Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter (1994)

Powerful

What begins as a feel-good-human-interest story turns into a mystery, then a tragedy, and ultimately an outrage.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

A fairly compelling TV movie in which Meredith Baxter fully embodies the persona of Betty Broderick, a spurned wife who killed her ex-husband and his new, younger spouse in a controversial case from 1989.The double-homicide caused tremendous pain among the survivors. This film portrays Betty as having felt entitled to kill after all the humiliation she'd suffered. Indeed, the lone jury holdout from her first trial, which resulted in a hung jury, said he wondered why she hadn't snuffed the creep earlier.Judith Ivey does well as a prosecutor who puts years into an effort to send Betty to prison for most of her natural life. I appreciated the tiny role of her supportive husband; he selflessly urged her to stick with the case -- in stark contrast to the egocentrism of Betty's ex.Betty became a controversial lightening rod -- a bold feminist to some and a heartless killer to others. In the middle stood her traumatized children. A psychiatry witness testified that Betty cared more about revenge than how her kids would deal with a devastating crime. (In one scene, Betty's oldest daughter says her mother warned her to watch her back after testifying against her!)In another troubling sequence, Betty gets roughed up by a sadistic fellow inmate. Tough and brazen as she was portrayed, she can't be having an easy time of it behind bars.

Compelling and powerful sequel. Betty Broderick(Meredith Baxter)is behind bars waiting for her second trial; the first ended in a hung jury. Killing her ex-husband, a powerful San Diego lawyer, and his pretty new wife just doesn't satisfy the proud, spoiled and narcissistic woman trying to avoid embarrassment. This is like looking at a horrific accident...you can't help but watch this woman unravel in her own confusion. This story focuses on the court battle between the assistant D.A. Kerry Wells(Judith Ivey)and Broderick's next attorney in line Jack Earley(Ray Baker); one of many she hasn't fired yet. Betty still believing the world revolves around her and her wishes. Her children and friends appear in court only to show how erratic and confused she is in striving for freedom and the justice she feels is owed to her. The original director Dick Lowry returns as well as most of the cast of A WOMAN SCORNED. Ivey is outstanding; but Baxter is just exceptional and memorable. Other players include: Kelli Williams, Ralph Bruneau, Christine Jansen, Joan McMurtrey, Stephen Root, Clayton Landey and Aaron Freeman.

This is definitely a great movie. I have seen this and the first one entitled "A Woman Scorned". This story interested people so much that they had to make a sequel. I think this movie is well made and acted.Spoilers Ahead Betty, was not just a woman scorned though. She was also a killer who went over to her exhusband and his wife Linda's house and broke in and shot them while they were sleeping. She then pulled the phone out of wall so Dan could not call for help. Then when Betty is still in the county jail awaiting her second trial she is disciplined for a scuffle that she had with an inmate earlier. But Betty won't coroparate so the guards have to carry her down to solitary. I saw the real-life incident on TV and the funny thing about it was that they showed her in her green panties. Which teaches a good lesson that if she would have just kept her mouth shut and did what she was told instead of fighting and arguing then she would have spared herself the aggravation, embarrassment and trouble. She is a spoiled rotten brat who definitely needs to grow up.

This is easily one of the most entertaining TV movies ever. Great performances, particularly from Baxter and Ivey. Do not miss this movie if it comes on. There's a reason it's regularly among the top 10 cable shows whenever it's on.