Aftermath (1991)

 my favorite actor
I will watch anything with Richard Chamberlain, but this movie is depressing.Not even his acting makes it worth watching. January 27, 2008

 Aftermath
The story centers around a family impacted by the sudden death of a mother and a severely injured son. The two were victims of a horrendous crime, where they - and others - were forced to drink Draino and then were shot in the head.

Great movie! Based on a true story. I had seen this movie once, years ago, and had thought about it from time to time. When I found it here, I simply had to order it. December 23, 2007

 I was wrong about this film!!
I had the wrong idea about this film, but when I sat down and watched it, it got to me.I thought this movie dealt with husband and wife love and it deals with a much deeper love. You have to be a father to undestand this. June 8, 2007

 One Family's Journey Back From The Abyss
Based on an actual event, this 1991 television movie is a chilling reminder of our universal vulnerability to events beyond our control.

The Ross Colburn family seemingly has everything going for them--a father (Richard Chamberlain) with a lucrative medical practice, a warm and vivacious mother (Michael Learned) who lovingly dotes on all her children, and siblings who genuinely seem very fond of each other.

The family's idylic life is shattered when the mother and youngest son are tragically caught up in a random robbery at a "hi-fi" store that turns sickeningly violent. The remainder of the film deals with the family's journey back from this deep trauma, as they try to survive and conquer their mutual despair.

The cast is uniformly excellent, and features Doug Savant, the fine actor currently co-starring in "Desperate Housewives" as one of the sons. Michael Learned is featured in the first part of the movie only, but does a wonderful job, as always, of portraying the warm and supportive wife and mother. Richard Chamberlain, in the pivotal role of the father, is marvelous--it is his character who undergoes the most drastic change in the film. Due to truly horrific circumstances, he is forced to change from being a somewhat removed and detached father, to becoming the emotional rock of strength and love for his entire family. He has some very moving scenes with the actors and actress portraying his children, particularly a very important scene near the end of the film, at the graveside of his wife.

All in all, a very well done television movie, that may find you turning away from the screen when the actual robbery is played out. July 18, 2005

 FROM VICTIM TO VICTORY
AFTERMATH: A TEST OF LOVE, is an intense, poignant, true story of the Ross Colburn family, and their desperate attempt to keep it all together, when their mother is murdered and brother is seriously injured, in a heinous murder/robbery. Dr. Ross Colburn is played by the incomparable Richard Chamberlain. He is a successful Ob/Gyn specialist, whose busy career has kept him extremely busy, and somewhat emotionally uninvolved with his wife and children. The tall, gorgeous actor, decked out in his scrubs, and in his slacks and white coat, was so remindful to me of his Dr. Kildare days, when the handsome physician had millions of women, all over the world, hopelessly in love. After thirty plus years, it was astounding to see how beautifully the actor has matured. He is even more handsome with maturity, and has gorgeous silver streaks in his hair, and wonderful laugh lines, etched in his beautiful face. His wife, Irene, is played by the wonderful Michael Learned, who has all through the years, taken good care of this family, to allow her husband more time to devote to his medical practice. When she is senselessly murdered in a robbery, Dr. Colburn attempts to step up to the plate, re-connect emotionally to his shattered children, heal their grief, and keep them together.

The in-depth characterization present in this film, was amazing, and enabled us to really know this family. Dr. Colburn's interaction with each child was sheer magic, and Richard Chamberlain showed his great emotional range in this film. It was obvious, Richard Chamberlain understood the intense sorrow, and agony his character experienced, and really reached down into the depths of his reservoir, to bring a masterful performance to the screen. This is a true story, based on the book "Victim," by Gary Kinder. This moving story was commanded brilliantly by Richard Chamberlain, and is a "must have" for all serious fans. July 19, 2004

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