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Happy Face Murders

  • TV Movie
  • 1999
  • R
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
409
YOUR RATING
Ann-Margret, Marg Helgenberger, and Henry Thomas in Happy Face Murders (1999)
CrimeDrama

An eccentric older woman (Ann-Margret) implicates her brutal & controlling lover in the murder of a young intellectually disabled girl. Absorbed with "Murder She Wrote" and "Matlock", she cr... Read allAn eccentric older woman (Ann-Margret) implicates her brutal & controlling lover in the murder of a young intellectually disabled girl. Absorbed with "Murder She Wrote" and "Matlock", she creates details of the murder from clues she picks up from the detectives (Marg Helgenberger... Read allAn eccentric older woman (Ann-Margret) implicates her brutal & controlling lover in the murder of a young intellectually disabled girl. Absorbed with "Murder She Wrote" and "Matlock", she creates details of the murder from clues she picks up from the detectives (Marg Helgenberger, Henry Thomas) on the case. Implicating herself and sentenced to jail, she then recants h... Read all

  • Director
    • Brian Trenchard-Smith
  • Writer
    • John Pielmeier
  • Stars
    • Ann-Margret
    • Marg Helgenberger
    • Henry Thomas
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    409
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Brian Trenchard-Smith
    • Writer
      • John Pielmeier
    • Stars
      • Ann-Margret
      • Marg Helgenberger
      • Henry Thomas
    • 13User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Photos3

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    Top cast36

    Edit
    Ann-Margret
    Ann-Margret
    • Lorraine Petrovich
    Marg Helgenberger
    Marg Helgenberger
    • Jen Powell
    Henry Thomas
    Henry Thomas
    • Dylan McCarthy
    Nicholas Campbell
    Nicholas Campbell
    • Rusty Zuvic
    Rick Peters
    Rick Peters
    • Billy Lee Peterson
    David McIlwraith
    David McIlwraith
    • Alan Sanford
    Bruce Gray
    Bruce Gray
    • Ephraim Quince
    J.C. MacKenzie
    J.C. MacKenzie
    • Ed Baker
    Emily Hampshire
    Emily Hampshire
    • Tracy Billings
    Christina Collins
    • Nancy Severn
    Sean Dick
    • Charlie Severn
    • (as Sean Calvin Dick)
    Lynne Deragon
    • Virginia Billings
    Tami Levitt
    • TJ's Bartender
    Raoul Bhaneja
    Raoul Bhaneja
    • Dr. Mike Strong
    Katya Gardner
    Katya Gardner
    • Rachel
    James Downing
    • Jake
    Carole Mackereth
    • Laura
    Sarain Boylan
    Sarain Boylan
    • Jill Watkins
    • Director
      • Brian Trenchard-Smith
    • Writer
      • John Pielmeier
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    5.7409
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    10

    Featured reviews

    hx1950

    Based on Real Events

    The made-for-TV movie, HAPPY FACE MURDERS, is based on the activities of Keith Jesperson. Jesperson was a long-haul truck driver and 30-ish in age when he committed his first murder circa 1990. Prior to that time, he lived a "regular" life- employed, married with children, etc. Jesperson's killings took place along his truck routes in the west and northwest United States. Jesperson's first "kill" was a woman he "picked-up" in a bar. This first murder is said to have been sparked by Jesperson's becoming angry when the woman demanded money as payment for their "night out." Jesperson dumped the body in an area he assumed would be secluded enough so as to prevent the body's discovery. However, the body was discovered by hiker's within 24 hours. Thus begins the odd story depicted in this movie. Keith obviously didn't know when he was "well off."
    ttor

    Ann-Margret is a delight

    This was one of the best "made-for-tv" movies I have seen. The plot is coherent but unpredictable (which alone makes the movie remarkable). Ann-Margret is terrific and great fun to watch. I recommend the movie.
    rrauwl

    A 'strange but true' award winner.

    Without a doubt one of the most interesting movies that I've seen in a while that claimed to be mostly true. It claimed, in fact, that the parts that they made up are the ones that you would believe at the drop of a hat. It's the TRUTH that leaves your head shaking and your jaw wide open.

    The movie is funny, strange, and a little chilling; with decent acting to boot. If you have some time to kill, catch this on re-run.
    7MystiKef

    People are strange

    I saw this at the Directors Guild the other night at the premiere. It's a very strange story, especially since it is based on truth. It makes you think about how many truly bizarre people we actually have in our world. Watch this when you get the chance. It will be on Showtime.
    8the_brush

    Marg rocks!

    this movie was on TV here last night and I only watched it because I'm a huge fan of CSI & Marg Helgenberger and I had never seen it before. this movie is no masterpiece, but i thought it was hilarious. yes, some of the humor is cliché' and when you're watching it it's like, oh my god this is so lame, but i still liked it. Jen's comment to the "doc" about getting a jigsaw puzzle from Goodwill or whatever and finding it's missing a few pieces and how it was like the case they were working on was the best line of the whole movie. Ann Margaret, whom I also like, was just fabulous, that her character annoyed the #$&@ out of me but then by the end I felt sorry for her. Her hair, is another story. If you're a MH or AM fan, totally watch this movie. Otherwise you'll probably be better off watching something else :)

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    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Crazy credits
      Most of what you are about to see is true. The stuff that isn't true is the stuff that's most believable. Go figure.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Frog Dreaming: Extended Interviews from 'Not Quite Hollywood' (2018)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 5, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El asesino de la cara feliz
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Cosgrove/Meurer Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 38m(98 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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