Category Archives: thriller

Virginia Madsen in Prey for the Devil

Prey for the Devil

Although Prey for the Devil falls very firmly on the “Virginia Madsen films I don’t really want to watch” list, I sat down to watch this one with a little bit renewed hope that it might not be as bad as it seems. Mainly because The Haunting in Connecticut had taken me by surprise, and in my mind they’re the same kind of film.

I was wrong – They aren’t the same kind of film – But, I digress.

Released in 2022, Prey for the Devil tries to put a fresh spin on the somewhat tired exorcism genre, blending the old tropes with a few new twists and a little slip of flair.

In this world, demonic possession has become so prevalent that the Catholic Church reopens schools for teaching exorcism rites. Typically, nuns aren’t permitted to perform exorcisms, let alone be trained in them, but Sister Ann (Jacqueline Byers) catches the eye of Father Quinn (Colin Salmon), who sees potential in her and agrees to abandon the old ways and train her.
Virginia Madsen in Prey For The DevilBut it can’t be that simple, Sister Ann’s investment in the exorcism world is personal. Her mother was possessed when she was a child, and she has never fully recovered from the trauma. It isn’t long before her quest becomes a little too personal, before you can bless some Holy Water she finds herself face-to-face with the same demon that terrorised her family years ago: quelle surprise

Virginia Madsen takes on the role of Dr. Peters, she’s a Psychiatrist who insists that most “possessions” are schizophrenia and adds an element of doubt, and perspective, to the supernatural goings on. She plays the role pretty straight, it’s sort of her Mum thing in a more professional setting. There’s a warmth to her that “gets it” when it comes to what Sister Ann is going through, and has gone through previously. It’s a small role, but she makes the most out of it and you won’t come away with any complaints about her.
Virginia Madsen in Prey For The DevilWhich is nice for Virginia, but what about the rest of the film?

Well. It’s… Not good. I mean. It’s – There is something in the film. I don’t actually think it’s that bad of an idea for a film, but somehow it gets lost with a lack of original thinking. It’s nearly good, but it fails so hard that it becomes hard to watch. It’s the usual stuff you’ve seen before and ultimately it lets itself down. It’s not that you’re angry at it, but you’re disappointed.

I wanted to like it. I was rooting for it, I wanted it to hit me with something that would make my jaw drop. But, it didn’t. And it could have, I know it could have. It was so close.
Virginia Madsen in Prey For The DevilSo. With a heavy heart, it’s hard to recommend this one just as a watch.

Availabilty:
Good. No problems finding this on DVD or Blu-Ray in whatever country you’re in it would seem. Also available on multiple streaming services depending on your location, or access to a VPN.

Trailer:

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Virginia Madsen in Better Watch Out

Better Watch Out

“Better Watch Out” I smirked to myself as I pulled it off the shelf, thinking I was clever. I’m not very funny, or clever as it turns out, but easily amused if you can’t tell.

This one was never going to be on top of my “to-watch” list. A Christmas Comedy Horror? Yeah, no. Put the words “Christmas Comedy” together in any context, and I’m already half checked out. Add “horror” into the mix, and… No.

But then there’s Virginia Madsen. And this site. So, yeah, here we are. Again.
Virginia Madsen in Better Watch OutReleased in 2016, Better Watch Out is a [ahem] Christmas comedy-horror flick that made some waves in certain circles when it first hit. It didn’t quite break into the mainstream, but it had enough buzz to pique my interest. The film stars Olivia DeJonge as Ashley, a babysitter, and Levi Miller as Luke, her 12-year-old project for the night.

Luke has a bit of a crush on his 17-year-old babysitter, Ashley, and in classic horror-trope style, he’s convinced that with a little setup of a cozy horror movie marathon and “protection” from scary noises outside, he’ll be able to win her over. It’s a cute idea, or creepy, and definitely cringey.

As the plot unfolds, things take a dark turn. Instead of your typical lighthearted teen “romance”, strange things start happening outside the house. It soon becomes clear that things aren’t what they seem. If you’re familiar with the site, you know I’m all about leaving surprises intact. So let’s just say there’s an early twist that changes the whole tone of the story and turns it into something way darker than a typical “home invasion” setup. Virginia Madsen in Better Watch OutIn it’s defence, it’s a Christmas horror film that actually pulls off a fresh take, blending horror, comedy, and psychological thriller in surprisingly balanced doses. And, that’s pretty high praise coming from me with this kind of film.

