vt-berry I am from Kentucky, I went to a boarding school with the sister of the girl this movie is about. I remember when she found out that her sisters death was not an accident. That has been many years ago. We had lost touch for a few years, but I recently got back in touch with her. I actually talked to her about her sister tonight. Back in boarding school, she couldn't even talk about it. She did tell me that her mother was not portrayed correctly in this movie. She was not a good mother, and she was horrible to her daughter. I would say that if the writer of this movie did research with the family, then the mother was portrayed as she would want the world to know her as.

DrPhilmreview This movie is interminable. Peter Horton plays a lawyer who is out to investigate the possible homicide of a young girl virtually nobody cares about, including anybody unfortunate enough to happen to watch this incredibly dull film.Helmed by TV director Mark Piznarski, you get the feeling this "based on a true story" script has LOTS of embellishments, and none of them are interesting. No real reason is given as to why Horton's character is sooooo obsessed with this case that he would jeopardize his career, his relationship with his son and everyone else in his life. He just is. What makes it even harder to believe is we're never really given much of a portrait of the murdered girl. I didn't find her case compelling in the slightest, yet here's Horton obsessed with it. Carrie Snodgrass as the killer had a chance to create an interesting character, but never even reaches the level of killer in a bad episode of "Law & Order".This film illustrates the real death benefit is that the dead can't be forced to watch this.

MarieGabrielle I agree with the earlier reviewer; she proves her acting ability, despite a thin script and bland dialogue. Peter Horton is also good, at least not the usual slick lawyer from a firm- (ergo; he is a sympathetic character!!) That is NOT an easy accomplishment, to portray a lawyer AND be a likable character.In fact, I will not even watch movies anymore about attorneys, courtroom dramas, etc. Writers, please take note after the Scott Peterson and Michael Jackson debacles last year, the phrase "courtroom drama" has been maxxed out, for at least the next ten years. That being said, this film was based on a true story, and there are minimal courtroom settings.The sociopath is portrayed by Carrie Snodgress, who also played opposite Steve Railsback in the movie "Ed Gein". She does an excellent job, as always. So watch the film for her performance- and for genuine acting, by a talented actor.

gzerna I'm confused. Is this a movie called `Death Benefit' that's about building a case in a homicide investigation, or is it a movie called `Family Neglect' about a professional man's responsibility to his family and his firm. Instead of staying focused on the true story, literally Every Other Scene is about how the protagonist is neglecting his insipid wife, his annoying son, his irritating secretary, or his stupid boss. All of these cardboard characters continually detract from what could have been a solid drama between two strong characters. Also, the director/editor keeps using quick-cut flashbacks in what I guess they think adds intensity, but the montage is so artlessly assembled, these only look like a student filmmaker's attempt to be arty.