An Amish Murder

Only LMN could take a great concept like an Amish murder investigated by a shunned Amish cop and film it like a romantic LMN Christmas special. I guess they only have one way of treating cinematography and only know one style of background music. I kept waiting for a wounded lost war hero to show up. He would then reclaim his lost love. Next scene the marriage in front of the Christmas tree.

There are famous actors. There are fine performances. Interesting culture clashes.There is such potential for a riveting mystery. In my opinion LMN turned a great concept and story line into romantically filmed pap.

This is a 90-minute TV movie set in Painters Mill, Ohio, a fictional town in Amish country in the present age. It's based on the 2009 novel "Sworn to Silence" by Linda Castillo. "Sworn to Silence" was the first in long series of "Kate Burkholder" novels by Castillo.

Kate Burkholder (Neve Campbell) is the new chief of police of the small Painters Mill force. Kate grew up Old Order Amish but left at age 18 for reasons that are not immediately clear. She became a policewoman and then a detective in Cleveland and has now returned 17 years later. Although it sounds like a good fit on the surface because she knows Pennsylvania Dutch and the local Amish community, she has been banned and shunned for leaving the Amish community. Thus, no one in the Amish district is supposed to talk to her.

An Amish girl is found murdered in an Amish farm field. The victim has been mutilated in a manner reminiscent of a serial killer who had been in the community 16 earlier when five non-Amish girls were killed. We quickly learn that Kate wonders if the killer was Daniel Lapp, an Amish man who apparently died under mysterious circumstances and seemed to have something to do with Kate's leaving the community. But Kate wonders if he really died.

The film introduces us to a variety of characters--Mayor Auggie Brock (Duane Murray), who constantly interferes with Kate and fires her at one point; Lucas Holst (Jilon VanOver), Kate's former Amish boyfriend, who she left without a word; Jacob Burkholder (Christian Campbell), Kate's (and Neve's) brother who is reluctant to talk to her because of the shunning; John Tomasetti (Naom Jenkins), an agent from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation called in by the mayor, but on the verge of being fired because of his own difficult times that led to PTSD; and Nate Detrick (C. Thomas Howell), the County Sheriff who offers a helping hand on numerous occasions.

The investigation spins its wheels for a time. Kate confirms that Daniel Lapp is dead. We gradually learn more about the circumstances of Kate's sudden departure and who knew her real reasons for leaving. Kate and John Tomasetti develop a romantic relationship. It becomes clear the murderer had significant local connections even though he disappeared for 16 years. The mayor's daughter becomes a second victim. In the climax, Kate figures it all out and almost becomes a victim herself, but all ends well. Lucas Holst finally disarms the murderer at the end, a victory for Amish pacifism.

As a mystery, I thought "An Amish Murder" was pretty good. There is violence, but it's not over-the-top with blood everywhere. The actual crimes take place offscreen. It's a modest-budget film, and the storyline is not very realistic. In terms of the Amish characterization, my biggest problem is why Kate was shunned. It's never stated that she was a baptized member of the church. If she was not before she left, she should not be shunned. And if she was shunned, why would a town hire a police chief to whom a significant portion of the community would not speak?

Some of the Amish men, including Lucas, Kate's former boyfriend who is now married with children, have closely trimmed beards. The house interiors seemed pretty realistic, but there is much we don't see. Most of the action is in town or outbuildings.

Nonetheless, it was an entertaining hour-and-a-half. Critics were quite mixed in their reviews. Some simply don't like the style of Lifetime Television movies. Some thought the pace of the movie too slow and the plot too obvious. That wasn't the case for me.

An Amish Murder (2013)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Incredibly good made-for-TV thriller about former Amish woman Kate Kurkholder (Neve Campbell) who left her people only to return years later as a cop in the small town. Her people have turned their back on her but she needs their help when a serial killer appears to have returned to the town killing young girls and a secret from her past might reveal who it is. AN AMISH MURDER actually turned out to be one of the best thrillers I've seen in several years, which is somewhat shocking because a lot of TV movies just don't really do much except try to keep someone entertained for a short time. This film here clearly wanted to do so much more because it gave us a terrific mystery that keeps you guessing, a lot of character development and it also builds up some wonderful tension as everything plays out. I must admit that I thought I had figured out who the killer was by the ten-minute mark but I was completely wrong and all the twists and turns are just so good that one can't help but really be on the edge of their seat as everything plays out. I also thought the film did a good job with the main character's development because we get to see her in her new life but also see what haunts her from her Amish years. I thought the way the film showed the Amish people was quite good and it also managed to make you understand why the family would turn their back on her. There's a second subplot dealing with the woman's relationship with a profiler (Noam Jenkins) who is suffering from his own haunted past. Campbell really turns in one of the best performances of her career because she just adds so much depth to the character. She does a remarkable job showing the various emotions with this character and she's completely believable in the role. Jenkins is also terrific in his role as is C. Thomas Howell who plays the sheriff. Director Stephen Gyllenhaal does a very good job at keeping the film moving at a fast pace and thankfully he really brings a terrific atmosphere as well as some very tense moments. AN AMISH MURDER might have worked even better as a theatrical film since the dark subject matter could have shown more but there's still no question that it's one of the better thrillers in recent years.

I have read the first half of this book series. There is so much that isn't in the movie, but it is a very good movie, well worth the watch.

Even better, the books are an excellent read and worth the time to read them. I lost my source to them in 2014, but she had one a year through 2023. If only more of them were translated into movies!

The characters are well done, and while not a lot is explained about the Amish community in the movie, the books do an excellent job of expanding understanding of this proud community.

The writer of this series, If I remember correctly is also an Amish person that left that community.

A movie where people act well. Also the people are connected rather than being a bunch of strangers accidentally thrown together by chance. Someone actually thought that writing counted. Of course it is a tv movie. Otherwise it would have had executives mucking it up.