Virginia Madsen plays Deandra Lerner, Luke’s mother, and while it’s a relatively small role, she makes her presence known in those brief appearances, mainly in the beginning and end. Obviously, with Luke needing a babysitter, Deandra’s offscreen for much of the film, but Virginia brings her usual mix of warmth and just-right suburban-mom vibe, briefly.

No Oscars for anyone here, but thanks to Virginia Madsen, a touch of class.
Virginia Madsen in Better Watch OutFilms like these are never going to change my mind about the whole sub-genre of them – BUT – As I said, this one gets a nod for at least trying to do something different. The twist I didn’t really expect and so maybe a nod, and a smile.

Bah humbug.

Availability:

Good on DVD and Blu-Ray – You shouldn’t have any problems with this one at all.

Trailer:

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Virginia Madsen in Obliterated

Obliterated (Season 1 Episode 04 – “Walks of Shame”)

Ha. Obliterated.

I was half excited when I heard Virginia Madsen’s name associated with this one. New Netflix show, getting half decent reviews. Nice.

Unfortunately, I heard news of its cancellation before I watched it – One season, eight episodes and done. Life is harsh sometimes.

Obliterated is a show with a half decent, but kind of limited premise;

After stopping a bomb from going off in Las Vegas a crack team of elite special forces agents celebrate with a night on the town, maybe a little too hard. But, they’re early. A very real threat remains and now they’ve to stop it while still intoxicated.

I mean, we’ve all been there…

ANYWAYS – Virginia Madsen has a very, very small role in the Fourth Episode, “Walks of Shame”.Virginia Madsen as Marge McKnight in Obliterated, sitting on a beige couch wearing a plaid shirt. She has curly blonde hair and an expressive look while talking. A man in the foreground, slightly out of focus, is drinking from a beer bottle. The scene has a dim, warm indoor lightingShe plays the Mother (Marge McKnight) of one of the main characters, Chad McKnight (Nick Zano) in a flashback sequence seen at the beginning of the episode. She’s just sat on the couch, chilling with a beer and her son watching Rambo of all things.

And, it is what it is. It’s pretty well done, and even though you don’t know either character quite well there is an obvious vibe and chemistry to their relationship. The short conversation was probably meant to be expanded on at some point given the, mystery, of some of it, but we’ll not see that go further now. Not in this medium at least.  Given the short amount of time these two are together you can’t help but give a little head nod to and appreciate the art.Virginia Madsen as Marge McKnight in Obliterated, resting her head against a man’s chest in an emotional embrace. She wears a plaid shirt, her curly blonde hair slightly disheveled. The man, wearing a white graphic t-shirt, has a solemn expression as he holds her close. The dimly lit room features a softly illuminated curtain in the background, adding to the intimate and comforting atmosphere
Availability:

It’s on Netflix, obviously – HIGHLY doubtful we’ll get a physical release, but you never know.

Trailer:

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Virginia Madsen in The Event

The Event

While I can’t be 100% sure, I’m pretty confident NBC’s The Event was their attempt at jumping on the bandwagon when all the conspiracy shows were hitting the air. It was that time when TV stations were throwing new shows at the wall to see what stuck.

Shows like LOST, 24, Flash Forward, Fringe, Heroes, and Prison Break all had elements of political intrigue, worldwide conspiracies, or extraterrestrial involvement, heck – sometimes a mix of everything, with a splash of a little something extra to give it a spin, or make it edgy.

The Event tried to tick ALL the boxes.

The plot centres on a group of extraterrestrials who crash-landed on Earth in 1944 near the end of World War II. These aliens look human but age at a much slower rate. The U.S. government, fearing what their presence might mean, locked them up in a hidden facility in Alaska called “Inostranka.” Their leader, Sophia Maguire (Laura Innes), represents only a fraction of their population. The rest, known as Sleepers, have lived undetected among humans, quietly influencing world events and waiting for their time to reveal themselves.Virginia Madsen as Senator Catherine Lewis in The Event. She sits elegantly in a red blazer dress, legs crossed, in a well-appointed office setting. Her poised expression suggests a serious conversation with the man opposite her. A structured leather handbag rests beside the couch.The big mystery in the show revolves around a major, looming moment, rather ominously  referred to simply as “The Event”, that the aliens hint is coming.

