a cry in the dark movie review

A Cry in the Dark

I had an argument about capital punishment with some friends over the weekend, and I wish I could have taken them to see this movie. I was against the death penalty in principle, of course, but what really bothered me was the thought that a convicted person could be put to death on the basis of circumstantial evidence. There’s just too much that can go wrong – as “A Cry in the Dark” and another current movie, “ The Thin Blue Line ,” both demonstrate.

“A Cry in the Dark” takes place in Australia and is based on the famous recent case of Lindy Chamberlain, the mother who said her baby daughter had been dragged away and killed by one of the wild Australian dogs named dingos. No one else saw the tragic event take place, and the initial rush of sympathy for the parents was replaced, after a few weeks, by a malicious whispering campaign.

Did Lindy in fact murder her own baby and only blame the dogs? The evidence against her began to pile up. A mark on a cloth looked like her bloody handprint. Blood was found sprayed all over the underside of the dash board in the family car. A dingo was not big enough to carry away a human baby. Worst of all, Lindy did not seem sufficiently distraught by the death. Charges were eventually filed against her, she was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison, and she served 3 1/2 years behind bars – even giving birth to another child there – before she was released. An appeals court quashed her conviction on on Sept. 15, 1988, declaring it a miscarriage of justice. You may have read about that in the papers or seen it covered on “60 Minutes.” Why was Lindy able to maintain her composure – even an icy facade – in press interviews and on TV? Why didn’t she weep for her baby? There is the implication in “A Cry in the Dark” that if Lindy had behaved “correctly” in the media, the investigation that led to her conviction might never have been carried forward. In trying to help us understand Lindy, Meryl Streep , the star of the movie, faces the formidable challenge of making an unlikable woman seem sympathetic. It appears that Lindy was not naturally prone to outbursts of emotion in public. She kept things bottled up. After she was charged with murdering her child, anger took over, filling her with a deep bitterness that was evident in her face and voice.

And there was another matter, the matter of the religious beliefs of Lindy and Michael Chamberlain (solidly played by Sam Neill ).

They are Seventh-day Adventists in a country where that religion is in a small minority and widely misunderstood. While they spoke of reconciling themselves to the will of God, the public maliciously whispered that she had sacrificed her child in some sort of cult ceremony – an event that is unthinkable in terms of the Adventist religion. Whatever she did, Lindy and her husband were religious, emotional and social outsiders, and the press and the law were after them like a pack of dingos.

“A Cry in the Dark” takes the time to marshall the case against Lindy , and the time to destroy it. The blood under the dash board proved to be rust-proofing. Dingos could indeed kill and carry a human baby. And additional physical evidence (the coat the baby was wearing when she disppeared) turned up years later and corroborated Lindy’s story.

Fred Schepisi , who directed and co-wrote the film, has used Australian public opinion as a sort of Greek chorus in the background.

He cuts away to tennis games, saloons, filling stations and dinner parties, where the Australian public tries Lindy and finds her guilty (one hostess finally bans the subject at her dinner table, declaring that the case is not going to ruin another one of her parties).

Schepisi is successful in indicting the court of public opinion, and his methodical (but absorbing) examination of the evidence helps us understand the state’s circumstantial case.

In the lead role, Streep is given a thankless assignment: to show us a woman who deliberately refused to allow insights into herself. She succeeds, and so, of course, there are times when we feel frustrated because we do not know what Lindy is thinking or feeling. We begin to dislike the character, and then we know how the Australian public felt. Streep’s performance is risky, and masterful.

The final point of the movie, I suppose, is that when passions run high enough a court is likely to decide almost anything about anybody – especially an unlikable, unpopular member of a minority group who is charged with an unspeakable crime. When you combine that possibility with the uncertainty of circumstantial evidence and the human lust for revenge, you get a situation in which the death penalty can result in irrevocable tragedy. Lindy Chamberlain spent 3 1/2 years in prison for a murder she did not commit, but at least she did not die for it.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

• Neil Fitzpatrick as Phillips
• Sam Neill as Michael Chamberlain
• Meryl Streep as Lindy Chamberlain
• Dennis Miller as Sturgess
• Bruce Myles as Barker
• Bruce Smeaton

Directed by

• Fred Schepisi

Photographed by

Screenplay by.

