Seduced by Madness: The Diane Borchardt Story

Extremely well-directed and acted true-life chronicle of Diane Borchardt, a Wisconsin high school teacher who charmed some of her students into carrying out the murder of her husband. Originally shown in two parts on television, the film has the production values of a theatrical feature, and Ann-Margret is nothing short of riveting in the lead. Abandoning her kittenish persona (and all traces of a sympathetic good nature), Ann-Margret is nothing short of chilling in her portrayal of Mrs. B., a cunning and calculating monster. The younger players are also very good and the film is gripping if extremely unpleasant. Difficult as an entertainment, it is still a strong achievement, which is a testament to the talents of director John Patterson and writer Carmen Culver.

As Diana Borchardt, a sociopath and schoolteacher who tires of her husband and wants out; this is a very interesting study of what some people are capable of.

Peter Coyote is sympathetic as the victim, Ruben Borchardt; as she calls him "Rube the boob"; she is an emasculating, narcissistic woman, (not schizophrenic as a previous review intimates).

The fact that this was based on a true story makes this all the more relevant, here was a well-liked teacher, popular with the students, capable of unbelievable manipulation, malice and murder.

The murder of Ruben is carried out by several students, who believe Borchardt is being physically abused by her husband (She was not, but concocted this story to acquire life insurance benefits). Tobey McGuire in particular is rather sympathetic as Ruben Borchardt's young son.

Borchardt apparently even visited her in-laws for Easter, knowing that their son was just brutally murdered, to cover up her role in the homicide. The students were pawns, part of her intent to control.

Indeed, no one even benefited from Ruben's death. The house was tied up in debt, and Diana Borchardt never paid the students what she had promised. She thereby perpetuated the psychological theory that there are some sociopaths who subconsciously want to be apprehended for their crimes. 8/10.

Ann-Margaret really got a chance to strut her stuff as an actress in this riveting TV movie about a seductive temptress/schoolteacher who convinces three or her students to murder her husband by claiming he was abusive to her when actually she was the abusive one. Ann-Margaret completely loses herself in this complex and unsympathetic character whose true story is the stuff that movies of the week are made of and Ann-Margaret pulls it off beautifully and effortlessly makes Diane the woman you love to hate. Peter Coyote, an actor who has often been overshadowed by the actresses he has worked with, manages to hold his own as Diane's victimized husband, a devoted husband and father who is completely powerless over this madwoman whose universe he is unable to escape from in time. Writer Buck Henry told a similar story in less time and to greater effect in TO DIE FOR, a theatrical film which featured an amazing performance by Nicole Kidman, but Ann-Margret did Emmy worthy work as the twisted and terrible Diane Borchardt.

I'm not usually one to watch many Lifetime movies. My wife frequents the channel, though and sometimes only through boredom in it's purest form, will I watch a Lifetime movie with her.

But I must say that I thouroughly enjoyed this movie. I'm not the sentimental type by any means, but even I could not hold back tears as Ruben is shot as he's coming up the basement steps, thinking the person coming down is his son (it's actually the killers), saying, "I thought I was gonna have to drag you out of bed at this time of night."

Diane got away with the crime for about six months, then one of the boys cracks and shoots his mouth off to the wrong person, who then out of guilt, feels compelled to go to the cops, who felt that Diane was involved from the get-go.

The funeral scene is the most disturbing scene to sit through. Where Diane put's on a grief show, crying over Ruben's corpse. Then she runs out of the chapel, and into the bathroom wipes the crocodile tears, and puts on lipstick and smiles, What a b!tch!

I remember reading this story in the newspaper back in 1994 when it happened.

I like the picture so much I had to record it.

There was a time when these true crime mini series were blockbuster entertainment nowadays they've been reduced with lower production values horrible scripts and unknown casts and shown on lifetime if your lucky you can catch them rerunning one of the classic ones.I wouldn't consider this one a classic like the burning bed or Fatal Vision but it boasts a fabulous performance by Ann Margret playing a socialpathic school teacher who manipulates a student to murder her husband peter Coyote gives a fine performance as well as the doomed husband but this is definitely Ann Margrets film who walks away with every scene she's in! The script can't avoid obvious clichés but it still is a fascinating watch. My only complaint is the annoying stupidity of Coyotes children who were warned by their father of what his wife is capable of and about money that he hid for them but basically do nothing and even let their wicked step mother to get her claws on the money If you enjoy true crime movies you should enjoy this! It's worth it just to see Ann Margrets performance