Happy Face Murders (1999 TV Movie) User Reviews

People are strange

[MystiKef · 7/10 · 2 September 1999]

I saw this at the Directors Guild the other night at the premiere. It's a very strange story, especially since it is based on truth. It makes you think about how many truly bizarre people we actually have in our world. Watch this when you get the chance. It will be on Showtime.

Granny with a whip

[moonspinner55 · 6/10 · 12 August 2001]

Made-for-cable movie is appropriately quirky and darkly comic. Clues regarding a small-town sex murder leads a wise female police detective and her rookie partner (Marg Helgenberger and Henry Thomas, both excellent) to a twisted grandma who keeps changing her story. Off-putting details and a few nasty sequences made me wince, but the actors certainly don't look embarrassed, especially Ann-Margret as the granny with a whip (she has a ball!). The story threads are complex and engrossing, but I had trouble with the presentation, which borders on smut with a bigger budget. Some funny lines and memorable bits (like A-M referring to her "bad ticker"), but overall just so-so.

amusing thriller/black comedy

[Tinyhippy · 6/10 · 5 April 2002]

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It had my full attention throughout, which is sometimes difficult for a film to do. There were no dull parts, and it got more and more amusing as it went on! I'm not sure which category this film comes under. It is a thriller, but also a comedy, and a murder mystery. Either way, it was a good film.

The lovely Henry Thomas made a great appearance, although his character didn't seem necessary, he was good to watch as always. The little comedic moments between him and the character Jen were wonderful to watch. I would give this film a 7. Sure, it's not the best movie ever made, but it kept my attention, and that's got to be a good thing.

Ann-Margret does it again!

[vivaAM · 11 September 1999]

"Happy Face Murders" is a murder mystery that is too weird to be true, but believe it or not IT IS! Ann-Margret is nothing short of brilliant in her role as Lorraine...it's very hard to even recognize Ann-Margret as a frumpy grandmother, that's how convincing she is. I definatly recommend this movie it is suspenseful, funny, and well acted.

How easily the web is woven. Twisted and murderous.

[michaelRokeefe · 4/10 · 7 July 2001]

This crime tale is weird, suspenseful and filtered with off beat humor. Situational drama does little to help this well acted, but trying story line. The hardest part of watching is seeing Ann-Margret as an enabling granny that tells one lie on top of another.

Marg Helgenberger is the movies brightest spot. Nicholas Campbell is on the edge and totally believable. Henry Thomas seems to have phoned his part in from a phone booth, sorry.

A quirky little murder mystery that features brutal truth. Give it a shot.

Very ordinary...nothing here worth recommending.

[=G= · 4/10 · 1 August 2001]

"Happy Face Murders" is a below par whodunnit which has little to offer and is very ordinary in almost all respects. Ann-Margaret is not believable as a quirky old woman; Helgenberger isn't believeable as a tough cop; the script is sophomoric; directing abominable; etc. Unless you're really bored and happen upon it on broadcast, don't waste your time.

The only reason you'd have a happy face while watching this film is if you're laughing at it's poor quality.

[reti_incarnate · 2/10 · 29 April 2006]

An absolutely awful movie that's only redeeming feature is it's occasional moments of unintentional humour, when dodgy camera effects and ham-handed acting produce giggles instead of drama and suspense. The acting is terrible, the script is worse and the plot is just ridiculous. The only actor doing anywhere near a competent job is Marg Helgenberger, who plays to type as a "street-wise cop". The dialogue is clichéd and stilted and the storyline is so convoluted and outlandish that you'll think you've been teleported into a different movie sometime during the second half. Unless you want to have a bit of a chuckle at this cringe-inducing film that I judge to be the worst I have seen (beating even the horrific "Johnny Mnemonic"), give this one a miss. It's not worth the renting price.

Marg rocks!

[the_brush · 8/10 · 29 April 2006]

this movie was on TV here last night and I only watched it because I'm a huge fan of CSI & Marg Helgenberger and I had never seen it before. this movie is no masterpiece, but i thought it was hilarious. yes, some of the humor is cliché' and when you're watching it it's like, oh my god this is so lame, but i still liked it. Jen's comment to the "doc" about getting a jigsaw puzzle from Goodwill or whatever and finding it's missing a few pieces and how it was like the case they were working on was the best line of the whole movie. Ann Margaret, whom I also like, was just fabulous, that her character annoyed the #$&@ out of me but then by the end I felt sorry for her. Her hair, is another story. If you're a MH or AM fan, totally watch this movie. Otherwise you'll probably be better off watching something else :)

A 'strange but true' award winner.

[rrauwl · 7 September 1999]

Without a doubt one of the most interesting movies that I've seen in a while that claimed to be mostly true. It claimed, in fact, that the parts that they made up are the ones that you would believe at the drop of a hat. It's the TRUTH that leaves your head shaking and your jaw wide open.

The movie is funny, strange, and a little chilling; with decent acting to boot. If you have some time to kill, catch this on re-run.

Anselmo steals the ending!

[Tim-198 · 10/10 · 22 November 1999]

Richard Anselmo stole the ending of the Happy Face Murders as the plodding newspaper reporter. For this part, Anselmo gained over 50 lbs in weight and is being compared to Robert DeNiro's part in " Raging Bull". DeNiro gained 40 lbs in that role to play the part. Anselmo's interview of Ann Margret was the highlight of a very lackluster movie. The only credibility factor of the movie was Anselmo's true to life interview.

Always INCREDIBLE A-M!

[Ann-MargretGrL · 13 July 2003]

I got this movie because it stars my idol, Ann-Margret, and yet again, she totally and completely blew me away with her performance!!!! It's so hard to picture her as this frumpy little old lady, and ya know what...she REALLY pulls it off well! She has a blast with the role, that's obvious:) And who doesn't love hearing her cry "Sonny boy!" at every guy she meets! She's FABULOUS! Everyone did a great job in this one, and the story was very appealing and instantly had me glued. There's one thing though that they just couldn't conceal... and that's the beauty of A-M:) Even with the padding, grey wig, and whited out eyelashes, she's still the one and ONLY kitten With a Whip! She's gorgeous, inside and out:) KILLER MOVIE! I reccomend this to everyone!!

Based on Real Events

[hx1950 · 16 January 2005]

The made-for-TV movie, HAPPY FACE MURDERS, is based on the activities of Keith Jesperson. Jesperson was a long-haul truck driver and 30-ish in age when he committed his first murder circa 1990. Prior to that time, he lived a "regular" life- employed, married with children, etc. Jesperson's killings took place along his truck routes in the west and northwest United States. Jesperson's first "kill" was a woman he "picked-up" in a bar. This first murder is said to have been sparked by Jesperson's becoming angry when the woman demanded money as payment for their "night out." Jesperson dumped the body in an area he assumed would be secluded enough so as to prevent the body's discovery. However, the body was discovered by hiker's within 24 hours. Thus begins the odd story depicted in this movie. Keith obviously didn't know when he was "well off."

Ann-Margret is a delight

[ttor · 6 September 2002]

This was one of the best "made-for-tv" movies I have seen. The plot is coherent but unpredictable (which alone makes the movie remarkable). Ann-Margret is terrific and great fun to watch. I recommend the movie.