An Amish Murder

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The image of the quilt is prominent in "An Amish Murder." The design appears in the art work of the chief of police in the quaint town of Painters Mill, Ohio. Chief Kate Burkholder left the local Amish community and has forever after been under their ban. But when a young Amish woman is murdered, Kate is forced to revisit her past during the intense investigation. The film was crisply directed with outstanding set-ups and location footage in rural Ohio. The script included a well-developed set of characters in both the Amish and English communities. While working on the case, Kate begins a romance with the "profiler" John Tomasetti. The bond that they share is one of tragedy due to John's loss of his family in a violent crime and Kate's secret history that sheds light on why she left the Amish community. But the most moving relationship is that of Kate and her former fiancé, Lucas Holtz. They clearly still share a spiritual connection that is apparent in each of their scenes together. While they never physically touch in the film, it is clear that they have a profound love for each other. In the role of Kate Buckholder, Neve Campbell turned in a first-rate performance. Beneath the tough veneer, her character's vulnerable side was exposed. Because of the multi-dimensional protagonist, "An Amish Murder" was much more than a murder mystery. It was a rich tapestry that offered a respectful approach to depicting the Amish community and the sensitive portrayal of an ex-member who defined herself in a new calling that would serve her kinfolk in a new and surprising way.

I thought this was an above average LMN/Lifetime movie. I thought Neve Campbell was believable as Chief of police. I thought the acting all around was good. I actually stayed focused on this movie. I curled up on the couch with popcorn and watched and enjoyed it. Normally when I watch LMN/Lifetime movies I play games on my phone as I watch. I didn't find this at all predictable, and I am normally quick at picking out the perp. I thought the script and the writing was good and it did keep me in suspense. The ending was good with both communities coming together to get the killer. The only thing that wasn't made quite clear is why the killer killed the victims he killed. Yes. I recommend this movie.

This is a 90-minute TV movie set in Painters Mill, Ohio, a fictional town in Amish country in the present age. It's based on the 2009 novel "Sworn to Silence" by Linda Castillo. "Sworn to Silence" was the first in long series of "Kate Burkholder" novels by Castillo. Kate Burkholder (Neve Campbell) is the new chief of police of the small Painters Mill force. Kate grew up Old Order Amish but left at age 18 for reasons that are not immediately clear. She became a policewoman and then a detective in Cleveland and has now returned 17 years later. Although it sounds like a good fit on the surface because she knows Pennsylvania Dutch and the local Amish community, she has been banned and shunned for leaving the Amish community. Thus, no one in the Amish district is supposed to talk to her. An Amish girl is found murdered in an Amish farm field. The victim has been mutilated in a manner reminiscent of a serial killer who had been in the community 16 earlier when five non-Amish girls were killed. We quickly learn that Kate wonders if the killer was Daniel Lapp, an Amish man who apparently died under mysterious circumstances and seemed to have something to do with Kate's leaving the community. But Kate wonders if he really died. The film introduces us to a variety of characters--Mayor Auggie Brock (Duane Murray), who constantly interferes with Kate and fires her at one point; Lucas Holst (Jilon VanOver), Kate's former Amish boyfriend, who she left without a word; Jacob Burkholder (Christian Campbell), Kate's (and Neve's) brother who is reluctant to talk to her because of the shunning; John Tomasetti (Naom Jenkins), an agent from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation called in by the mayor, but on the verge of being fired because of his own difficult times that led to PTSD; and Nate Detrick (C. Thomas Howell), the County Sheriff who offers a helping hand on numerous occasions. The investigation spins its wheels for a time. Kate confirms that Daniel Lapp is dead. We gradually learn more about the circumstances of Kate's sudden departure and who knew her real reasons for leaving. Kate and John Tomasetti develop a romantic relationship. It becomes clear the murderer had significant local connections even though he disappeared for 16 years. The mayor's daughter becomes a second victim. In the climax, Kate figures it all out and almost becomes a victim herself, but all ends well. Lucas Holst finally disarms the murderer at the end, a victory for Amish pacifism. As a mystery, I thought "An Amish Murder" was pretty good. There is violence, but it's not over-the-top with blood everywhere. The actual crimes take place offscreen. It's a modest-budget film, and the storyline is not very realistic. In terms of the Amish characterization, my biggest problem is why Kate was shunned. It's never stated that she was a baptized member of the church. If she was not before she left, she should not be shunned. And if she was shunned, why would a town hire a police chief to whom a significant portion of the community would not speak? Some of the Amish men, including Lucas, Kate's former boyfriend who is now married with children, have closely trimmed beards. The house interiors seemed pretty realistic, but there is much we don't see. Most of the action is in town or outbuildings. Nonetheless, it was an entertaining hour-and-a-half. Critics were quite mixed in their reviews. Some simply don't like the style of Lifetime Television movies. Some thought the pace of the movie too slow and the plot too obvious. That wasn't the case for me.

