good back-story, and good acting

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

This was a very sad story that happened in a town twenty minutes away from where I used to live. In fact the girl's parents and the father of Beth Brodie came to my school to do a seminar on dating and domestic violence. I had the pleasure of meeting them. There is a sad part unfortunately, the two boys (this includes Beth Brodie's ex/killer) are both now eligible for Parole. Even though they originally weren't Massachusetts passed a new law that people 16 and under at the time of their crimes is now eligible. I hope they never get out.Candace Cameron and Fred Savage give excellent performances in this movie. This movie is extremely vital for ALL teens to see. It will help them learn and recognize the red flags of abuse.

Now don't get me wrong, it is horrible when abuse like this happens in the real world. Abuse is no doubt a subject that should be dealt with care...this movie does not to a good job of that. First off, starting the movie with the revelation is a bad idea and the film has no surprises after, we know whats going to happen, it all depends on how and when. The good: fred and Candice held up well in the acting department for the most part. It is trying to deal with a serious issueThe bad: Bobby is as subtle as a gun to the face! He is always acting creepy, cruel or psycho even in scenes where he should not be. Now of course I can forgive that so long as we have a smart sympathetic lead...Stacy is horribly annoying! She is always complaining about the stuff she should not be, and keeps going back to bobby despite clear evidence he is insane. She goes back not once or twice like any believable person, but 7 times!!! And only during the sixth does she dump him, only to go back to him, calling him a friend!!! And after that...slaps her and then let's him drive her home!!! Actually whenever someone questions Stacy about bobby she always whines and says "you're just jealous because you can't find love!!!". What a horrible character! This is what kills the movie! Stacy is such a dumb idiot! If this really is based on a true story than I sincerely hope that the real person was not like this! Bye is clearly a horrible person and actual physical evidence of abuse Is on her body, but noooo!That aspect is really the only reason the movie get praised, it's based on a true story! If it was not than it would be shunned! The movie feels like one of those horrible teen dramas that use factors like this for a free pass. However, things like those are exploitive of the subject. Films like this should explore not exploit! I have no doubt a lot of the movie was made up and I pray to god that is the case.

this movie helped me a lot, i was scared to tell my mom about my boyfriend and what he did to me, then i seen this movie and thought to myself that i didn't want to end up like her... that day i told my friend what my boyfriend did to me and he was put in jail...he is about to get out, but at least now he know's it's wrong what he did to me and that when a girl says no it mean NO...but i just wanted to say it's hard to leave a boyfriend if he hit's you i was beaten and mentally abused and for the longest time i thought i was nothing and only he would love me, but now i'm happy with a guy who has never and well never hit or mentally abuse me and would never basically be like my ex-boyfriend...but thanks bye

That's the message here; and this is what can happen if action is not taken. Candace Cameron and Fred Savage leave their days as child stars behind in this 1996 NBC television movie, based on a true story. Stacy Collins (Cameron) is a junior in high school who is shy and uncertain, but when she begins dating handsome senior and star of the school wrestling team, Bobby Tennison (Savage), she feels loved and protected. But behind his charming exterior, Bobby's sweet behavior (leaving her flowers in her locker, giving her gifts, etc.), is a controlling, possessive nature which Stacy tries to dismiss. But he closely monitors her every move and feels threatened if she spends time away from him. Physical violence is commonly introduced. Their friends suspect that things are not as rosy as they seem, but only Stacy's best pal Nicky (Heather McComb) tries to persuade her to end the relationship. Trapped in the feelings of isolation and blaming herself for his inexcusable actions, Stacy lives in fear. Bobby's cousin informs Nicky that he had also mistreated his previous girlfriend (who transferred to to get away from him), and after yet another public fight (during a great school dance, where the nifty 50s is the theme), Stacy, encouraged by Nicky, tells Bobby that it's over. A truly unnerving moment in the hallway after she breaks it off, when he tells her he will never give her up. Through the wired glass of the classroom door his face is like cold, evil granite, his gaze like the black coals of hell. Bobby, under the guise of wanting to stay friends, asks her to come over to his house to give him a haircut. Inevitably, another spat occurs, and, instead of taking her home, he takes her out to a nearby lake where they had their first date. Only Bobby returns to the truck, to the horror of his friend Vince (Eric Balfour), and with blood on his hands. "If I can't have her, no one's gonna," Bobby chillingly states. Stacy is missing; her frantic mother Laura (Michelle Phillips), and friends search for clues, along with the local police; Stacy's ex-boyfriend is strangely calm. Vince, riddled with guilt, makes an anonymous call to the cops, telling them to go look out by the lake. He is eventually brought in for questioning, while Nicky informs Laura of Bobby's abusive tendencies. Vince tells what he knows, and then the investigation moves to Bobby, who finally cracks under the pressure. When Stacy refused to go back to him, he had slit her throat and dumped her body in the lake. Sally Jessy Raphael makes a special appearance as the judge who hands down the life sentence to a stone cold Bobby. She then admonishes all others involved for not speaking up - this is what can happen if you don't.Those who remember Savage as the wholesome Kevin Arnold on "The Wonder Years" will be surprised at how effective he is - romantic and attractive one minute, angry and obsessive the next. The way Bobby treats his mother, his abusive father's past, and his anger in the wrestling ring are subtle hints of things to come (as is the moment when Stacy takes a shower at Nicky's house - it's pretty obvious that she is being watched). Cameron, who has always excelled at playing kind, naive, gentle characters, does a great job, as always. Heather McComb is the best friend every girl should have, while Michelle Phillips gives just the right amount of balance as the caring but distracted mother who is too busy with work and her own lowlife boyfriend (whom Stacy despises), to realize the dangerous situation her daughter is in.Hopefully, stories like this will raise more awareness - too many people have looked the other way. The DVD: The soundtrack has changed slightly from the version that aired on television - two songs by Belinda Carlisle have been replaced with more current music. The only extras included are trailers for direct to video films.