Legacy of Fear (TV Movie 2006) Poster

(2006 TV Movie)

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5/10
may contain spoilers!
s041153827 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
may contain SPOILERS!!! I saw this movie tonight on lifetime. The script is very predictable. It's quite obvious what will happen from one moment to the next. a very 'formula' film. the trauma ridden main character must ultimately confront demons from her past to reconcile her future and save the world from a serial killer. The main character fills the role of only a slightly believable soul-searching detective. Her relationships with the other characters seem, at times, painfully forced. There is little suspense or delivery concerning the eventual plot unfolding. And the motivation is scarcely believable. The plot turns seem to be a complete after thought. The tidy package ending was evident almost immediately. Despite all this, I found that film still oddly compelling. I found the actors themselves delivered an impressive performance. I'm interested to hear what other viewers thought about this film.
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5/10
Help me make your husband understand what it is what I do
kapelusznik1824 October 2013
***SPOILERS*** Lifetime Network serial murder flick that spans 30 years and includes more then a dozen victims. It all starts in 1977 when this psycho dubbed the PBS Killer went on a rampage murdering some half dozen people that ended with the brutal murder of Mrs. Linda Joyce, Jean Nicola, in what is now called, not back then in 1977, a home invasion. In his haste the BPS killer left alive Linda's 10 year old daughter Jeanne, Teri Polo, whom he promised to finish off in a future date. It was Jeanne's father detective Don Joyce, Stephen Spender, who spent that next few years trying to hunt down his wife's killer only ending up insane and later in frustration blowing his brains out. He's considered by many to have been the BPS 'last victim.

It's now 30 years later and he's at it again the BPS Killer is back and murdering persons the very same way he did back then in 1977. The only difference now is that Jeanne is now all grown up and a hot shot lady detective in the local police force. It's Not only that she's the only hot on his trail but who can also identify him. What Jeanne doesn't quite realize is that his grand plan is to finish her off like he told her he would some 30 years ago. And all his latest killings is to lure her into the trap that he set for her without her knowing about it. And even more surprising is that the killer has planned that for years getting close to Jeanne before she suspects who he is.

The BPS Killer is not at all that difficult to spot even if he changed his appearance over the years when he went from a person in his 20's or 30's to someone eligible,or so it seems, to collect a social security check. It's just that he got a lot more brazen and stupider over the years making him far more identifiable and ineffective because of it. He does make an attempt to murder Jeanne at the end of the movie but he's so full of himself in how indestructible he is as well as smart that he screwed himself up instead. Just when he had Jeanne where he wanted her his big mouth , in bragging how smart and clever he is, betrayed him by giving Jeanne the chance , by dropping his guard, to finally finish him off before he could put his evil and crazy plans for her into effect!
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4/10
Was ok
ryleilove18 April 2021
I wish they didn't make the killer so obvious, it took the suspense out of the film. Also, the ending was rushed. Was way too easy to take him down. I give it a 4 for effort.
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Stinky X 10
mikesnedfish28 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
True Story: I stumbled on the movie early this morning, missing the first 35 minutes or so, and still figured out who the killer was within the first 2 minutes, and I'm not that smart. Crappy T.V. movie that follows typical cheesy serial killer formula. Pretty cop with a nice life, studies kick boxing, as a child involved in serial killer attack who killed mother, killer comes back 30 years later, and blah blah blah. My brain is too numb after watching this crap to try and sort out each of the rehashed segments. How does Teri Polo agree to make a stinker like this? I am always puzzled how the decision was made. Did she read the script first before agreeing? Does she read the script cuddled up in her nice house with a glass of wine thinking that this could be the next Silence of the Lambs? Was she nuts? This is a filler movie, the kind that only appears at 3 a.m. on the dish. Forget this one, and watch the infomercial on juicers instead.
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1/10
Worst Lifetime movie I've ever seen.
snapmcnasty28 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
First off, I love Lifetime movies, but this is a true stinker.First, Teri Polo's character was totally unlikeable. The writers went too for trying to show her drive to catch the killer.She fought with her boss, co-workers, and her best friend constantly. If a detective had spoken to their boss the way she did ,she would be fired! Also,to go into a wooded area in the middle of the night with no backup? That would be a fire-able offense right there. With backup they might have saved the girl. They should have shown a little bit of vulnerability in Polo's character. Secondly, the killer's character was not fleshed out enough. Yes, he was the son of the first killer, but please give us some info on his childhood and life. Thirdly, what happened to the first killer, how did die,why did he stop killing,etc.? The writers dropped the ball on this one.
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7/10
a movie about a serial killer(i liked it)
disdressed1220 March 2007
i liked this movie.i think Teri Polo is a good dramatic actress,at least judging by this movie.many people probably know her from the comedy "Meet the Parents"and its sequel"Meet the Fockers".she was good in those movies and she is equally talented in the dramatic arena.i won't say too much about the plot except it involves a serial killer.only 3 people have commented in total so far,and 2 of them clearly did not like it.everybody has their own opinions and ideas on what they consider a good movie.in my mind,this is a good movie.there's mystery,suspense and good acting.as for originality,most movies made today are not completely original so i don't think that should go against this movie.if you are looking to be entertained,this movie might work for you.or not.either way,as i said, liked it.i also have noticed Teri Polo's name in a few other dramatic movies and i think i will try some of them based on her performance in this movie.i think"Legacy of Fear" is a strong 7/10
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5/10
Typical Lifetime Junk Food
titanium_tulip7925 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I've seen worse, but I've definitely seen Lifetime do better with its movies. It seems like so many recent LMN flicks suffer from unoriginal, filler plots. Legacy of Fear is no different, and it's a shame. You have a cast of good actors and you give them crap dialog and silly scenes, and it makes it all the more boring to watch. Oh well. There are a few redeeming moments in the flick, particularly the fight scene **potential spoiler** between the detective and serial killer, it's just, well, amusing... in an otherwise try-so-hard-to-take-me-serious movie. It's what I like to call a 'nothing but a paycheck' film. But like I said, I've seen much worse. It's a step above watching Survivor.
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7/10
A Detective's Obsession
lavatch18 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"Legacy of Fear" was a strong character study in the central figure of Detective Jeanne Joyce. As a little girl, Jeanne was traumatized with her mother's death by a serial killer. Her father Don was the detective who obsessed over the so-called BPS killer until it was too much for him and he took his life. Will Jeanne be following in her father's footsteps not only as a good cop, but as an obsessive one?