We watched this movie on Netflix streaming movies. It was made as a TV movie to run over a two hour time interval and as such has frequent fades to black for TV commercials. Neve Campbell is Kate Burkholder coming back to her small home community after being gone some 18 years. We only learn very gradually why she has been gone and why her family shun her. She has returned as Chief of Police. Shades of Margie in "Fargo." Only six months back, she and her department are confronted with a gruesome murder, the partially clad body of a young woman is found in a snowy field just a stone's throw off the highway. Kate immediately realizes she was an Amish girl. Kate was born and raised Amish but she left that life, therefore by Amish rules she had to be shunned. Even by her brother, Christian Campbell (her real-life brother) as Jacob (yaa-cobb) Burkholder, but they eventually have to work together to solve the crime. Another key character is old veteran C. Thomas Howell as elected Sheriff Nathan Detrick. This is a small movie with moderate production values but it has an interesting story, if not unique. SPOILERS: While investigating another is found dead, this time the young gymnast daughter of the Mayor. Kate manages to piece together a theory of why the serial killer had been inactive in the area for some years, she correctly figured out it was Detrick who had gone to Alaska for a while. Kate gets captured by Detrick, she plans to hang her upside down and bleed her out like all the others, but help arrives just in time.

I saw this movie a few days after i finished reading the book. I know it's very difficult too get the atmosphere from a book on the screen. The book is from Linda Castillo and I loved it. The film is about 85 minutes and is 35 minutes too short to get the story good covered. The story and cast are OK but it did not got the atmosphere from the book right,the book is darker and the violence is crueler.The rating would be higher because of the violence. Also, just near the end, You know who is the killer and it surprises You. That is how a thriller should be,not knowing for a long time who did it. I watched the movie till the end and had a bit of a hangover. Why a summary of a book when you could make more of it and do more right to the book. That of course, happens a lot ,with books being filmed. I hope you will read the book as well after watching this movie. I think you will agree with me. When you don't know the book and just watch this movie, You still have a raeasonably time,but it could have been better.

What a silly film. From the opening scenes where a Police Officer nearly has a crash with some cattle, I was wondering is this the KeyStone Cops? And then he finds shoes, brand new of course, and radios the fact in. It's not like there isn't all sorts of garbage on the side of a road. There were so many holes in the plot and inconsistencies. For example: The killers MO was to keep the victim alive for at least a week, yet we're not told anything about what happens during that week. After a week of torture the child is dumped still with her clothes. Yet the second murder was an immediate kill and dump, and the alcoholic profiler doesn't mention this. - Similarly with the attempted third murder, the serial killer is going to kill her straight away and not have a week of fun times with her. A big deal is made of the 16 year old 'secret' shotgun killing, yet Kate blabs about it almost immediately to the profiler. And his reaction, 'oh it was self defence, I'll keep it secret too' because he's hoping to get in to her pants. A real confession, a body and no Police follow up. When she's stood down as the Police Chief she visits the Police Station the following day and has full access to everything, even giving orders, and no one says anything. And to turn such an interesting story and locality, into a romance was a significant mistake.

source: An Amish Murder