• Robert Caswell

Produced by

• Verity Lambert

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Reviews/Film; Meryl Streep in 'A Cry in the Dark'

By Vincent Canby

• Nov. 11, 1988

Fred Schepisi's ''Cry in the Dark'' is based on the sort of true story beloved by supermarket tabloids that feature headlines about mothers who boil their babies for breakfast.

In 1980, while on a camping trip in the Australian outback with her parents, 5-week-old Azaria Chamberlain disappeared from the tent while her mother, Lindy Chamberlain, and her father, Michael Chamberlain, a Seventh-Day Adventist minister, were sharing a cookout with friends a few feet away.

Lindy Chamberlain had seen a dingo, the Australian coyote-like wild dog, slipping out of the family's tent and immediately sounded the alarm. In the search that followed, the child's bloody nightdress was found, but not the body. The local coroner ruled that the evidence suggested the baby had been abducted by the animal and probably killed.

The case didn't end there, however. On the basis of forensic evidence that later proved extremely faulty, the case was reopened and, as a result, Lindy Chamberlain was tried for the murder of her baby and her husband as an accessory after the fact.

Helping to whip up the hysteria were newspaper and television reporters. The parents were faulted for not having seemed more distraught immediately after the baby disappeared. The public wanted more tears, more visible signs of grief and torment. The Chamberlains were noticeably ''different,'' possibly because they belonged to what the reporters referred to as a ''cult.'' There were even suggestions the baby had been the victim of a ritual sacrifice.

''A Cry in the Dark,'' which opens today at the Coronet and other theaters, has much of the manner of a television docudrama, ultimately being a rather comforting celebration of personal triumph over travails so dread and so particular that they have no truly disturbing, larger application.

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A Cry in the Dark Reviews

As in "Out of Africa," Meryl Streep doesn't exactly deliver a bit of convincing accent work (especially alongside so many actual Australians). But it's a sturdily poker-faced turn in a true-life tale.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 22, 2024

Once the viewers get past their memories of mockery via television, there is a lot to engage with in A Cry in the Dark. As a relationship drama, the film truly flies.

Full Review | Feb 28, 2024

This daring film reveals the underside to a nation's character, and explores how different elements of a society can feed on each other for their own self-serving purposes.

Full Review | May 8, 2023

Streep and Neill superbly sell this premise – one in which the true basis appears stranger and crazier than fiction.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Sep 22, 2022

Fred Schepisi’s A Cry in the Dark is an unremitting, almost magisterial vision of a horrific, true-to-life incident.

Full Review | Aug 9, 2022

A Cry In The Dark might only be memorable because of Meryl Streep. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Jul 7, 2022

Mom is wrongly accused of murder; language, violence.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 16, 2019

Fred Schepisi's film is a harrowing, moving, clever piece of work.

Full Review | Apr 9, 2019

Streep's beauty and talent and director Fred Schepisi's intelligence are both shown to best advantage, without easy points or grandstanding.

Full Review | Dec 19, 2011

The powerful performances and sharp script augment this revealing human drama.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 19, 2011

Streep and Neill are the film's perfectly matched thoroughbreds. But the film is neither a double star turn nor the best kind of courtroom drama; it is a sort of epic mosaic of national character.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 19, 2011

Streep (the best thing she has done in ages) carries it along.

Full Review | Jan 26, 2006

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 15, 2005

Meryl Streep gives another stellar performance in this fact-based Australian drama about a working class woman accused of killing her daughter.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Jun 30, 2005

Admirably off-putting performance by Streep in a reasonably involving Australian court drama.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 25, 2004

Streep ... plays Lindy Chamberlain with the kind of virtuosity that seems to redefine the possibilities of screen acting.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 30, 2004

Remarkably even-handed; Streep's much-touted performance distracts.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 8, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 30, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 6, 2004

Streep is a sensation....haunting stuff

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 4, 2004

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A cry in the dark.

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Common Sense Media Review

Mom is wrongly accused of murder; language, violence.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that A Cry in the Dark is based on the 1980s true story of a notorious chapter in Australian injustice when an innocent man and woman were convicted, against all logic, of murdering their baby amid a crowd of people vacationing in the Australian Outback. Much discussion revolves around…

Why Age 13+?

A baby laid to rest in a tent goes missing. The mother sees a dingo run from the

"F--k," "s--t," "bastard," and "bitch."

A married man and woman kiss.

Adults drink alcohol. Seventh Day Adventists warn against consumption of alcohol

Any Positive Content?

