Murder on Pleasant Drive

2006
5.9| 1h30m| en
Details

After Fran Smith disappears one day in mysterious circumstances, Fran's daughter Deanna and Fran's sister, Sherrie endlessly search for her with enduring hope. The most likely suspect in Fran's disappearance is her husband John, but without a body, neither Deanna or Sherrie can prove that murder, much less a crime, has even been committed. With the support of Sherrie, Deanna embarks on an eleven-year search to trace John's past, eventually uncovering a 25 year-old case of a missing person that involved John's first wife, who too, disappeared under suspicious circumstances. Using this lead, Deanna and Sherrie must use all their evidence to bring John to justice.

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Reviews

Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.
Protraph Lack of good storyline.
Bluebell Alcock Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies
Asad Almond A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.
RJ Bishop ****I REPEAT: THIS DOES CONTAIN A SPOILER****I don't have much of a review on this movie... Honestly I did get a little confused when I was watching this movie. I just find it odd that in the end of the movie when he is supposed to have handcuffs on... you can clearly see that he is holding the cuffs in his hands. One side of the handcuffs is closed in his left hand.. and the other side of them are laying open in his right. Yet, there are no goofs listed on here for this movie! I would say that it really isn't a big deal, but it's so obvious that everyone watching the movie with me saw it at the same time? For me, that's just a little too much of a goof.
krorie This made-for-TV thriller, not mystery (because you know right away who the killer is), doesn't quite make it all work, but is still worth a look. The script by sometimes actor Walter Klenhard, which he based on a true account entitled "My Sister Is Missing" by Sherrie Davis, could stand a little more wit and wisdom and the direction by Michael Scott would benefit from more suspense and excitement. Otherwise, the story is an intriguing one, made more so by the fact that it actually happened. The ironic title adds to the film's appeal.John Smith (Adam Arkin), what a name for a cold-blooded sociopath, has wives that keep disappearing. The latest is Fran (Susan Hogan) whom he marries after a brief courtship. Fran leaves a note that she is terminating the relationship and not coming back but fails to inform her family. Her daughter, Deanna Whelen (Kelli Williams), and her sister, Sherrie Davis (Amy Madigan), know that something evil has happened to their loved one and are determined to find out exactly what. John behaves strangely to say the least. That he has been forsaken seems to consume his entire psyche. Deanna and Sherrie pretend to be supportive of him, to gain his confidence in order to get evidence for the police. The local police do all they can to help but without a body or something substantive they are unable to charge John. The FBI eventually gets involved as more is uncovered about John's previous life. A key figure turns out to be John's brother, Michael (Bill Marchant), who has been in his older brother's shadow all his life. How John is ultimately brought to justice is the crux of the film.The talented actor, Adam Arkin, son of the also talented actor Alan Arkin, makes a creepy, scary psycho, with his slow, methodical speech pattern which exudes the essence of the demons lurking inside this seemingly mild-mannered engineer. Bill Marchant as his slow-witted younger brother turns in an effective and believable performance. An actress who has been overlooked by movie moguls for years, Amy Madigan, plays the crucial role of Fran's indefatigable sister to perfection. The rest of the cast is above average for a routine made-for-TV film.
alannasser Lifetime seriously hyped this movie for weeks prior to its premier. I persuaded myself that this thriller would be more than the patented, formulaic flick that is standard for a Lifetime thriller. And there have been excellent thrillers on this channel: Ladies Night is a good, if rare, example, and features a first rate performance by Paul Michael Glaser. Alas, my hopes were dashed. This film, about a sociopathic murderer of a succession of wives, lacks dynamics, tension and narrative flow. It is the visual equivalent of an essay outlining this (based-on-a-true) story. What we get is flat story telling, with no depth or energy.At the core of the film's many flaws is Adam Arkin's comatose performance as the sociopath. The character is described as lacking in conscience and emotion. He apparently suffers from a kind of Asperger's Syndrome, unable to experience or understand others' inner life. The character is thus without depth, a bit lifeless and, as is acknowledged in the film, therefore plain boring. But an actor playing a flat, shallow and boring character must not give a flat, shallow and boring performance. And there lies the challenge to the actor. Arkin sinks to the challenge. There is virtually no variation in his facial expressions, and he is vocally monotonous. Every actor knows that playing an intensely bad or evil character can be fun. Classic examples are Al Lettieri in the original The Getaway, and Christopher Plummer in The Silent Partner. You can't take your eyes off those villains. A serious baddie can be given both nuance and depth and texture by a skilled actor. Arkin seems to lack the chops of a good actor, and his performance is accordingly as dull as dishwater.In all fairness, I must admit that I have found all of Arkin's work similarly bland, energyless and lacking in range.This pic was a huge disappointment.
edwagreen This film is highly predictable but is most interesting for the sullen performance by Adam Arkin. He is so glib that it's hard to believe that he is a sociopath and has killed his two wives.We know he is guilty but the plot here is how is going to be revealed as the killer?Unfortunately, for him, his second wife, Fran, came from a close tightly-knit family. Daughter Kelli Williams and sister, portrayed by Amy Madigan, team up to play sleuths. They do a completely thorough job in tracing phone bills made by John Smith. (Arkin) The bills reveal that he has a girlfriend in another state. Where were the police?Ladies, don't jump into marriage. Smith came from a purely dysfunctional family. Sadly, their inaction led to the second death.

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