MURDER IN MEXICO: THE BRUCE BERESFORD-REDMON STORY

US, 2015, 88 minutes, Colour.

Colin Egglesfield, Leonor Varela, Dakota Bright, Ashton Essex Bright, Samantha Sloyan.

Directed by Mark Gannt.

As seen by the title, this is a murder case investigation. It is based on a true story, outlining the issues of the characters, the murder, the investigation in Mexico, the various court appearances over the years, the imprisonment of the central character.

The treatment is on a very popular level, something of the style of the popular soap opera.

Bruce Beresford-Redmon, played by Colin pickles for, is a producer for Reality Television program. He is married to Monica, Leonor the regular, and they have two children. All seems to be well. However, there is some tension in the marriage and Bruce has a roving eye, begin an affair with one of his assistants at studio, despite the alert and the warnings of his best friend, another producer.

Tension in the house, Monica sensing something wrong, checking on phone records, discovering the truth, and her confronting the other woman. All this sends Bruce into rages, especially Monica is going to confront his assistant. There is potential for violence in Bruce. Despite his protests, he still keeps contact with the woman – but she has opted not to be a home wrecker and breaks contact with him.

The solution is to take a holiday in Mexico, parents and children. There are attempts at reconciliation, Monica still seeming to love her husband but, again with the phone, discovering that he has been texting the assistant. There are confrontations.

Bruce goes to the police claiming that his wife is missing, is searching for her. With the interrogations, the local police are sceptical. They have evidence from a holiday couple in the next room at the hotel who heard argument and noises in the early hours of the day of the disappearance. Eventually, Monica’s body is found near the hotel. She has been asphyxiated after being hit on the head.

Bruce continues to proclaim his innocence, surrenders his passport, the local police very suspicious of him. He sends his children to his parents despite the fact of the offer from Monica sister who comes to Mexico. Monica and her sister were very close, confiding in each other.

Bruce hitchhikers, being picked up by a car, crossing the Mexican-American border by producing his drivers license.

There is very little sympathy for Bruce on the part of the filmmakers even though they try to show the range of evidence for and against him.

At the time of production, Bruce Beresford-Redmon was still in prison.