In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness

"Bitter Blood" is a really interesting movie. You watch Kelly McGillis' character change completely as she becomes more and more under the thumb of her completely insane cousin. Interesting performances all around, but somewhat disturbing. On a side note, it is really long. I did not want to stop watching, but you do feel that it's long, and wish it was a little shorter.

Pay no attention to the other post saying this movie sucks, because it doesn't. This movie is based on a true story, that I as well as everyone that live around this area either grew up hearing about or lived through. Sometimes true stories may not present the rosiest of pictures, and this movie most certainly is far from rosy. Most of the movie is true, and follows along with the book written by a local author named Jerry Bledsoe, however somethings have been changed and made more Hollywood. If you are looking for a love story like Gone with the Wind, you're looking in the wrong place. If you are looking for a historical movie about a real life serial killer from Reidsville North Carolina, then this is the movie for you.

One of the best casts ever on a little network, this director obviously comes from New York and knows all the great unsung actors living there.

Marian Seldes, Anne Pitoniak, Tom Aldredge are all great to see on screen, and do a great job, but the film belongs to Carradine and Willis. She gives a terrific performance, and he's right up there with her. It's a little long, yes, but if you can get into the story it's well worth it.

As many tv movies go, this two-part mini-series could sometimes be weak in the writing and acting departments, but still held a fascination because a) the events are true, and b) the climax took place just a few miles from my parents' house. In fact, I was acquainted with a relative of one of the families involved.

Some have commented on the lack of plausibility of the story, but the movie stayed true to the actual events for the most part. In fact, it even left out some factual details that did not seem implausible, but real life is often stranger than fiction. (I recommend reading Jerry Bledsoe's book "Bitter Blood," where the entire story will blow you away. The movie is based on this book.)

Regardless of the weak nature of a tv movie-of-the-week, including the disruptions for commercials when I first saw it broadcast over two nights, the series of tragedies that unfolded were still heart-wrenching and made my pulse race. If you can get past those usual weaknesses, you will find an amazing true story of a strange couple who, when put together, seemed to lose all perspective on reality and unleashed a diabolical plot to retain full custody of the woman's two little boys from a previous marriage. If the movie is available for rental, it's probably worth checking out, but not as light-hearted viewing.

BITTER BLOOD is a great movie for Keith Carridine fans.

I am kind of surprised watching the LIFETIME channel. OLDEST BRIDESMAID had a lady lawyer out of touch with her emotions, BITTER BLOOD had a child killing housewife, and THE HIRED HEART had a lady MD with weird psychological problems. Keith Carradine, Brian Wimmer... the leading man is kind and nice. It just seems odd that these are the stories selected for a women's network.