak, formulaic, and just downright hokey. Still, it's sending a positive message, although that message is kind of force-fed to the viewer at the end of the movie. -

This Should Be Required Viewing in All High Schools

[catfanatic888 · 8/10 · 29 June 2023]

Don't laugh and dismiss a movie because it's from Lifetime. THIS movie is extremely powerful and doesn't pull any punches. Candace Cameron Bure is a young, shy teen who catches the eye of the most popular wrestler in her school. Fred Savage is incredible in the role of her boyfriend. It all seems like a teen dream at first but hints of his controlling nature slip out here and there. Before you know it, he gives her a push, a shove a slap. A punch! He also gets between her friends and family isolating her. And he starts picking at her trying to chip away at her self esteem. This is a perfect portrayal of an abusive boyfriend. I am an adult woman who was triggered watching it. I'm lucky my story didn't end as hers did but it easily could have when I was in that sort of relationship. Please take this movie seriously. It is very accurate.

Scumtastic TV movie

[BandSAboutMovies · 6/10 · 31 March 2021]

Fred Savage was an ebullient teen, someone who seemingly could never do wrong until in this film, he becomes a high school wrestler who gets on the gas and goes bonkers on Candace Cameron. Yes, there comes a time in every actor's life to do a made-for-TV ripped from the headlines movie. This one is based on the August 23, 1991 murder of Amy Carnevale by her high school boyfriend Jamie Fuller.

There's also a Lifetime remake that came out in 2018, but we're dealing with the original.

Man, there's really nothing like seeing Kevin Arnold tear into D. J. Tanner with full force roid rage, is there? I realize I'm making light of a real problem - women now know to respect themselves and show ape-like men the door - but I'm also in awe of movies where actors just go for it. More often than not, this action happens in TV movies about very important issues.

Everyone just wants to be popular and not rock the boat. Their indifference - one could say that No One Would Tell - leads to Cameron's character getting treated to a Laura Palmer funeral. I mean, even when these kids get on the stand in a trial, they speak up for the boy, saying that he wouldn't have had to beat her if she just listened.

Reginald VelJohnson turned down the role of a cop in this movie. IMDB wants me to say that it was because he had scheduling conflicts with Family Matters, but I think VelJohnson was just sick of constantly having to play a cop, a role he did in Die Hard, Die Hard 2, Turner & Hooch, Ghostbusters and Plain Clothes*.

You may wonder, "Why is this movie so scummy?" I'd blame director Noel Nosseck, who made drive-in fare before this like Best Friends and Las Vegas Lady before moving to TV movies.

Also: I absolutely love the fake Guns 'n Roses playing in the first scene.

*This reminds me of a convention I was at where Michael Dorn was speaking. Someone asked, "Why is Worf your favorite role?" He replied that he was tired of always playing police officers after CHiPs and it was great to be in a role that let him do something different. The person who asked the question then said, "But as a corrections officer, isn't Worf a cop?" Dorn looked out at the audience, crestfallen, then just slowly walked off the stage early and went back to his room alone.

Lame effort

[caa821 · 1/10 · 5 April 2008]

Those who declare this movie the "best ever" and such must have been viewing something different from what I saw.

The overall subject matter is serious, without doubt. But one doesn't have to praise a poor representation of something just because the issue is serious. In fact, I'm not certain this issue could ever be addressed effectively by presenting: such a weak character as the "victim" here; a mother about as insipid as one could imagine; a comedic actor as the "hunky" villain - about as hunky as Woody Allen as "Rambo" or the "Terminator;" and Heaven-Help-Us, Sally Raphael, as vacuous as ever, as the film's moralist.

Again, the subject matter presents no reason to praise such a lame effort.

Wow, I loved it.

[xomartiniglass · 10/10 · 4 November 2005]

Best movie I've ever seen in my opinion .. it's the movie that made me fall totally in love with Fred Savage, and it proved to me that Candace Cameron Bure could act that well.

I haven't gotten to see this movie in 4 years but it's incredibly memorable & I don't even care that my friends give me weird looks when I tell them that my favorite movie was simply made for TV.

There was nothing that I didn't like about this movie. I love how the end was the beginning & the beginning was the end -- it gives sort of a simplistic vibe to a complex movie. The story was fantastic & I'm very sorry to hear that it was true.

Made for the Lifetime Channel

[crankyasianman · 7/10 · 2 August 2021]

Predictable campy movie for the Lifetime Channel crowd. They will love it. Everybody else ...

No One should watch..

[goya-4 · 2/10 · 21 May 2001]

A typical tv movie of the week schlock fare with former tv stars in the starring roles. Cameron plays a young girl who is smitten by her new boyfriend, who starts abusing her. Then one day, she disappears. Gee, i wonder what happened???? Dumb writing, bad acting, and stupid plot 2 o 10