In the 1990s, Jeffrey MacDonald — convicted of the 1970 murder of his wife and two daughters — began reading about new forensic testing he thought might help prove his claim of innocence.
He brought it up to his then-attorney, Harvey Silvergate, who was working on a post-conviction motion for the case along with attorneys Philip Cormier and Andrew Good.
“I said, ‘How does it work? I’m a doctor but I’m a novice. I’m just reading about it in the newspaper,’ ” MacDonald, a former Green Beret surgeon, tells People.
According to MacDonald, Silvergate answered, “If we’re going to ask for DNA,...
He brought it up to his then-attorney, Harvey Silvergate, who was working on a post-conviction motion for the case along with attorneys Philip Cormier and Andrew Good.
“I said, ‘How does it work? I’m a doctor but I’m a novice. I’m just reading about it in the newspaper,’ ” MacDonald, a former Green Beret surgeon, tells People.
According to MacDonald, Silvergate answered, “If we’re going to ask for DNA,...
- 1/19/2017
- by Nicole Weisensee Egan
- PEOPLE.com
The goon show meets the evil doctor genre in Sixth Avenue Pictures' imaginatively dotty send-up of this particular blend of gothic horror. Cheeky and witty, this low-budget comedy won a Silver Cindy at this year's Seattle International Film Festival. Although its oddball humor and bargain-basement aura may preclude it from major distribution, "Dr. Benderfax" seems ideally suited to the Troma wing -- it has that kind of nutball intelligence.
Plotwise, "Benderfax" is straight out of the Von Stroheim school of ghoulish drama: A young physician, Andrew (Steve Gouveia), seeks employment at an obscure research institute headed by a megalomaniac doctor, namely Dr. Benderfax (Nigel Hazeldine). However, Benderfax has not prospered out of witlessness and, based on Andrew Good's grades and his ability to draw anatomically correct dogs, he hires him on the spot. But, as all you German expressionists know, things are not exactly what they seem at the institute -- especially down in "that room."
You don't have to have your head wired to electrodes to know what will likely happen next: Andrew discovers the not-so-good doctor is doing experiments on live people. In short, it's one of those one-life vs. science types of philosophical constructs. What is most fun about Benderfax, however, is the film's satiric slant on the genre.
Narratively, writer-director-cinematographer-driver-cook and chief effects washer Tom Hosler has welded together a Monty Python-ish take on horror movies. It's both daffy and droll.
The actors give a boost throughout, especially Hazeldine as the amoral Benderfax, whose slithery James Mason-ish enunciation is constantly amusing. As the innocent young doctor, Gouveia brings the proper well-scrubbed manner to his role, and Caroline Hazeldine is entertaining as a libidinous Nurse Wratchett-type.
Despite its low-budget blood type, "Dr. Benderfax" is technically well put together, including some impressive computer graphics and animation not usually associated with such an opus.
DR. BENDERFAX
Sixth Avenue Pictures
Credits: Producer: Tom Hosler, Kata Jacobson; Screenwriter-director-cinematographer-editor-sound designer: Tom Hosler; Music: Hans Jorgen Fjellestad. Cast: Dr. Benderfax: Nigel Hazeldine; Nurse Clench: Caroline Hazeldine; Andrew: Steve Gouveia; Carmen: Merodie Patterson; Farance: Nick Berry; Young doctor: Andrew March. No MPAA rating. Color/stereo. Running time -- 85 minutes.
Plotwise, "Benderfax" is straight out of the Von Stroheim school of ghoulish drama: A young physician, Andrew (Steve Gouveia), seeks employment at an obscure research institute headed by a megalomaniac doctor, namely Dr. Benderfax (Nigel Hazeldine). However, Benderfax has not prospered out of witlessness and, based on Andrew Good's grades and his ability to draw anatomically correct dogs, he hires him on the spot. But, as all you German expressionists know, things are not exactly what they seem at the institute -- especially down in "that room."
You don't have to have your head wired to electrodes to know what will likely happen next: Andrew discovers the not-so-good doctor is doing experiments on live people. In short, it's one of those one-life vs. science types of philosophical constructs. What is most fun about Benderfax, however, is the film's satiric slant on the genre.
Narratively, writer-director-cinematographer-driver-cook and chief effects washer Tom Hosler has welded together a Monty Python-ish take on horror movies. It's both daffy and droll.
The actors give a boost throughout, especially Hazeldine as the amoral Benderfax, whose slithery James Mason-ish enunciation is constantly amusing. As the innocent young doctor, Gouveia brings the proper well-scrubbed manner to his role, and Caroline Hazeldine is entertaining as a libidinous Nurse Wratchett-type.
Despite its low-budget blood type, "Dr. Benderfax" is technically well put together, including some impressive computer graphics and animation not usually associated with such an opus.
DR. BENDERFAX
Sixth Avenue Pictures
Credits: Producer: Tom Hosler, Kata Jacobson; Screenwriter-director-cinematographer-editor-sound designer: Tom Hosler; Music: Hans Jorgen Fjellestad. Cast: Dr. Benderfax: Nigel Hazeldine; Nurse Clench: Caroline Hazeldine; Andrew: Steve Gouveia; Carmen: Merodie Patterson; Farance: Nick Berry; Young doctor: Andrew March. No MPAA rating. Color/stereo. Running time -- 85 minutes.
- 12/29/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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