We the viewers, are left to speculate as to what exactly that is.

Is it a catastrophe? A hugely uplifting moment for humanity? Who’s a Sleeper? Who can we trust?

Etc.

I’ll admit, I was all in for shows like this for a while. I even own several of them in complete box set form, The Event included. Just the one season, though, at the risk of spoilers, it was one of the doomed ones.

Beyond the global stakes, The Event also focused on personal stories, including one character in particular: Catherine Lewis, played by none other than Virginia Madsen, because, let’s face it, I wouldn’t be talking about this show otherwise.
Virginia Madsen as Senator Catherine Lewis in The Event. She appears deep in thought, wearing a red textured blazer, her expression serious. A blurred figure in a suit stands behind her, adding to the tension of the scene.Catherine is the widow of a U.S. senator who died under suspicious circumstances. And we know how shady that can be. While Madsen’s role wasn’t massive, it was pivotal in pushing the government conspiracy into the light. Catherine’s suspicions about her husband’s death became part of a bigger investigation into what the government was hiding about the aliens.

I wouldn’t say we see anything new from Virginia Madsen in this role. Don’t get me wrong, she’s perfect for this kind of part, but it also feels a little like lazy casting. Virginia can do this kind of thing in her sleep, and let’s be real: she can probably act circles around most of the cast. If they’d needed her to carry more of the show, she could’ve done it with ease. The role had plenty of room to grow, and with Virginia Madsen behind the wheel, it would’ve been in safe hands.

But, alas, the show was cancelled, and Catherine’s character arc was cut short, along with everyone else’s. Another TV show that asked way more questions than we’ll ever get answers for.
Virginia Madsen as Senator Catherine Lewis in The Event. She is seen in a serious moment, holding a phone to her ear, with a determined expression.Is it worth watching? That’s not an easy one to answer. It’s good, and I did like it – But it’s one of those shows where the cancellation hurts. Too many questions, not enough answers. It’s probably not worth putting yourself through the emotional wringer, knowing there’s no closure.

That said, watch it if you like. You’ll probably enjoy it if you’re into this kind of thing. Just don’t come looking for me when you’re hitting forums, searching for what could’ve been.

Availability:

Good, not hard to find at all on DVD

Trailer:

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Virginia Madsen in Red Riding Hood

Red Riding Hood

Aha! An angsty, teen-driven reimagining of a classic folk tale, just what I was looking forward to when starting this whole Virginia Madsen website.

Said no one. Ever. Not even me.

This Red Riding Hood remake from 2011, directed by Catherine Hardwicke and produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, boasts a cast that isn’t exactly scraping the bottom of the barrel. Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Julie Christie, and yes, Virginia Madsen are all on board. On paper, this should be half-decent.

I don’t think I need to explain Red Riding Hood. Little girl. Red cape. Big bad wolf. Big teeth. You know the drill.

Amanda Seyfried plays the red-caped heroine before red capes were really a thing, and she’s got two brooding hunks competing for her affection: Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), the bad boy woodcutter, and Henry (Max Irons), the good boy blacksmith.

The problem? Valerie’s heart belongs to Peter, but her mom, Suzette (Virginia Madsen), has arranged for her to marry Henry. Why? Well, because her mom promised, and it’s medieval times, where arranged marriages are the norm. Also, plot.
Virginia Madsen as Suzette in Red Riding Hood, wearing a medieval-style outfit with a blue bodice and netted sleeves. She gazes at a young man with concern in a dimly lit, rustic setting.Then, just to add more plot, their village is terrorized by a werewolf. Enter Father Solomon (Gary Oldman), the grizzled werewolf hunter, with, a giant metal elephant. No, really.

Oieeee. If all this sounds a little sardonic, it’s because… Well, it is.

No, I did not enjoy this film. In fact, I switched it off halfway through. I remember seeing reviews that compared it to Twilight, which I’d half-forgotten about until the whole thing reminded me way too much of Twilight.

