Intensity (1997)

Chyna Shepherd is a twenty-six-year-old psychology student who survived an extremely troubled past. While visiting Laura Templeton's house, a farm in the Napa Valley, a serial killer named ... See full summary »

Director:

Yves Simoneau

Writers:

Dean R. Koontz (novel) (as Dean Koontz), Stephen Tolkin (teleplay)

Stars:

John C. McGinley, Molly Parker, Blu Mankuma

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John C. McGinley	...	Edgler Foreman Vess
Molly Parker	...	Chyna Shepherd
Blu Mankuma	...	Ethan Trevaine
Lori Triolo	...	Lori
Brent Stait	...	Jim Woltz
Katie Stuart	...	Young Chyna Shepherd
Deanna Milligan	...	Laura Templeton
Kavan Smith	...	Jack Templeton
Piper Laurie	...	Miriam Braynard
Tori Paul	...	Ariel Delane
Alex Diakun	...	Mr. John Q. Citizen
Babs Chula	...	Mrs. John Q. Citizen (as Babz Chula)
Alf Humphreys	...	George Jespersen (as Alfred E. Humphreys)
Edmond Kato Wong	...	Tom
Meredith Bain Woodward	...	Sarah Templeton

Storyline

Chyna Shepherd is a twenty-six-year-old psychology student who survived an extremely troubled past. While visiting Laura Templeton's house, a farm in the Napa Valley, a serial killer named Edgler Foreman Vess breaks into the house, taking Laura and killing her parents. Chyna survives and manages to follow him. In doing so, she learns of Vess's captive: a young, innocent girl, Ariel, trapped in Vess's home far from the Napa Valley. Chyna feels a great sense of responsibility for this girl, and she travels deeper into her nightmare.

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | captive | kidnapping | murder of a police officer | car accident | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Goofs

When Chyna and Edgler are forming words from letters in his name "Edgler Foreman Vess," Chyna says "hanger." There is no "H" in his name.

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Quotes

Edgler Vess: [to Ariel] Please don't think that you can starve yourself to death because you're not going to escape me like that. I just won't let it happen. I'll just go out and I'll get a rubber tube and I'll shove it down your throat so that I can pump baby food into your stomach. Now let's see, what would I put on a menu like that? Um, do you like pureed peas, crushed up carrots? Oh I know, l-l-l-lima beans?

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Connections

Referenced in Cabin by the Lake (2000)

User Reviews

Molly Parker Shines thru in this thriller!

This show is one of the few TV Mini-Series that I have yet to grow tired of watching (since I first saw it aired on Fox in 1997). It is beyond the typical slash & dash, "gore fest", but instead it centers on the psychological redemption of an abused innocent who finally receives her opportunity to fight back years later. Molly Parker was selected & courted for this role after her critically acclaimed role in "Kissed". It is her portrayal of the character Chyna Sheppard that makes this movie above the other "TV Movie of the Week". She is absolutely riveting in her performance, & whenever I am having a bad or perhaps sad day/week...I just replay this movie & it reminds me that "you are not alone". If you want a psychological thriller on the level of Silence of the Lambs, this is one for you. It very closely follows the Dean R. Koontz novel, with a slight twist at the end that helps keep it fresh for even those like myself who had read the book before seeing the mini-series (as there was a twist with the screen version of Silence of the Lambs that helped it remain "fresh" as the end neared). This TV mini-series has never been released on home video, but it is sometimes replayed on "The Mystery Channel" if your cable network carries it. Tune in. You will never be disappointed or alone.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 August 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dean Koontz's Intensity

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mandalay Entertainment, Columbia TriStar Television, Mandalay Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

186 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1