Product Details

• Actors: Sissy Spacek, David Strathairn, Arliss Howard, Janet Wright, Lindsay Murrell
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Lions Gate
• VHS Release Date: November 12, 1996
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304203802
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #379,656 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Revelation for families of Vietnam Vets, March 4, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beyond the Call [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This story of a relationship between a Vietnam Vet on death row and the woman he was once in love with kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire 101 minutes. It spoke to me about the brother my family lost to the Viet Nam War even though he returned seemingly whole. He went away a young man of 19, hoping to discover how to be a man in the world and came back an old man, withdrawn, without direction or dreams, constantly on drugs. David Strathairn's rage and hopelessness are a powerful reminder of how such damages are wrought by war on any young man with ideals. Sissy Spacek's quiet persistence is stunning as she digs through the armor of the death row prisoner to find the person she once loved. Arliss Howard's performance as the Vet husband who kept his psychic wounds under stiff control is a wonderful support to this excellent ensemble cast.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well done death row drama; Superior to Dead Man Walking, May 29, 2001

By 

Adam Bernstein "sixtiesuniverse" (Northwest, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond the Call [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This film was a Showtime special based on actual events. Sissy Spacek's role as Pamela, the former girlfriend of death row inmate Russell(David Strathairn) shows her usual depth with a superior script by Doug Magee. Emotion and thought provoking dialogue ensues between the 2, as Arliss Howard as Keith, her husband has the weaker less believable role. Both he and Russell suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome from Vietnam and the audio only flashbacks point to a low budget. The real brilliance of the film is the relationship between Pam and Russell as he gets closer to the execution date.

In the background is the injustice system South Carolina style and the covert commentary against the death penalty. You end up empathizing with Russell up to an emotional end that will stay with you. In contrast to Dead Man Walking where the dialogue spells out everything with overdirectness, this one implies everything assuming the intelligence of the viewer.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Performances, July 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Beyond the Call [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I had never heard of this film but, being a big fan Of Sissy Spacek, I purchased a used VHS recording and was mesmerized by the performances of Sissy and Straithairn. excellent dialogue and the 2 of them are so utterly convincing. She is one remarkable actress and he more than held his own. Highly recommended.