(Catherine Hardwicke would also be the one resonsible for bringing us the first Twilight film, she was reportedly fired after the first one, some might think this was an attempt to take on that franchise…)

Virginia Madsen does her best here, but even she couldn’t salvage it. Her hair and makeup are… a choice. And while her acting is solid, it’s all very soap opera (as is most of the cast, to be fair). I’ve said before how often her talents are wasted, but after watching this, I now truly understand how much wastage is possible.Virginia Madsen as Suzette in Red Riding Hood, leaning forward with an intense expression. Her long, curly blonde hair frames her face as she wears a medieval-style outfit. A village scene with people in the background adds to the film’s setting.So, would I recommend Red Riding Hood? No. Unless you’re a die-hard Virginia Madsen collector, and even then I’d ask, “Do you really need this on your shelf?”

This is one for collectors only, to be filed away and probably never watched.

Availabilty:

Good. Because nobody wants to buy it… OK – So, yeah – It’s on DVD and a Special Edition 2 Disc Blu-Ray. You won’t have problems finding it currently.

Trailer:

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Virginia Madsen in The Practice

The Practice – Season 6 – Episodes 1 and 2 – “The Candidate”

The Practice is a TV Show that was on air from 1997 to 2004. It’s a Legal drama and centres around the good people of Boston working for a Law Firm. During its early years it’d win an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, and it would go on to spawn a spin off series, Boston Legal, which ran from 2004 to 2008. Both of these shows would be the brainchild of David E. Kelley who was also responsible for bringing the other famous Boston Lawyer, Ally McBeal to our screens and the whole thing was a “shared universe” before they became popular.

While it was on air The Practice was well known for pulling in high profile guest stars, many of these guest slots would be awarded with a prestigious Emmy Award afterwards. You’ve got the likes of Sharon Stone, William Shatner, Viola Davis, Donnie Whalberg and Gina Gershon to name but a very few who’ve thrown their hats in The Practices ring.Virginia Madsen as Marsha Ellison in The Practice, wearing a light purple robe with a solemn expression. Her damp hair frames her face as she looks intently at someone off-camera in a dimly lit room.I won’t pretend to have watched it all, in fact any of it apart from the episodes featuring Virginia Madsen, it’s just not my type of show. Like CSI: Miami and Law and Order, these kinds of shows just don’t do anything for me.

Virginia Madsen would guest star in two episodes in 2001’s sixth season in a story called “The Candidate”. They’d form the first two episodes of the season and would first air at the end of September that year.

The story of The Candidate revolves around Senator Keith Ellison (Dylan Baker), he’s found by Ellenor Frutt (Camryn Manheim) after he calls her to his home. He’s not in a good way, he’s covered in blood and stood near the body of a man. The Senator claims he was defending his wife, Marsha (Virginia Madsen) from an attack, but it soon turns out that the man in question was actually having an affair with Marsha.

The waters are muddied. Or, bloodied if you will.
Virginia Madsen as Marsha Ellison in The Practice, wearing a black blazer and pearl earrings. She has a serious, emotional expression as she looks intently off-camera in a dimly lit setting.Virginia Madsen does her thing in this as you’d almost expect. We’re not in Emmy territory here, but that’s not to say she’s dialling things in either. She does her earnest angry woman thing, and does it well. You can see her in eyes her true feelings throughout the episode. It’s a shame we don’t get to some more from her in this role, but it’s what the character needs to be.

I’ve already said this kind of thing isn’t for me, so hard for me to recommend as obviously there is an audience for this kind of show. I guess you’ll already know if it’s one for you or not.

Availabilty:

Hard to find on DVD, despite earlier, and later season being available. Hate it when they do that. It can be found on various streaming sites though like Apple and Plex so you can watch it that way at least.

Trailer:

Not for the actual episode…

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Virginia Madsen in The Rainmaker

The Rainmaker

1997’s The Rainmaker is quite an important film in the career of Virginia Madsen, it’s the one that most would and will remember as bringing her back into the acting limelight properly. It’s only a small role to be fair, but a damn good one.

