Evil Angels (1988)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Fred Schepisi

Writers:

John Bryson (novel)
Robert Caswell (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

11 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A family torn apart. A public filled with outrage. A woman accused of murder.

Plot:

The story of a mother whose child was killed in an animal attack, only to have herself accused of the infant's murder

Plot Keywords:

Media | Australia | Dingo | Police | Baby

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Lindy Chamberlain
Sam Neill	...	Michael Chamberlain
Dale Reeves	...	Aidan, 6 years
David Hoflin	...	Aidan, 8 years
Jason Reason	...	Aidan, 11 years
Michael Wetter	...	Reagan, 4 years
Kane Barton	...	Reagan, 6 years
Trent Roberts	...	Reagan, 9 years
Lauren Shepherd	...	Azaria
Bethany Ann Prickett	...	Azaria
Alison O'Connell	...	Azaria
Aliza Dason	...	Azaria
Jane Coker	...	Kahlia, new born
Rae-Leigh Henson	...	Kahlia, 18 months
Nicolette Minster	...	Kahlia, 4 years

Also Known As:

Evil Angels (Australia) (literal title) (USA) (literal title)
A Cry in the Dark (International: English title)

Runtime:

120 min | 122 min (dvd release)

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

Company:

Cannon Entertainment

Trivia:

Last cinema film of Dorothy Alison.

Quotes:

Lindy Chamberlain: [after being released from prison] Hello Kahlia. Hello darling. Don't you look lovely - such a pretty dress.
Kahlia, 4 years: [Shy] Mummy made it in gaol.
Michael Chamberlain: This is Mummy, darling. She's back.
Kahlia, 4 years: Real mummy?
Michael Chamberlain: Real mummy.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Verity Lambert: Drama Queen (2008) (TV)

Excellent look at 'justice' and the media

Some movies seem to be made before we are ready for them. As I watched this film, made in 1988, in 1999, I thought I was watching the O.J. Simpson debacle (although I have very different opinions about the innocence of the individuals in each situation).

The Australian news media, if this movie is to be believed, devoured the case of a possible infanticide and truth was left as an afterthought. It was scary to see the scenes of invasive, swarming media hordes, ridiculous accounts of half-truths and lies and debates over the supposed merits of the case by persons at all levels of society.

Equally appalling is the media's depiction as indifferent and uncomprehending of the technical information in the case. I do wish more was made of the issue of religious prejudice in the case (the accused are Seven-Day Adventists).

Today these circuses have become common but that makes the lesson only more important.

Streep is excellent as usual, and this is the best I've ever seen Sam Neill. The Aussie accents get a bit thick at times but not incomprehensible.