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Drama

Terror in the Family (1996): Cast & Plot

Terror in the Family (1996) movie poster

Terror in the Family is a 1996 drama directed by Gregory Goodell, starring Hilary Swank as Deena Marten, Adam Hendershott and Andrew Kavovit. It runs 1 hour 26 minutes.

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Terror in the Family (1996) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 26m (86 min)
Director
Gregory Goodell
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Terror in the Family About?

The premise of Terror in the Family without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Teenager Deena Marten craves independence, but her defiant temper erupts into violence when she can’t get her way. Parents Cynthia and Todd blame her 17‑year‑old boyfriend Garret; mother Stephanie drinks, and Todd works long hours. Unseen, their 13‑year‑old Boy Scout son Adam drinks vodka from a bottle, deepening the family’s dysfunction.

Terror in the Family Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • rape
  • raped by father
  • stern father
  • suspenders
  • grounded for trying to run away
  • punishment
  • overalls
  • older sister younger brother relationship
  • shoulder rub
  • rehearsing a conversation in a mirror
  • runaway teenage girl
  • son gives his mother a massage
+38 more
  • adult actress plays a minor teenage girl
  • spaghetti
  • woman on top sex
  • nipple pokies
  • naked woman under bedsheet
  • roller coaster
  • sex scenes
  • making out
  • station wagon
  • close up of a woman's face
  • woman in pajamas
  • climbing a tower
  • younger girl older boy relationship
  • juvenile offender
  • high school principal
  • pokies
  • woman wrapped in a blanket
  • scene during opening credits
  • rock band
  • female star appears in underwear
  • miniskirt
  • blocking a door with a chair
  • female doctor
  • forbidden relationship
  • door slammed on hand
  • cuddling
  • rebellious teenage daughter
  • violent outburst
  • skipping school
  • woman wears overalls
  • video game
  • telephone call from a phone booth
  • marijuana
  • probation
  • cordless telephone
  • family therapy
  • cover up
  • teen sex
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Cast & crew

Terror in the Family Cast & Characters

Hilary Swank leads the cast as Deena Marten, with Adam Hendershott as Adam Marten and Andrew Kavovit as Garrett. Directed by Gregory Goodell; 7 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Terror in the Family

· 3 more
From the director

More from Gregory Goodell

More films directed by Gregory Goodell: Lost Holiday: The Jim & Suzanne Shemwell Story, Down Will Come Baby and Human Experiments.

Full filmography
Plot

Terror in the Family Plot Summary

What happens in Terror in the Family from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Deena Marten, Hilary Swank is a 15-year-old high school student in Washington state whose once-quiet life has fractured into rebellion after she begins dating Garrett Lexau, Andrew Kavovit, a senior who was suspended for hitting a teacher. Deena, now unmoored from promises and routine, skips classes, slips out of the family home at will, and drifts away from the close bond she once shared with her mother. This estrangement unsettles Cynthia Marten, her mother, who watches the already strained relationship between Deena and herself sour further as she drinks more than she should and seeks companionship in her daughter.

Full summary

The whole story of Terror in the Family, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Terror in the Family?

9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 9

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered

Which actress plays the 15‑year‑old protagonist Deena Marten?

Cars

Cars in Terror in the Family

11 cars on screen, including the 1990 Ford Taurus and the Ford LTD Crown Victoria.

All 11 cars
  • 1990 Ford Taurus in Terror in the Family 1990 Ford Taurus Important role
  • Ford LTD Crown Victoria in Terror in the Family Ford LTD Crown Victoria Minor role
  • 1981 GMDD T6H-5307N in Terror in the Family 1981 GMDD T6H-5307N Minor role
  • 1980 Volvo DL in Terror in the Family 1980 Volvo DL Minor role
Details

Terror in the Family Also Known As

5 alternative titles, including “Terror in der Familie - Eine Tochter läuft Amok” and “Терор в семейството”.

Also known as
  • Terror in der Familie - Eine Tochter läuft Amok
  • Терор в семейството
  • Paura in famiglia
  • Terror em Família
  • Victime de ma fille

Seen Terror in the Family?

FAQ

Terror in the Family FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Terror in the Family, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Terror in the Family?

Terror in the Family runs 1 hour 26 minutes (86 minutes).

When was Terror in the Family released?

Terror in the Family was released on April 16, 1996.

Who directed Terror in the Family?

Terror in the Family was directed by Gregory Goodell.

More films by Gregory Goodell

Who is in the cast of Terror in the Family?

Terror in the Family stars Hilary Swank as Deena Marten, Adam Hendershott as Adam Marten and Andrew Kavovit as Garrett, among 7 credited actors.

Does Terror in the Family have a post-credit scene?

No. Terror in the Family has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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