Sometimes you have to view a story on two simultaneous dimensions - especially those based upon a "true story." To say the least, one must cringe at the tragedy of two persons murdered in their bed while sleeping. And in this movie, anyone, especially a parent, cannot help but feel the greatest sadness for the turmoil which the Broderick children had to endure.
At the same time, this story also has some areas which have likely been over-dramatized - especially in Birney's Betty character - and on that level, her over-the-top behavior and constant shrieking and yelling are fascinating to view. Despite her outrageousness, you sometimes sympathize with her viewpoint. Her husband, and Stephen Collins' portrayal, present, IF POSSIBLE, someone for whom one feels even less sympathy than for her. I kept wishing that the director would have hired an actor to play Moe from The Three Stooges - and that "Moe" would appear on-scene and proceed to slap Stephen around, pinch his nose, and bop him with a mallet, the way he did to Curly and Larry.
Also fascinating is how, in her middle years, Meredith Baxter has carved a career in t.v. movies, always beset with someone trying to murder her, otherwise bring her harm, or thoroughly to disrupt her life.
Whatever else you might say, however misguided, at least Betty was a woman of action - in contrast to her husband, who needed a cattle prod, or whatever, to liven-up this insipid character.
At the same time, this story also has some areas which have likely been over-dramatized - especially in Birney's Betty character - and on that level, her over-the-top behavior and constant shrieking and yelling are fascinating to view. Despite her outrageousness, you sometimes sympathize with her viewpoint. Her husband, and Stephen Collins' portrayal, present, IF POSSIBLE, someone for whom one feels even less sympathy than for her. I kept wishing that the director would have hired an actor to play Moe from The Three Stooges - and that "Moe" would appear on-scene and proceed to slap Stephen around, pinch his nose, and bop him with a mallet, the way he did to Curly and Larry.
Also fascinating is how, in her middle years, Meredith Baxter has carved a career in t.v. movies, always beset with someone trying to murder her, otherwise bring her harm, or thoroughly to disrupt her life.
Whatever else you might say, however misguided, at least Betty was a woman of action - in contrast to her husband, who needed a cattle prod, or whatever, to liven-up this insipid character.