Despite some compelling performances and reasonable suspense, the fact-based TV drama CHILDREN OF FURY suffers from lapses in plot logic and an abundance of red herrings which undermine this story of an FBI standoff against a house of religious zealots in Marion, Utah.
When police kill religious polygamist John Singer at his ranch, his widow, Vickie (Tess Harper), and his children publicly vow revenge. After seeing the family on TV, avowed fundamentalist and polygamist Addam Swapp (Kyle Secor) insinuates himself into their circle. Soon he marries two of Singer's
daughters and decides to carry on Singer's work. He arms the elder children and trains them to defy authority.
Swapp's intimidating tactics frighten the neighbors, but when police intercede, Swapp threatens them off his ranch at gunpoint. The cops arrest Swapp's brother while Swapp, in retaliation, bombs a town building. This act of aggression forces the local authorities to summon the FBI, led by chief
agent Bob Bryant (Dennis Franz). He immediately orders a stakeout of Swapp's property and encourages Swapp to turn himself in. Swapp refuses, declaring that the family is waging war against the government and authorities in the name of God and their anointed prophet, John Singer.
Bryant then orders his men to employ tactics of psychological harassment by shutting off the family's electricity and water, shining floodlights into the house, and using a piercing siren. This only enrages Swapp, who steps up his violence against them. By the 12th day of the stakeout, Bryant gets
permission to use aggressive force to end the siege. Using attack dogs as a diversion, the agents manage to shoot Swapp and swarm the house, where the others finally surrender.
First shown on TV as "In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion," CHILDREN OF FURY's puzzling title change is just one of the many irritating loose ends plaguing the movie. Charles Haid's direction is so scattershot that it's difficult to keep track of which character is which and who's related to
whom. Supporting players appear and disappear without explanation and dramatic moments fall flat with no resolution.
Fortunately, most of the performances are first-rate. Harper is scarily effective as the hellfire-and-brimstone Vickie. Though Secor doesn't seem capable of the kind of manic intensity that Powers Boothe displayed in the TV movie GUYANA TRAGEDY: THE STORY OF JIM JONES (1980), his hammy portrayal
of the religious fanatic Swapp is diverting. But Franz's performance is unbearable. He walks through his role in a zombie-like trance, occasionally throwing in a mannerism left over from his "Andy Sipowicz" character on "NYPD Blue." (Violence, adult situations.) leave a comment
