Television/Film Review: NightScream (1997)

Most of 1990s television films were made for broadcast networks, which usually meant serious budget and content limitations and, more importantly, lack of ambition. This is the issue that plagued NightScream, 1997 thriller directed by Noel Nosseck.

The film is based on The Soul of Betty Fairchild, novel by Robert Specht. The plot is set in Steveston, small town in Oregon which was one year ago shaken by tragic event. Young woman Laura Fairgate (played by Candace Cameron Bure) was murdered, apparently by her boyfriend who later killed himself. Painful memories of Stevenson’s citizens are brought with an arrival of Drew Summers (also played by Bure), young woman who decides to arrive to town for seemingly inexplicable reasons. Apart from her uncanny resemblance to murdered woman, she also brought attention by falling into trance and having visions of the crime. Laura’s mother Julie Ordwell (played by Teri Garr) is convinced that her daughter’s spirit has possessed Drew. Her husband Ray (played by Dennis Arndt) is much less enthusiastic while Sheriff R. J. Turnage (played by Bobby Hosea), convinced that he had closed the case, asks Drew to leave town.

While the basic premise initially promises blend of supernatural thriller and mystery like Twin Peaks, it soon becomes very apparent that the film was produced by Hallmark, studio specialised for family-friendly, but usually very bland television entertainment. NightScream, despite the title suggesting horror, belongs more to the generic crime genre and the plot is forgettable, although there are couple of interesting twists. Candace Cameron Bure, former child actress who became famous by playing D. J. Tanner in popular sitcom Full House, has produced this film and double role allows her opportunity to show more acting range. Although she, unlike other, more notable and respected, members of the cast, make NightScream watchable, this isn’t enough to recommend this film to anyone but to her most loyal fans.

RATING: 3/10 (+)

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