The leading role is a Rourke impersonation, complete with the earrings and the tattoos, but I like his mistress' mother, and it would have been nice if the mother had a relation with the boy who watered the plants in the greenhouse, or, at least, if the movie turned into a slasher, instead of trite gun-pointing, the father was annoying, the movie needed pace and a B movie style, and of course more interesting actors, or a director who knew how to make the existing cast seem interesting, but we can think about the line of abusive characters, from Garfield, Brando and Harris on
, we can think about that, instead of what could this movie have been, as it had at least three ways to go (the spousal violence, the B movie sleaze, the slasher
). Very mediocre script.
6 Reviews
A Girl Movie
michelledpear_7721 February 2008
This is a typical abuse movie, but it is also the kind you catch your self watching it every time it comes on. I wish it would come out on DVD. It is the type of Lifetime movie that makes me want to watch Lifetime movies. No it is not Oscar worthy acting but who cares!I always like the Richard Grieco movies on Lifetime. You know he never plays good guys. But you still can't help falling for him for at least a portion of the movie. Ann Jillian was good in this movie. I could not imagine being a former abuse victim and having to watch my own daughter showing the signs of abuse. Then have trouble getting through to my daughter would also kill me. I don't know why but these kind of Lifetime movies are my favorite.
Effective in shedding light on the victim mentality
vidalia1511 November 2001
Either Him or Us, a 1995 t.v. movie, is most effective in shedding light on the victim mentality, specifically, how easy it is for women to fall prey to seemingly well meaning men who are nothing more than wife beaters. Ann Jillian plays a woman, herself a victim of wife abuse, who battles the obsessive, violent boyfriend of her granddaughter, played by Monique Lanier. The film works in showing Lanier's belief that her boyfriend's passion for her is what is also responsible for his violent ways, and director Iscove succeeds in creating this conflict.
All performances are strong, especially Richard Grieco's, who is terrific in portraying the subtlety of his character's obsession.
Unfortunately, his character, and performance, go over the top in the last third of the film, as he gets even more deranged and the film lapses into too familiar territory. Thus, much interest and psychology are lost to a more derivative format typical of many movies about obsessive love.
Worth seeing, nonetheless, for the performances.
All performances are strong, especially Richard Grieco's, who is terrific in portraying the subtlety of his character's obsession.
Unfortunately, his character, and performance, go over the top in the last third of the film, as he gets even more deranged and the film lapses into too familiar territory. Thus, much interest and psychology are lost to a more derivative format typical of many movies about obsessive love.
Worth seeing, nonetheless, for the performances.
Ann Jillian is good...Not all women are victims....
MarieGabrielle13 November 2006
even though there are many films like this, and it somehow seems "this could happen to anyone".
There is psychology involved, persecution, masochism. A not insignificant fact is that this was based on a true story, and the mother was involved with an abuser in this case.
Richard Grieco is believable, although a bit over the top. He makes a great chicken salad though!.
Ultimately, if you take this as a cautionary tale, it works. It is not a masterpiece, but may be instructive for young girls early teens, who think a guy seems "cool" only to learn the true facts. Violence isn't cool. Alcoholism and jail isn't cool. Not a bad Lifetime addition.
There is psychology involved, persecution, masochism. A not insignificant fact is that this was based on a true story, and the mother was involved with an abuser in this case.
Richard Grieco is believable, although a bit over the top. He makes a great chicken salad though!.
Ultimately, if you take this as a cautionary tale, it works. It is not a masterpiece, but may be instructive for young girls early teens, who think a guy seems "cool" only to learn the true facts. Violence isn't cool. Alcoholism and jail isn't cool. Not a bad Lifetime addition.
Fairly forgettable
dlbrokaw2 April 2001
Made for TV movie detailing the darker side of obsessive relationships. Brings together a bunch of formerly famous television drama characters -- you'll have flashbacks to 21 jump street, life goes on, star trek the next generation, and get to see some of the earlier work of a cast member of 7th heaven.
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