Death Benefit (1996)

Steven Keeney is a big corporate lawyer who decides to take on a small-time murder case to discover the true circumstances behind the death of a young girl. Virginia McGinnis is the one ... See full summary »

Director:

Mark Piznarski

Writers:

David Heilbroner (book), Philip Rosenberg

Stars:

Peter Horton, Carrie Snodgress, Wendy Makkena

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Horton	...	Steven Keeney
Carrie Snodgress	...	Virginia McGinnis
Wendy Makkena	...	Wynn Burkholder
Penny Johnson Jerald	...	Sylvia Guzman (as Penny Johnson)
Elizabeth Ruscio	...	LouAnne Wilkens
Belita Moreno	...	Sarah West
Lee de Broux	...	Mark Vandenberg
Dean Norris	...	Rod Montgomery
Jack Kehler	...	Dick Coates
Glenn Morshower	...	Tim O'Grady
Joan McMurtrey	...	Dr. Susan Lindsay-Rhodes
Ben Slack	...	Eddie Edison
Sharen Camille	...	Melissa Wilkens
Nathan Lawrence	...	Christian Keeney
Rick Cicetti	...	Parishioner

Storyline

Steven Keeney is a big corporate lawyer who decides to take on a small-time murder case to discover the true circumstances behind the death of a young girl. Virginia McGinnis is the one suspected of pushing the women off the cliff to collect on a small insurance policy. The further he goes into the case the more he reveals about the background of the suspect. Keeney finds support from others who also want to find out the truth behind the case.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | lawyer | pushed off a cliff | investigation | justice | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and a scene of sensuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 March 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bénéfice mortel

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

death benefit

I am from Kentucky, I went to a boarding school with the sister of the girl this movie is about. I remember when she found out that her sisters death was not an accident. That has been many years ago. We had lost touch for a few years, but I recently got back in touch with her. I actually talked to her about her sister tonight. Back in boarding school, she couldn't even talk about it. She did tell me that her mother was not portrayed correctly in this movie. She was not a good mother, and she was horrible to her daughter. I would say that if the writer of this movie did research with the family, then the mother was portrayed as she would want the world to know her as.