The Rainmaker is an adaption of John Grishams novel of the same name from 1995, it’s directed by Francis Ford Coppola and features some proper Hollywood heavyweights such as Matt Damon, Jon Voight, Micky Rourke and Roy Scheider among others.

The Rainmaker however, might not have been another solid hit Hollywood was hoping for. There isn’t anything wrong with the film as such, it’s just not the most exciting film out there with its focus on the courtroom more than anything else.

The story follows Rudy (Matt Damon) as he battles for justice for a young man whose Insurance Company denied him the money for a life saving bone marrow transplant which could have saved his life in a battle against leukaemia.

The Insurance Company in question, Great Benefit, tries to defend its practices and policies against Rudy but the deeper he digs, the more shady practices come to light.

No great surprise there then.
Virginia Madsen as Jackie Lemancyzk in The Rainmaker, sitting on a motel bed wearing a dark coat, holding a cigarette, appearing anxious or distressed.As I mentioned earlier, Virginia Madsen has a small role in this film, well, small in size, perhaps not in consequence to the overall story.

She plays Jackie Lemanczyk, a woman who used to work for Great Benefit who turns on her former employer and takes on the role of a whistleblower. Her arrival in the film comes at a pivotal moment and her testimony in the case is crucial to the outcome.

Obviously I’ll avoid spoilers here, but the outcome of it all won’t come as any great surprise to anyone.
Virginia Madsen as Jackie Lemancyzk in The Rainmaker, seated on a courtroom witness stand, looking tense and uncomfortable while giving testimony.It’s only a small role for our heroine, but, an important one in her career I think. Her performance here is spot on. At the time of this movie she wasn’t exactly in the limelight and she was amongst some fine actors. Not that she couldn’t hold her own, at all – BUT – What she didn’t do was over perform. She brings a reality to the character of Jackie. A weary woman who has battled her own morals and fought her own demons, not said things she she should have said, and has reached down into her soul to finally say what needs saying.

Which. Seems kind of dramatic when I put it like that, but… It is what it is.

The Rainmaker came at an odd time in Virginia Madsen’s career. At this point, Virginia Madsen had already experienced the highs and lows of Hollywood. She’d reached a high in her career in the early 90’s with films like The Hot Spot and Candyman, but the years following some would consider challenging, with fewer roles coming her way.
Virginia Madsen as Jackie Lemancyzk in The Rainmaker, seated in a courtroom witness box giving emotional testimony, with the judge watching closely in the background.By the mid-’90s, she was a new mother and had stepped back from acting to focus on her family. It wasn’t until her son was a little older that she began exploring roles again. On hearing this she was asked by Francis Ford Coppola himself to audition for The Rainmaker and has often spoke fondly of her experience, and gratitude for the film. Speaking with outclique.com she has this to say;

“I learned an incredible amount about acting from Francis Ford Coppola. Because I didn’t go in to the audition nervous, they gave me the role. He trusted that I would be tough enough to go through it and not be destroyed. I think a lot of these directors see a strength in me; they know I can go the distance.“

The Rainmaker might not have done as well as it could have or should have, but as fans of Virginia Madsen we should all be thankful for it, and maybe for that reason alone it belongs in all of our collections.

Availabilty:

Good. Another one you won’t have any trouble finding. In most countries it’s easier to get hold of the DVD over the Blu-Ray, but it’s one of those films that will probably end up getting a boutique release at some point or another.

Gallery:

Trailer:

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virginia madsen in the portrait

The Portrait

I think of all the “new to me” films I’ve watched as part of this whole thing, The Portrait was one that was pretty close to the bottom of the list.

I’m not a fan of this particular type of horror, and I could tell from the trailer what kind it was going to be. And, you know… That’s OK – I won’t ever rubbish a film just because it’s not for me, but it doesn’t make me feel any better about watching them either. Truthfully, if Virginia Madsen’s name wasn’t attached I wouldn’t entertain it. BUT – I also had The Haunting in Connecticut in mind, I thought that was going to go one way and it didn’t, so…

The Portrait isn’t classed as horror, more a psychological thriller, but it amounts to the same thing in my mind. It’s a British film from 2023 and was released straight to digital markets.

