The film centers on the in Manhattan Beach, California, where several members of the McMartin family were accused of horrific acts of child sexual abuse and bizarre Satanic rituals.
James Woods received widespread praise for his "intelligence, shrewdness, and sneakiness" in portraying real-life attorney Danny Davis.
(1995) is a powerful, award-winning HBO legal drama that dramatizes one of the most controversial and expensive criminal cases in American history. Directed by Mick Jackson and written by Abby Mann and Myra Mann, the film critiques the "Satanic Panic" of the 1980s and the systemic failures of the media and judiciary. Plot & Key Characters Indictment: The McMartin Trial (1995)
It explores how a single accusation from a parent with mental health issues spiraled into a national panic, fueled by "overzealous investigators" and a media circus.
Are you interested in learning more about the or other true crime dramas from the 1990s? Oscar winner Abby Mann dies at 80 | 6abc Philadelphia The film centers on the in Manhattan Beach,
It highlights the psychological damage done to the children, not by the McMartins, but by the adults who pressured them into giving false testimonies. Critical Reception
A cynical, publicity-seeking defense attorney who initially takes the case for fame but becomes a fierce advocate for the family as he realizes the absurdity of the claims. Directed by Mick Jackson and written by Abby
The trial itself lasted seven years and ended with , though the McMartin family's reputation and livelihood were permanently destroyed.