The filmmakers were successful in creating a gritty look for the film. The early sequence was well designed to evoke the 1970s in Springfield, Massachusetts. The remainder of the film that followed was equally effective in the world of 2007.

An interesting subset of characters included Jeanne's feisty grandmother, Mimi. But primarily Jeanne was surrounded by an assortment of male cops, including the crusty chief Ray, her devoted partner Freddie, and the forensic examiner Val. A reporter friend, Kathleen, figures prominently in the unfolding drama.

There was an interesting twist to the film in the final revelation of the copy cat killer. The surprise was set up effectively for a payoff in the final minutes. Teri Polo was a standout in the role of Jeanne. The film was unpleasant in its content, yet effective as a thriller with an especially compelling final thirty minutes.
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5/10
Lifetime serial killer
SnoopyStyle7 April 2017
In 1977 Springfield, Mass., police detective Don Joyce is investigating a serial killer known as BPS (Bound, Photographed, Strangled) killer. The killer murders Don's wife in front of their daughter Jeanne. Thirty years later, Jeanne 'JJ' Joyce (Teri Polo) is herself a homicide detective. Don had committed suicide. The killer was never caught but suddenly, the killings are happening again after a 30 years break. Her best friend reporter Kathleen Coyne is pulled into the case.

I am a little surprised by the nudity in this Lifetime movie. Teri Polo is perfectly fine. It does need a better director and production value. With more graphic violence and darker movie moves, this has a chance. Instead, it is never better than its Lifetime construction. That only makes this a sad shadow of an actual film.
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6/10
Example of output from Screenplay Software?
canuckteach27 September 2009
Such software has existed for quite some time, believe it or not. That's why we see the same 'suspense' scenes over & over again (a killer attacks, but the hero is just having a DREAM SEQUENCE! the hero chases the killer into a forest but gets struck from behind {you'd think the cameraman would say something} etc.) and hear the same clichéd lines repeated that we've heard before in these tiresome retreads. Matt Damon calls such dialogue 'derivative'.

In LOF, the acting is respectable, especially by our lead, Teri Polo. I confess I tuned in to it since the Canadian Football game I was watching was dreadful and LOF was a better time-waster. However, the premise--that a clever 'serial killer' can outfox detectives while leaving them taunting clues and also read their every move in advance--is only slightly less ridiculous than a film about sharks stalking humans (well, that worked the first time!). It does, however, show how screenplay-software can turn out a barebones script for a TV movie: I can just see the 'writer' flipping through the menus "Flashback Scenes" "Arguments with Police Boss" "Fun Scenes to Flesh out Hero" "Eerie Searches for Clues" etc.

You could produce a decent 'B' suspense flick with a little imagination: a few bizarre characters; some nifty dialogue that moves the plot along, but says things in a new way; or a hero that is complex but compelling (Dr House, Sherlock Holmes, Monk). I'm afraid the Cast here just isn't given too much to work with. Contrast an old sleeper such as 'Plain Clothes'.

6/10 generous rating just for being more fun than a CFL game in which one QB couldn't pass the salt..
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3/10
Just alright
BandSAboutMovies30 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Detective Jeanne Joyce (Teri Polo) watched her mother get murdered by a serial killer thirty years ago. Now, she's still obsessed by the BPS (Bound, Photographed, Strangled )Killer*, a case that drove her father insane and was the whole reason why she became a cop. Yet when the murders start again, she's not convinced it's the same killer, even when he or she claims that Jeanna - who pushes away anyone and everyone around her - will be the last to die.

This is the kind of movie that is begging to be either a legit Hollywood film or a giallo, yet is constrained by being a Lifetime movie, so it can't wallow in the sleaze like it should. However, you can also read that as an indictment of myself, a person who needs fashion, black gloves and a jazzy soundtrack to accompany my murder stories.

*In no way is this killer related to the BTK (Bind, Tie, Kill) Killer, right?
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10/10
Teri Polo is incredible!
FamilyGuyKS1 September 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Teri Polo is a beautiful and incredibly talented actress, and it comes out in this movie. Polo delivers a powerful performance as Detective Jeanne Joyce, a relentless career woman in the mold of TV's Olivia Benson, who pursues a copycat serial killer from a 30-year old cold case. The last death of the original killer was that of her mother, while 6-year old Jeanne is locked in a closet, bound and forced to watch. The last murder drove Jeanne's father, the lead detective on the case, to suicide, and Detective Joyce is now out to put this grisly part of her past behind her once and for all. She starts out by finding a couple murdered in the park, and it is the exact same M.O. as the original killer--the male shot once in the back of the head, the female bound and gagged, and Polaroids of both victims prominently next to the bodies, hence the moniker BPS--Bound, Photographed, Strangled. It reminds you of the BTK case out of Wichita and the RDK case from a Law and Order: SVU episode in 2004. The killer taunts Jeanne with notes, but little does she know that the man she sits across the table from on a dinner date, the medical examiner, could very well be the copycat killer. Jeanne doesn't realize this, and soon her life and that of her grandmother, her only living relative, are in danger...
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