Alex (Ryan Kwanten) suffers in an accident, he survives but he remains in a pretty much catatonic state and has no real memory of his life before. He’s alive but his interaction with the world around him is minimal at best. His wife, Sofia (Natalia Cordova-Buckley) is doing her best to look after him but is struggling.

In an attempt to jog his brain and his memory back into gear she takes him back to his family home in the hopes that being there will spark, something.

Not long after they arrive she comes across a portrait in the attic painted by a long dead relative of her husband. The thing is, he’s a dead ringer for her husband and Sofia becomes more and more convinced that something else is going on here the more she stares at it.
Virginia Madsen as Mags in The Portrait, standing confidently in a dimly lit room. She wears an all-black outfit with gloves and a long gold medallion necklace. Her curly blonde hair frames her intense expression as she looks at a seated woman in a gray sweater. A man in a casual t-shirt sits nearby, observing the conversation. The background features soft natural light streaming through windows, casting shadows in the rustic interior.Not long after moving in, cousin Mags (Virginia Madsen) comes calling to check in. She seems to know a lot more about the family history and lets Sofia in on a few chilling details of the man in the portrait. It turns out he was gifted, but not so much of a nice chap – In fact he was pretty much run out of town not long after the portrait in question was finished.

From there, it’s pretty much Alex getting more and more out of character, Mags getting more and more mysterious and Sofia getting more and more concerned until things escalate and, well – Yes.
Virginia Madsen as Mags in The Portrait, leaning closely over a seated man with an intense, almost sinister expression. Her blonde curls frame her face as she looks down at him, her presence looming over his shoulder. The man, with a brooding and contemplative expression, stares downward, seemingly lost in thought. The dim lighting and muted color tones add to the mysterious and tense atmosphere.There aren’t many surprises to be had from this film unfortunately.

Virginia Madsen in this, isn’t at her best. But she doesn’t have much to work with either. Mags is almost like a Scooby Doo villain in this one (and not a good one like she played in Where’s my Mummy?), you know she’s up to no good – She might as well put a sign around her neck and ring a bell. All those sly and knowing looks she gives while employing every means of avoidance she can muster. You know the one.
Virginia Madsen as Mags in The Portrait, captured in a close-up shot with an intense and enigmatic expression. Her curly blonde hair frames her face as she gazes forward, her eyes conveying a mix of curiosity and authority. The dim, moody lighting accentuates the contours of her face, adding to the film’s mysterious and suspenseful atmosphere.Did I like it? – Well. I didn’t hate it. Would I recommend it? Well. Kind of, I mean if you like this kind of film, and I know lots do, then there are far worse examples of it out there you could go with, it’s actually quite a well made film. I think for me the story lets it down mainly.

Availability:

So far it’s not had a physical release so you’ll need to purchase it digitally if you want to see it. It’s available on Amazon Prime, or check your usual service to see if they have it.

Trailer:

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virginia madsen in law and order SVU

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, not my kind of thing at all. Like CSI: Miami before it, I’ve zero interest in this kind of Police Procedural show. Only one thing would get me to voluntarily watch it, Virginia Madsen.

Thankfully, it’s not as though I’ve never seen this one as it’s one my better halves favourite shows. And, there’s a LOT of it. Law and Order: Special Victims Unit has been around for years, in fact at the time of writing it’s the fourth longest running US show, ever.

Well, I say thankfully – Law and Order SVU deals with the worst of the worst sex based cases it can possibly get away with on TV, I’m sure. I mean, don’t get me wrong – I’m no prude and can fully enjoy and appreciate the worst of the horror films out there. But, something about the subject matter of this TV show doesn’t sit right with me and I’d rather not spend an hour or so a week watching it and calling it ‘entertainment’.
Virginia Madsen as Beth Anne Rollins in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, seated at a restaurant table in an elegant setting. She wears a pink off-the-shoulder dress and a pearl necklace, smiling warmly while engaged in conversation with another woman. The softly lit background features other diners and a refined ambiance.But. Having said that, it does do its storytelling with a great deal of tact and empathy, it deals with some harsh subjects sometimes and like it or not, this is the world we live in. And, if my Wife likes it then it must be doing something right as she’s as tough an audience as it gets.

