When He's Not a Stranger
GenreDrama
Written byJosephine Cummings (story)
Richard Yalem (story)
Beth Sullivan (story)
John Gray (teleplay)
Beth Sullivan (teleplay)
Directed byJohn Gray
StarringAnnabeth Gish
John Terlesky
Kevin Dillon
Music byMark Snow
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerDon Ohlmeyer
ProducersKaren Danaher-Dorr
Ian Sander
Production locationCalifornia
CinematographyMike Fash
EditorEdward R. Abroms
Running time100 minutes
Production companiesOhlmeyer Communications Company
World International Network
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseNovember 6, 1989 (1989-11-06)

When He's Not a Stranger is a 1989 American made-for-TV crime drama film directed by John Gray and starring Annabeth Gish and John Terlesky. The story, a stark dramatization of "acquaintance rape," is about a college freshman who is physically and sexually assaulted by a controlling football jock, and addresses the ordeal that rape victims experience.[1]

Background

When He's Not a Stranger was released amid a wave of TV shows and movies addressing rape.[2] Specifically, the film addressed acquaintance rape, a depiction that scholars Carol Bohmer and Andrea Parrott called a "landmark."[1]

The movie was originally to be broadcast on October 17, 1988 but was pushed to November 6th of that year because of coverage surrounding the earthquakes in Northern California.[3]

Plot

At Woodward University, a football-oriented California school, Lyn McKenna is raped by her best friend's abusive, controlling boyfriend, football star Ron Cooper. Lyn is hesitant to reveal this information as she fears that doing so will create social backlash and worsen the aftermath of her experience. However, continued threats from Ron and his fellow football teammates drive Lyn to desperate action. She requests that the school hold a disciplinary hearing against Ron and ultimately demands that a district attorney prosecute.

Cast

Critical reception

When He's Not a Stranger received mixed reviews. USA Today called the film "schlock" composed of "hokey us-against-them scenarios."[4] The Los Angeles Times, while acknowledging the serious subject matter, "criticized the film's "simple-minded characterizations and elementary insights."[5] More positive were The New York Times, which said the film "maintains a surprisingly hard edge" and noted its treatment of class issues,[3] and The Washington Post, which praised Gish's performance especially.[6] New York also praised the performances.[7]

Some reviewers found the film exploitative. A Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed wrote that the graphic scenes leading up to Lyn's assault "hardly serve an educational function," and argued that they were intended to boost ratings with salacious content rather than to raise awareness.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Bohmer, Carol; Parrot, Andrea (1993). Sexual Assault on Campus: The Problem and the Solution. Lexington Books. p. 9. ISBN 9780029037157. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  2. ↑ Shales, Tom (22 November 1989). "The Calm After the Storm". Philadelphia Daily News. ProQuest 1834407726.
  3. 1 2 O'Connor, John J. (6 November 1989). "College Student Raped by an Acquaintance". The New York Times. ProQuest 427443698.
  4. ↑ Roush, Matt (17 October 1989). "'Stranger': When a movie is overdone". USA Today. ProQuest 306245551.
  5. ↑ Letofsky, Irv (17 October 1989). "Gish Confronted With Date Rape in 'Not a Stranger". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 280824264.
  6. ↑ Shales, Tom (17 October 1989). "Chilling 'Stranger';On CBS, a Resolute Portrayal of Date Rape". The Washington Post. ProQuest 307201419.
  7. ↑ Leonard, John (23 October 1989). "Young and Innocent". New York. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  8. ↑ Kristol, Elizabeth (22 November 1989). "TV's Real Message Is Sexploitation". Philadelphia Inquirer. ProQuest 1834449124.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.