MovieChat Forums > The Deliberate Stranger (1986) Discussion > reply to rmax304823

reply to rmax304823

posted 23 years ago by howdymax
9 replies | jump to latest

This was indeed a well done TV movie. For the life of me, I can't remember seeing Mark Harmon in any other movie. The only thing that comes to mind is a quickie one season California tv series called 240 Robert costarring Markie Post - and I'm not even sure he was in that. But he was great in this. Meanwhile, the movie. I read the Ann Rule book "The Stranger Beside Me" as well as one or two others about this fascinating guy. I have to say that I don't think anyone could have compiled all the information, dramatized it for video consumption, and fashioned a more involving nail biter than these folks did. You brought up a couple of interesting points. As a former sociopath, I agree with everything you said about Bundy and the personality in general. Any pity, depression, or other human emotion he felt would have been self-directed. Even at the end, he tried to bargain w/ the authorities by helping them locate the remaining bodies in order to buy a little more time. I do think that most people were probably quickly scrolling down as you lapsed into your social scientist mode. The fact that the FSU students didn't recognize his name is no surprise. It's a sad commentary on the state of education in the country as well as the lack of general awareness on part of most kids today.

[–] 23 years ago

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[–] king_jinxy 18 years ago

What the F are you talking about?

"As a former sociopath..."

[–] howdymax 10 years ago

Sorry for the delay in responding. Rmax is my brother and a Clinical Psychologist. He has been razzing me for years about my anti-social personality, so it was an inside dig to him.

[–] profbeachbum 17 years ago

Mark Harmon was in the movie Summer School back in the 80's sometime. Although a total socialpath I find Ted Bundy as a very fascinating killer to learn from. I have the Vhs tape of Deliberate Stranger but, it would be nice if they would release it on DVD someday.

Bailey

[–] She-Ra42 13 years ago

I do find the comment "As a former sociopath" pretty funny. I haven't heard of reformed sociopaths, especially self-proclaimed ones...

But regardless, I saw this film when it first aired and also found it very fascinating. It was a good lesson for me as a young one about why not to trust people even if they seemed nice.

I met a sociopath as well in the past couple of years. He is friends with a few members of my social circle and it has only recently come out that he enjoys giving women roofies and assaulting them, and he is suspected of possibly killing at least one of them, attempting to kill at least two others, and threatening the lives of multiple others, but is so good at what he does has not yet been caught. Interestingly, the friends in his social circle perceive him has entirely charismatic, a "lady's man", and a really great guy, who just has a pervasive problem with compulsive lying and reliability.

I don't know if it was that I saw this at such a young age, or if I'm just good at reading people, but I thought he was creepy immediately. For those who think, "Oh he couldn't possibly have done those terrible things, he's such a nice guy..." that's what everyone said about Ted Bundy, right?

Anyway, I thought the film did a great job as a 4 hour PSA, and even though I was but a kid, it has stuck with me all these years.

"Jack go to the liquor store and findeth the Jack of Daniels so that ye may be sh*tfaced!"

[–] howdymax 10 years ago

I don't think sociopaths ever do reform, but if they last long enough, they can outgrow it. Getting married, having kids, and earning a living tend to channel you into a more traditional behavior - whether you like it or not. lol

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] 10 years ago

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[–] howdymax 10 years ago

LOL. Yeah, we sociopaths are notoriously careless about life's little details. It was just an off hand comment directed at Rmax, who is not only a Clinical Psychologist, but also my brother. He's been busting my chops for years about my anti-social tendencies, and I thought I needle him a little. The days of my drinking, gambling, scamming, and whoring are long gone. My greatest joy these days is a game of bocce ball followed by a nap in my Lazy Boy recliner.