It’s a long running show, I’m not even going to try and explain the stories and threads that do run though the thing as I’d most likely spend a lot (a LOT) of time talking about the things you don’t care about. And I’d do it badly as I’m not a fan of the show.

So, onto the main event.
Virginia Madsen as Beth Anne Rollins in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, standing in a warmly lit room while talking on a pink phone. She wears a floral blouse with sheer sleeves and a delicate necklace. Behind her, wooden shutters with star-shaped cutouts and white blinds add to the rustic decor. She has a calm and pleasant expression.Virginia Madsen appears in the 6th Episode of the 17th Season in an episode called “Maternal Instincts”. She plays the role of Beth Anne Rollins, the mother of one of the series regular characters, Amanda Rollins. The role would only be filled once for the screen but receive off screen mentions in later episodes, which is a bit of a rip off if you ask me.

In the episode, we see Beth arrive to throw a baby shower for Amanda – BUT – By sheer coincidence and bad luck, it’s also the time when one of the suspects of the case the team are working on turns out to be Amanda’s sister, Kim who has been MIA for a while from Amanda’s life.

Amanda sees her sister on CCTV footage but hides it from everyone else. She soon realises that it’s awfully funny that her sister and her Mother are back in town, and well… You can do the math from there.

Virginia Madsen’s role here isn’t going to knock anyone off their socks. She’s always impressive but this is a role we’ve seen her play many times before and no doubt she could do it in her sleep. I guess there is only so much you can do with a guest role in a long running established thing like this.
Virginia Madsen as Beth Anne Rollins in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, engaged in an intense conversation with another character in a courthouse. She wears a professional tweed jacket with a black trim, her expression serious and determined. The background features a large window with a grid pattern, allowing natural light to illuminate the space, while a man in a suit sits behind them, adding to the legal settingBy the 17th Season of the show I guess you should already know if you’re a fan or not. It’s hard for me to recommend this other than “if you like this kind of thing then this is one of the best you can hope for”.

Availability:

The 17th Season is easy to find on DVD and for a relatively cheap price.

Gallery:

Trailer:

Well, not for the actual episode but…

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virginia madsen in hatfields and mccoys

Hatfields & McCoys

The History Channel had a little success with a TV mini series in 2012 based on the Hatfield & McCoy feud of the mid to late 1800’s. Because of this NBC decided they wanted to a slice of the Western pie and as a part of that, they commissioned a pilot for a new story based in the modern day. They would call that TV Show Hatfields and McCoys.

Never heard of it? No, probably not – And, that’s probably more down to the fact it never got past the pilot stage and was never shown on TV.

The idea of the show was that the feud continued on to the present day and the families are still very much at war with one another. Which, isn’t actually the case at all – The families fighting history is pretty much a tourist attraction now.

The premise being that in the modern day a sudden death in the McCoy family is blamed on the Hatfields and, well, you can probably take an educated guess on the rest.
virginia madsen in hatfields and mccoysHatfields and McCoys had the right pedigree to be a success, Charlize Theron threw her stetson into the ring as one of the producers. The casting wasn’t too shabby, Virginia Madsen was to take the lead as Eloise McCoy, the matriarch of the family (I’ll refrain from commenting about Virginia in this kind of role). Other members of the McCoy family would be played by Sophia Bush as Emma, Jesse Lee Soffer as Patrick, Luciana Carro as Treena and Patrick Flueger as Jack.

There was no slouching on the Hatfields side either, Rebecca De Mornay was set to play Mary Hatfield, James Remar as Joe and Annie Ilonzeh as Shannon.

But, it wasn’t enough for NBC and they ultimately decided to take a pass on the show and didn’t order any more episodes.

All is not completely lost though as the unaired version of the pilot did eventually make it to the internet so at least we can see what we missed out on, unlike Babylon Fields which has yet to see the light of day.
virginia madsen in hatfields and mccoysIt isn’t too bad – A bit generic, perhaps. Virginia Madsen pretty much took on the same kind of role that she had in Scoundrels, and I was really reminded of that more than once with Patrick  Flueger on screen with Virginia once again. Nice to see, I’ve a lot of time for Patrick but perhaps this one was a little close to home.

Availability:

Pretty good, for now at least…

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