A lie goes 'round the world while the truth is still putting its boots on. Uninf

Lindy and Michael do their best to maintain their sanity while being wrongly acc

Violence & Scariness

A baby laid to rest in a tent goes missing. The mother sees a dingo run from the tent into the dark and assumes the dingo has taken the baby. The body is never found but the child's bloody clothes are eventually collected. Police, prosecutors, and so-called experts make the case against Michael and Lindy despite the lack of a body or any other evidence tying them to the baby's death.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults drink alcohol. Seventh Day Adventists warn against consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, sugary drinks, and junk food.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

A lie goes 'round the world while the truth is still putting its boots on. Uninformed, ignorant, and baseless public opinions can sway authorities to do stupid and terrible things. True innocence is no protection against hysterical accusations.

Positive Role Models

Lindy and Michael do their best to maintain their sanity while being wrongly accused of killing their baby.

Parents need to know that A Cry in the Dark is based on the 1980s true story of a notorious chapter in Australian injustice when an innocent man and woman were convicted, against all logic, of murdering their baby amid a crowd of people vacationing in the Australian Outback. Much discussion revolves around wounds that might or might not have been inflicted on a baby by a dingo's teeth, and whether a dingo can carry a 10-pound baby, all speculative since no body was ever recovered. Bloody baby clothes are seen. Alternate murder scenarios are also mentioned. Local and national press seem to give this incident far more coverage than warranted, stirring passionate reaction from the public. Language includes "f--k," "s--t," "bastard," and "bitch." To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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What's the Story?

A CRY IN THE DARK attempts to recreate the divisive near hysteria that overtook much of Australia in the 1980s over the innocence or guilt of a young Australian mother whose baby was taken by a dingo during a vacation in the Outback. Michael Chamberlain ( Sam Neill ) is a naive young Seventh Day Adventist pastor deeply devoted to wife Lindy ( Meryl Streep ), a bright, no-nonsense mother of their three kids. Along with many other families, they're camping on the cheap in the wilderness near Ayres Rock in the remote Outback. Dingoes (in the wild dog family) are boldly darting among the invading humans, grabbing food and unlucky mice as they find them. One night, as the families barbecue together, Lindy checks the tent where her nine-month-old is sleeping on the ground and, through the dark, sees a dingo run out, presumably with the baby in its mouth. The dingo gallops into the shadows and neither it nor the baby are ever seen again. The first inquest confirms this tragic story and the couple return home to get on with their lives. But throughout the country, in an era before cell phones, the internet, and 24-7-news delivery, Australians question Lindy's story. Fights break out, dinner parties are disrupted. The skepticism and ugliness prompt the police to take another look and so-called experts start reaching baseless conclusions about Lindy's guilt without any evidence or motive to speak of. Lindy is sentenced to prison and Michael is deemed her accomplice. The details of their judicial journey to acquittal is long and complex and not explained in great detail, but closing credits announce that the Chamberlains are eventually exonerated.

Is It Any Good?

A Cry in the Dark admirably recreates the mass hysteria that overtook Australia as citizens argued passionately about the role of a mother in her baby's death. Streep and Neill ably portray pawns in a media frenzy captured by Australian director Fred Schepisi. Intercut with the story are random debates, and even physical fights, among people at bars, on the street, during posh dinner parties, and on TV, echoing at times the chilling irrationality of the Salem witch trials. It almost explains how the phrase Lindy shouted that night in the Outback -- "A dingo took my baby!" -- became a punchline in Australia and among American comedians, as if someone stupid had made up the worst murder alibi ever.

Perhaps it's due to the complexity of this incredible yet true story that the film feels a bit murky at times. Late in the action a broken tent zipper is mentioned, for the first time explaining how an animal could possibly have entered the tent where seemingly responsible parents had left their newborn alone. And there's no explanation given for the Chamberlains' triumph over the judicial system as the film ends. We're simply told Lindy was released from prison and the couple was eventually exonerated.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about mass hysteria that rouses the pubic to loudly take sides about the Chamberlains' guilt. Why do you think people took such interest in this case across Australia and around the world?

Why do you think the masses reacted so strongly to the death?

Can you think of any other similarly controversial cases?

Movie Details

• In theaters : November 11, 1988
• On DVD or streaming : December 21, 1999
• Cast : Meryl Streep , Sam Neill
• Director : Fred Schepisi
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : Warner Home Video
• Genre : Drama
• Run time : 120 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• Last updated : November 2, 2022

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A Cry In The Dark Review

01 Jun 1989

119 minutes

A Cry In The Dark

The bizarre story of the infamous dingo baby trial comes to the screen with Meryl Streep and Sam Neill as the religious couple, Lindy and Michael Chamberlain accused of killing their own child.

