Approved for 12+

Spiral Staircase

A beautiful, mute Helen Capel (Nicollette Sheridan) takes a job as nurse to the ailing, wealthy Emma Warren (Holland Taylor) in the Warrens’ secluded island estate. Helen quickly fits in with the clan, including Emma’s loyal, art historian son Phillip (Judd Nelson), and the attraction between the two intensifies. However, the manor’s relative calmness is shattered with the arrival of Phillip’s brother Steven (Alex McArthur), a devil-may-care womanizer who has his latest girlfriend Danielle (Debbe Dunning) in tow.

Steven’s arrival strangely coincides with a brutal strangling murder that’s occurred in the nearby, affluent Westport community. Having gathered some overwhelming evidence, the town’s Sheriff comes to the Warren estate to pinpoint Steven as the prime suspect. Along with this suspicion, a tumultuous storm descends on the manor, stranding all of the occupants – with no phone, electricity or way off the island. First airs on Fox Family Channel 4/2/00 at 8:00-10:00 PM (ET/PT).
8
Negative Rating
12345
SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
0
Positive Rating
12345
FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

This suspenseful thriller has all the elements that make this genre lots of fun – an isolated old house with hidden passageways; stranded people, one of whom is a murderer; duplicitous characters; a family secret; and a heroine unable to speak. Not exactly of the quality of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, but nonetheless, an exciting who’s-going-to-do-it, without graphic murders or profane language.

Dove Rating Details

0
Faith

None

0
Integrity

A woman is attacked, but she escapes; killings take place off screen.

2
Sex

Some kissing; one character is portrayed as a womanizer.

1
Language

1 expletive

2
Violence

A woman is attacked, but she escapes; killings take place off screen.

2
Drugs

Drinking: wine with dinner, the one brother gets tipsy and makes a fool of himself, a few drink when frightened, but the film puts down abusive drinking.

1
Nudity

Woman in bikini

0
Other

None

More Information