"Sins of the Mother" was a 1991 film based on the rape trial of Frederick Harlan "Kevin" Coe in 1978-81. The film was especially troubling in its depiction of the high threshold of evidence required to convict Coe in that era. Despite what appears to be overwhelming physical and eyewitness evidence, it was still an uphill battle to gain a conviction in the pre-DNA era.
The filmmakers chose to focus extensively on the relationship of Kevin and his domineering mother Ruth. The toxicity came across in the love-hate relationship in which the mother would humiliate, taunt, and belittle her son, then shower him with adulation. At one point, Kevin contemplates moving from Spokane to Los Angeles. Of course, he feels compelled to bring along his smother mother, as opposed to breaking ties with her, as part of his plans.
One of the most interesting characters in the film was Ginni Perham, Kevin's long-suffering girlfriend. While the film does not suggest that Ginni was physically abused, she was certainly mentally traumatized by living with her psychopathic husband and having to interact with his controlling mother. The actress playing Ginni turned in a moving, understated performance.
The mother's true colors came out when she was caught hiring a hit man to murder the judge and prosecuting attorney in her son's trial. But, based on the data provided on screen at the close of the film, she escaped with minimal time served in this shocking, real life drama.
The filmmakers chose to focus extensively on the relationship of Kevin and his domineering mother Ruth. The toxicity came across in the love-hate relationship in which the mother would humiliate, taunt, and belittle her son, then shower him with adulation. At one point, Kevin contemplates moving from Spokane to Los Angeles. Of course, he feels compelled to bring along his smother mother, as opposed to breaking ties with her, as part of his plans.
One of the most interesting characters in the film was Ginni Perham, Kevin's long-suffering girlfriend. While the film does not suggest that Ginni was physically abused, she was certainly mentally traumatized by living with her psychopathic husband and having to interact with his controlling mother. The actress playing Ginni turned in a moving, understated performance.
The mother's true colors came out when she was caught hiring a hit man to murder the judge and prosecuting attorney in her son's trial. But, based on the data provided on screen at the close of the film, she escaped with minimal time served in this shocking, real life drama.