A Family Torn Apart
Tags: revenge, murder

Plot synopsis:
The film begins with an unknown person hiding an axe covered with blood in the woods. It then focuses on Brian Hannigan, a teenager who contacts the police after the death of his adoptive parents, a double homicide. The investigators immediately see Brian as a suspect, because he was in the house when the murders occurred, is thought to have been too calm considering the circumstances, while also claiming to have heard nothing during the night his parents were murdered. Chris Hannigan, Brian's 7-year-old adoptive brother, tells the police that he saw his other adoptive brother, 17-year-old Daniel, an aggressive patient at a mental hospital, walking away from the house only seconds after the tragedy. Although Daniel denies having been at the house around the time of the murder, he becomes the prime suspect.
Tom Kelley is an attorney who believes in the sons' innocence and starts to collect information himself. Brian tells him that he was adopted at age six, shortly before Daniel was adopted as well. He reveals that although they seemed to be the perfect family, their parents were abusive towards Daniel because he was always getting into trouble. When blood is found on Brian's shoes, the court orders him to be separated from his brothers. He is taken into the Kelley home, much to the fear of Tom's wife Liz. Brian admits that he was always too afraid to speak his mind and describes a conversation between his adoptive mother Maureen and her best friend Barbara, in which Maureen expressed her anger when things do not go the way she wants them to, referring to Daniel's behavior.
Brian describes that Daniel came to him later that day, expressing the hatred he feels towards his parents. He was kicked out of the house shortly after and sent back to foster care. Three months later, Daniel was caught while breaking into a house and ended up in a reform school. Although Maureen became very overprotective of him and her recently adopted son Chris, Brian found a way to secretly contact Daniel. Back in present life, Chris tells the police that the guy walking away from the home after the murder wasn't Daniel, but Brian. Criminal attorney, Ken Pierson, also discovered that according to the phone records from the last three months, a dozen calls were made to Daniel including the night of the murders. Investigators start to think that Brian and Daniel were both responsible for their parents' death. Kelley then meets Barbara, who took Brian to church, and tells him that Brian's birth mother abandoned Brian for days until the state took custody of him putting him into a foster care system like Daniel. Barbara then said that Daniel had five different families and Brian had six. When Kelley tells Brian that the police are going to ask him a lot of questions, he finally reveals what really happened that night.
On the evening before the murder, Brian arrived home late after going out with Lisa Kensington, a girl who is known at school for being promiscuous. His parents found out and reacted furiously, blaming him for becoming just like Daniel. Brian then calls up Daniel who tells Brian to leave the house, but Brian refuses fearing that Maureen and Joe will do the same thing to Chris. Later that night he overheard his parents agreeing about sending him away too. Upset and enraged, he stabbed both his parents in the basement with a butcher knife. Maureen was almost able to get away, but he followed her in the backyard and killed her with an axe without noticing that Chris was watching him from his window. After his confession, Brian stated he never told Daniel about this and that he never told anyone what was happening in the house because whenever he spoke up when he was little, he would get moved. Brian is then arrested and Kelley returns home disappointed. In the aftertitles, it is stated that Brian served eight years in the Patuxent Institution in Maryland and that Daniel remained having trouble with the law several times and is sent to prison and that Chris got adopted by a loving family.

Review: Tense, gripping, well-executed mini-movie that rises above its tabloid trappings.. There are precious few TV movies that remain indelibly etched in one's mind. After awhile they all seem to be the same routine stuff -- capitalizing on the same lurid titles, based on the same sordid headlines.  But 1993's "A Family Torn Apart" stands apart from the rest of those violent-edged movies we usually witness.  Superbly acted by young actors Neil Patrick Harris and Johnny Galecki who play half-brothers, this stark drama makes quite an impact, rising far above its potentially sensationalistic trappings.  With taut, believable characters, knowing direction and a gripping storyline, we are presented with an "A" class bit of storytelling.Both Harris (from "Doogie Houser") and Galecki (from "Roseanne") grab the opportunity to shed their earnest, amiable TV typecasts for once and immerse themselves completely into the minds of these two poor unfortunates.  And as we witness, via family flashbacks, the harrowing pressure-cooker situations Brian and Daniel are forced to live under, we understand the "why" and the "how" of this tragic family occurrence.John M. Jackson and Linda Kelsey give remarkable performances as ill-fatedJoe and Maureen Hannigan.  By outward appearances, they appear to be stable, dedicated, church-going parents who have earned the respect of their flag-waving community by participating in selfless civic endeavors.  But behind closed doors we get to see an entirely darker side.Extremely strict, overbearing, eccentric and subject to religious fanaticism (she, in particular, shows warning signs of manic mental illness), their demands for perfection make life increasingly unbearable for quiet honor student Brian (Harris) and troubled, delinquent foster son Daniel (Galecki), especially as the latter gets into more and more trouble.  And then one day, the parents are found savagely murdered in their home.  Was it a random act of violence?  Or did one of the boys go off the deep end and do it?Bleak, depressing and often disturbing, "A Family Torn Apart" may cover familiar ground, but it covers it much better than most.  Well, well above average.  And like a bad accident, it's hard to look away from it.. All Hail Neil Patrick Harris. With his younger brother in his arms Brian Hannigan (Neil Patrick Harris) calls 911 as he believes his parents are dead. They are having been brutally murdered the night before with the finger of blame falling on Brian's adopted brother Daniel (Johnny Galecki) who has been in Crownsville State hospital for a year due to his violent behaviour. With the police trying to build their case Brian speaks to Tom (Gregory Harrison), a lawyer and friend of the family about their parents, about growing up and what he and Daniel went through.Patrick Harris from "How I Met Your Mother" and Johnny Galecki from "The Big Bang Theory" are the stars of "Sudden Fury", aka "A Family Torn Apart". This is a TV movie from back in 1993 when Harris was known for "Doogie Howser, M.D." and Galecki was popping up in "Roseanne". The 2 stars are not the only interesting thing about this movie as the murder is based on a true story.Patrick Harris's delivery has you gripped and I can't praise him highly enough.Harris's initially cold then emotional performance as Brian is both touching and powerful. Whilst Galecki is brooding, raw rage. Linda Kelsey and John M. Jackson performances as the parents (shown in flashbacks) deserve plenty of praise. there is drama and pain as the plot thickens.Trust me when I say "Sudden Fury" is worth watching alone for the performance of the young Patrick Harris as much as for the fact it's a horrifying true story."Sudden Fury" is an absolute gem of a movie with a great true story and great performances from Neil Patrick Harris and Johnny Galecki. For those who discount made for TV movies as rubbish should seek this one out as it will change your mind.. A must see!. When I was away on business I couldn't help but turn to Lifetime, TV for women and stumble apon this overlooked film. This film is a dramatic masterpeace and should be viewed by all. Neil Patrick Harris delivers a great job in playing a confused youth bent in an uneasy yet dark situation. The story envolves two kids who are victim of strict parents who abuse there kids. The film is very touching and will jerk a few tears. The film touched me in so many ways, my spouse as well. One the most memorable scenes when a Lawyer gives Niel Patrick Harris a cigarrete as he tells his story of darkness, it just great symbol of self destruction, lost and confusions. This film is truly a touching phycological adventure. Please TiVO it next time it comes on Lifetime, TV for women.