One Woman's Courage (1994 TV Movie) User Reviews

It takes more than one woman's courage to sit through the whole thing.

[Jadzia79 · 11 January 1999]

When thinking about this film, several words come to mind: cliched, contrived, and confusing, to name a few. In most suspense thrillers, the audience finds itself yelling out advice to the main characters, such as "don't go into the basement- the bad guy is there" or "save yourself! don't go back for your cat!" I never did that with this one. It wasn't because the decisions this victim makes are any smarter than any other suspense thriller victim, it was more that I just really didn't care what happened to her. I couldn't feel any sympathy for her because she was so two-dimensional.

Then let's consider the stalker. He is supposed to make the viewer feel creepy just by being onscreen. He is definitely no Anthony Hopkins or Jack Nicholson. Frankly, I've seen episodes of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" that were creepier. I'm tired of actors who think it is easy to play a psychopath.

This film did have its bright spots, though they were few and far-between. One scene that I thought was very well-done (if slightly preposterous) took place in a church and involved a very cool priest. I can say no more.

I suppose I sometimes demand too much of made-for-TV movies. In all honesty, I'd have to say that "made-for-TV suspense Velveeta" is my favorite genre, and when viewed in its proper context (i.e. on cable at three in the morning), this film is a fine example of its genre.

Even for a TV movie this is bad

[stephen-967-475679 · 2/10 · 4 January 2014]

I like a good TV movie and don't expect too much from them but this film really tested my patience. The basic story was a good idea and the acting was good but the execution of the story was dreadful. It has so many holes and so many ridiculous and unrealistic parts that I found myself screaming at the TV and not in a good way. The fact the killer escaped in the first place was bad enough but what follows is tedious 'tom and jerry' like sequences that made no sense at all...why didn't she have police protection from day one, why could killer run and jump around 2 days after been shot in leg, why didn't he just kill her on any of the 10 times he was in her house...the list goes on but the biggest question is why was this film ever made?

Fairly satisfying thriller, but not exactly Dostoevsky

[FISHCAKE · 8/10 · 7 July 1999]

One really hopes there are women with the courage of Patty Duke's character, who is under threat of attack by a psychopath, and that there are concerned cops like the Lieutenant in this story. Sadly there certainly are wimpy husbands and sons-in-law like these in the film, and psychopaths, too. Good cast and better than average editing for modern films are part of the package. If your standard is Dostoevsky, you won't be satisfied, but if you like a story about a courageous lady, it's a nice 88 minutes.