''Child in the Night'' is a 1990 American

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

broadcast during the 1990 May sweeps. It aired on the

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

Network before a subsequent release to home video and syndication. The

psychological thriller Psychological thriller is a genre combining the thriller and psychological fiction genres. It is commonly used to describe literature or films that deal with psychological narratives in a thriller or thrilling setting. In terms of context and c ...

stars

JoBeth Williams Margaret JoBeth Williams (born December 6, 1948) is an American actress and television director. Her directorial debut with the 1994 short film ''On Hope'' earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film. In 2009 she began ...

as a child psychologist,

Tom Skerritt Thomas Roy Skerritt (born August 25, 1933) is an American actor who has appeared in over 40 films and more than 200 television episodes since 1962. He is known for his film roles in ''M*A*S*H'', ''Alien'', '' The Dead Zone'', '' Top Gun'', '' A ...

as a local police chief and introduced

Elijah Wood Elijah Jordan Wood (born January 28, 1981) is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his portrayal of Frodo Baggins in the ''Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy (2001–2003) and '' The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'' (2012). Woo ...

as a troubled witness to a brutal slaying. Darren McGavin co-starred. It was the final film on-screen role appearance of

Rick May Rick May (September 21, 1940 – April 8, 2020) was a Canadian-American voice actor, theatrical performer, director, and teacher. May provided the English-language voice for Peppy Hare and Andross in ''Star Fox 64'', the Soldier in '' Team Fort ...

, who died 30 years later on April 8, 2020.

Plot

In Seattle, nine-year-old Luke Winfield (Elijah Wood) is the only witness to his father's murder at the hands of a rain-slicker-wearing killer with a cargo hook. However, the boy fantasizes the murderer as Captain Hook, in an escape from the traumatic reality. Detective T. Bass (Tom Skerritt), who is in charge of the investigation enlists child psychologist, Dr. Hollis (JoBeth Williams) whose failed marriage was caused by her inability to have children. While getting closer to Luke she has an affair with Bass. She also discovers some troubling family secrets ensuring she is next to be slain.

Cast

Production

JoBeth Williams chose to perform in the film due to the romance subplot between her character and Tom Kerritt's, as she found filming it fun. ''Child in the Night'' also marks Elijah Wood's first role.

Release

''Child in the Night'' aired on CBS on May 1, 1990. The film received a VHS release in the 1990s through Triboro and in 2021 was released as part of a box set of

made-for-TV A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

movies entitled ''Televised Terror: Volume One'', through

Vinegar Syndrome Cellulose acetate film, or safety film, is used in photography as a base material for photographic emulsions. It was introduced in the early 20th century by film manufacturers and intended as a safe film base replacement for unstable and highly ...

Reception

Critical reception was negative and the ''

Honolulu Advertiser ''The Honolulu Advertiser'' was a daily newspaper published in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the largest daily newspaper in the American state of Hawaii. It published daily with special Sunday and In ...

'' wrote "A condemnation of 1980s greed or an overblown two-hour sitcom without the laugh track? You decide." Kay Gardella of the ''Daily News'' panned ''Child in the Night'', as she felt that it lacked credibility. A syndicated reviewer for the ''

United Feature Syndicate United Feature Syndicate (UFS) is a large American editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States and established in 1919. Originally part of E. W. Scripps Company, it was part of United Media (along ...

'' was similarly dismissive, stating that partway through it "becomes just another whodunit with the standard woman-in-jeopardy climax." Horror Society reviewed the film as part of the ''Televised Terror: Volume One'' box set, stating that it was the weakest of the set but that it was also "a well put together murder mystery."

References

External links

* * *{{Rotten Tomatoes , m/child-in-the-night 1990 films 1990 television films 1990s mystery films 1990s psychological thriller films American thriller television films Films scored by Mark Snow Films about dysfunctional families Films shot in Washington (state) CBS network films Films directed by Mike Robe 1990s English-language films 1990s American films