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The Tie that Binds (1995)
Front Cover Actor
Movie Details
Director Wesley Strick
Language English
Audience Rating R (Restricted)
Running Time 99 mins
Country USA
Color Color
Plot
The Netherwoods (Keith Carradine and Daryl Hannah) are bad parents. They break into people's homes and steal food, leaving their daughter Janie (Julia Devin) in the car to occupy herself. So the state takes Janie away from them and puts her up for adoption. Unfortunately for Janie's new parents, the Cliftons (Moira Kelly and Vincent Spano), the state didn't catch the Netherwoods, and the bad parents want their daughter back. This summary, though accurate, isn't fair to The Tie That Binds; despite the broad strokes of the plot, the movie is surprisingly successful at creating suspense. The violent scenes are both effectively brutal and effectively restrained--what we see looks like it hurts, but the most gruesome violence happens offscreen. The performances aren't subtle, but like the movie itself, they're grounded enough in reality to sustain the suspense. The gorgeous cinematography lends itself to some beautiful images (a sheet blown away by the wind, fireflies flickering in front of an unfinished house) that create a unusually graceful sense of impending danger. This may not have played as well on the big screen, but in the intimacy of your own home The Tie That Binds has an accumulating creepiness that will last longer than the jagged shocks and jolts of most recent thrillers. --Bret Fetzer
Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Index 917
Collection Status In Collection
Links Amazon US
Product Details
Format DVD
Region Region 1
Screen Ratio 1.85:1
717951003461
Release Date 4/11/2000
Subtitles English
Audio Tracks English Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1