When He's Not a Stranger


When He's Not a Stranger is a 1989 American made-for-TV crime drama film directed by John Gray and starring Annabeth Gish, Kevin Dillon, Kim Myers, and John Terlesky. The story is about a college freshman who is physically and sexually assaulted by a controlling football jock, and addresses the ordeal that rape victims experience. The movie was originally planned to be broadcast on October 17, 1989, but was delayed due to coverage surrounding the earthquakes in Northern California. The film premiered on CBS on November 6, 1989.
When He's Not a Stranger was released amid a wave of TV shows and movies addressing rape. The film specifically addressed acquaintance rape, with scholars Carol Bohmer and Andrea Parrott calling it a "landmark" for doing so.

Plot

At Woodward University, a football-oriented California school, Lyn McKenna is raped by her best friend's abusive, controlling boyfriend, football star Ron Cooper. Lyn is hesitant to reveal this information as she fears that doing so will create social backlash and worsen the aftermath of her experience. However, continued threats from Ron and his fellow football teammates drive Lyn to desperate action. She requests that the school hold a disciplinary hearing against Ron and ultimately demands that a district attorney prosecute.

Cast

When He's Not a Stranger received mixed reviews. Matt Roush of USA Today called the film "schlock" composed of "hokey us-against-them scenarios." Irv Letofsky of the Los Angeles Times, while acknowledging the serious subject matter, "criticized the film's "simple-minded characterizations and elementary insights." More positive were New York Times">New York (magazine)">New York Times John J. O'Connor, who said the film "maintains a surprisingly hard edge" and noted its treatment of class issues, and The Washington Posts Tom Shales, who praised Gish's performance especially. John Leonard of New York also praised the performances.
Some reviewers found the film exploitative. A Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed wrote that the graphic scenes leading up to Lyn's assault "hardly serve an educational function," and argued that they were intended to boost ratings with salacious content rather than to raise awareness.