superb mystery, seductive characters
Added 9/9/2007
Moody, dark, southern, rich in suspense and captivating characters. Do you know how many movies David Strathairn and Mary McDonnell have made together? Beautifully matched talent. The story is built carefully and slowly, with the kind of twist in the climax following climax that satisfies. It is truly a worthy story that deserves more attention and more air time than it has obviously had. I wish it would be reintroduced even on the oxygen channel, or lifetime, or hallmark, somewhere so that enough interest might land it on a dvd recording.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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More than a Gothic thriller
Added 10/8/2002
Murder stories with a Southern setting have a dark and eerie sense all their own and EVIDENCE OF BLOOD is no exception. This finely wrought film boasts a good story line with enough ongoing kinks resulting in new insights to keep you glued to the screen. David Strathairn as a writer of mysteries returns to his hometown, meets his newly departed best friend's girl (Mary McDonnell, and begins to unravel an old murder that happened in his childhood. The mysteries surrounding this rather unlikely and bizarre trial and execution of McDonnell's father leave some of the townsfolk silently confused, but it is clear that the truth behind the grisly deed is better left unknown if the smalltown mentality is to be unrumpled. But this story is about much more than a retrospective surveillance of a foggy murder. It is more about the mysteries of early childhood that are buried with every loss of a relative who could bear witness. There is a dark part to each of us, whether self created or victimized. Seeking to discover our true identity can be a very frightening journey. Strathairn and McDonnell give sensitive performances as does the large cast of supporting characters. One jolt here: though everyone speaks with either an Appalachian or Southern accent, we never know the location of this odd town - just that it is somewhere north of Alabama! And the fact that the film was shot in Toronto doesn't give a clue. A good mystery for an evening of escape behind safely locked doors of your home.
6 out of 6 people found this helpful.
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Incredible Acting
Added 6/19/2002
I loved this movie. It does have a slower, more deliberate pace than most but this is necessary to lay out all of the intricate details of a 30 year-old murder mystery (nicely done with flashbacks)and also to explore the characters. I think both David Strathairn and Mary McDonnell are incredible actors (in another realm, actually) and the supporting cast is also very strong. I noticed it was filmed in the Toronto area which is very close to me - too bad they didn't have a sunny day for any shoots, but maybe that was intentional! If you enjoy a good mystery and appreciate truly fine acting, you'll enjoy this movie.
4 out of 4 people found this helpful.
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Wonderful brooding mystery
Added 3/7/2000
I loved this movie. Though the pace is a bit slower than your run-of-the-mill murder mystery, that pace allowed for some very realistic character development. The viewer is drawn into the story--I hated to stop the tape to put my son to bed. The brooding quality never got so dark and heavy that it was simply painful to watch. Instead, it just kept you going, waiting for the next turn. I rented the movie because I saw David Strathairn and Mary McDonnell on the cover, not because I knew anything about the movie. It was a true gem. The viewer starts to figure out the plot just as the main character figures things out. The acting is so good, you can see each discovery move across his face just as you learn about it. The mood is created with absolute conviction. Everyone involved did a superb job. If you're up for a GOOD (not mediocre) mystery, check out this video.
7 out of 7 people found this helpful.
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Interesting....but not very...
Added 2/2/2000
My boyfriend and I watched this movie last night. It gets boring at times but it makes you want to finish it just to see what really happened. It has an interesting plot, but my boyfriend and I found the character of "Dora" to be somewhat unreal. I wish she had been more like a real person that anyone might know, I think that would have made you want to care more about the character. There were also a couple of parts in the movie that he nor I really could understand. All in all, if you like a good mystery, it is that if nothing else.
1 out of 6 people found this helpful.
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