A Cry for Help: The Tracey Thurman Story

What a great movie, excellently portrayed by Nancy McKeon and Dale Midkiff. While watching this movie, though , I experienced an unbelievable feeling of anxiety. I was in (and escaped from) an abusive marriage, and the character of Buck Thurman was so similar in every way to my ex that I found it extremely difficult to watch. Women who watch this movie, and have never experienced abuse can either pity women who are trapped (and they are literally trapped) in abusive relationships, or hate them and call them stupid for staying. I can only say that unless you have been in the situation, you will never comprehend the horror and trauma of it. It is ignorant to believe that women stay in abusive relationships because they are too stupid to get out. Their relationships don't start out abusive. Just try to imagine someone whom you love unconditionally and have decided to spend the rest of your life with evolving slowly, then dramatically into a mentally and physically abusive monster. You may be able to imagine that, but you will never be able to imagine having all self-respect beaten out of you, nor will you be able to imagine the feelings of fear, degradation, humility, and hopelessness. Those feelings, are why women stay.

The movie is one of my favorite movies that come on Lifetime TV. I would love to see it over and over. I like movies about real life dramas. Please email me to let me know when it will be coming back on. I really want to see it. It made me realize how bad abused woman have it. Nancy Mckeon was great in the movie, just like always. I grew up on Nancy Mckeon from Facts of Life to the Division. She's a great actress. Please let me know when it's coming on............. Thank you, Nancy

We've all seen domestic violence in tv movies before, but it's taken to a higher level here. After the usual beatings, forgivings and promises to change, McKeon takes back Midkiff on several occassions. And it's not like she doesn't try to get away from him. She even moves from Florida to Connecticut, only to have him drive there and get a job close by just so he can menace her. The police, at least as they are portrayed, are slacker incompentents who cant be bothered it seems, to care about anyone. The more McKeon calls, the more they feel she's overreacting and being paranoid. But the truth of Midkiff's capability for psychotic rage comes out in a truly tragic and disturbing scene when he nearly stabs McKeon to death. And its not some sixty second blurb, it's a drawn out 15 minute barrage of insane dialogue, crying and screaming. Definitely not for the soft-hearted. But the most alarming thing that you'll see is the police lack of action as the attack takes place. You'll despise the lazy dumbbell cop who seems to have his mind elsewhere. The cast is excellent, with McKeon very sympathetic as Tracey, Weitz is great as her lawyer and the toughest one to praise, that being Midkiff. He's so powerful in the one scene that you dont want to give him accolades because he's so convincing as an attempted murderer. But after its all over you can reflect back and realize how strong he was. Only flaw for me was the 1950's, private eye, banging on the piano music score. Something a little more subdued was needed, but aside from that, this is a very rattling film experience.

Tracy Thurman was truly a pioneer in the fight for women's rights and protection, this is a horrifying landmark case before the anti-stalking laws that we have today were put into effect. Tracy's courageous fight for help with Buck is a testament to her strength and willpower and the lack of police help that she experienced is shameful. Had I been on the jury, I would have awarded her 20 Million from the county,police,state and anywhere else I could, she would own the town if I'd been a deciding factor. The police force is a complete disgrace and those officers, especially the one who stopped to pee before going to her "aid", should be in jail along with Buck Thurman. Forever. The death penalty is entirely justified in a case like this because someone like Buck will only repeat his offenses when he's released.

I would love to know where Tracy is today, not physically located but how her life is going and how she's recovered. I've included her in my prayers many,many times.

Someone below commented that she was weak. I've never been a victim of domestic abuse but can see how easily someone could get sucked into the pattern of abuse by a manipulative spouse. Buck was evil, a stalker, an abuser and he was ALLOWED to repeatedly attack Tracy, a young mother with 2 children. Her survival and her insistance on fighting Buck,the town and the police force in a court of law shows tremendous courage, not weakness. I would think that someone seeing her abuse as weakness might be someone who doesn't have much life experience to draw on.

I pray that she gets only good things from her life in the future, she is a role model for other women in similar circumstances.

When I saw this movie on Monday (3-20-00) I couldn't believe what some people do. It was a very sad movie! I don't want to say to much about it just in case someone is reading this and hasn't seen it yet. But who ever has seen this...people can be disgusting (not everyone). This movie made me extremely mad and the situation should have been handled differently. Anyone that has seen this movie before knows what I am talking about. I usually talk to the movie as if the people are hearing me, but I have never yelled so much at the television as much as I did that Monday. I really do hope that that guy burns in hell. Excuse me but I can't help but feel anger towards people and their sick ways like that. Thank you for reading please let me know how you feel on this movie and what had happened.