As soon as the story broke at the start of the '80s, the parents became the subject of public suspicion and innuendo. Both members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, it was rumoured that they were part of a bizarre religious cult: their child's name, Azaria, was said to mean "sacrifice to the wilderness" - something that was simply untrue. A coroner's inquiry cleared them of all blame and it was not until two years later that the Northern Territory Police succeeded in bringing the case to trial. Lindy was charged with murder, her husband an accessory after the fact.

With much of the action in the film confined to the courtroom, the emphasis is firmly on the nuances of dialogue and the strength of the performances, which must flesh out the human drama while doing justice to the complex legal arguments. Schepisi's and Robert Caswell's economical script wisely focuses on the crucial confrontations, with the barbed wit of Ian Baker's smoothly manipulative prosecutor adding an extra edge to the courtroom cut and thrust.

Equally effective though are the cut away scenes in which ordinary Australians discuss the case in bars, at barbecues, over dinner. Not only do these provide a running commentary on the court case and surrounding media hype they also reveal the diversity of opinion and depth of feeling which the case generated.

Regrettably the film - like the book upon which it is based, Evil Angels by John Bryson - treats the Chamberlains' innocence as a given, something which tends to iron out any ambiguities and reduce the dramatic tension. At no point in the film are we able to doubt the couple's integrity or even come close to understanding why most of Australia judged them guilty so readily. Still less can we give credence to the tasteless T-shirts which read simply "the Dingo is innocent".

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A Cry in the Dark

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A Cry in the Dark

One of the oddest and most illogical murder cases of modern times is recounted in intimate, incredible detail in the classy, disturbing drama A Cry in the Dark [from John Bryson's Book Evil Angels].

By Variety Staff

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One of the oddest and most illogical murder cases of modern times is recounted in intimate, incredible detail in the classy, disturbing drama A Cry in the Dark [from John Bryson’s Book Evil Angels].

The saga of Lindy Chamberlain’s harassment, trial and imprisonment for having allegedly murdered her baby daughter, when there was literally no evidence against her, was the biggest news story in Australia of the 1980s.

In 1980, the Chamberlains visit the monumental Ayers Rock in the outback. With the baby put to sleep in a tent, the family begins enjoying a nighttime barbeque when a cry is heard. Checking the tent, Lindy briefly glimpses a dingo slipping out of it and then, to her horror, finds Azaria missing from her bed.

No trace of the infant is found, and the conclusion appears to be that the dingo made off with her. Astonishingly, however, sentiment begins to grow throughout the country to the effect that Lindy killed her daughter. From there, the press can’t let the story die. Lindy is charged with murder and Michael named as accessory after the fact.

Popular on Variety

If one didn’t know who Meryl Streep is, one could easily guess Lindy was played by a fine, unknown Australian actress. Sam Neill, who here looks remarkably like the real Michael Chamberlain, well conveys the tentative strengths and very real weaknesses of a man thrust into an unimaginable situation.

1988: Nomination: Best Actress (Meryl Streep)

• Production: Cannon. Director Fred Schepisi; Producer Verity Lambert; Screenplay Robert Caswell, Fred Schepisi; Camera Ian Baker; Editor Jill Bilcock; Music Bruce Smeaton;; Art Director Wendy Dickson, George Liddle
• Crew: (Color) Widescreen. Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1988. Running time: 121 MIN.
• With: Meryl Streep Sam Neill Bruce Myles Charles Tingwell Nick Tate Lewis Fitz-Gerald

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A Cry in the Dark Reviews

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A dramatization of the real-life story of Lindy Chamberlain, an Australian woman who was convicted of her 9-week-old daughter's murder, despite her insistence that the infant was in fact attacked by a dingo.

A CRY IN THE DARK tells the true story of Australians Michael and Lindy Chamberlain (Sam Neill and Meryl Streep), the Seventh-Day Adventist minister and his wife whose infant disappeared from their tent during a family outing in 1980. In the film the parents contend their baby was dragged off by a dingo, but authorities don't buy that story. Lindy is indicted for the murder of her daughter, and Michael is charged as an accessory to the crime, beginning a tortuous legal process in which Lindy eventually becomes the center of a storm of controversy that dominates Australian news. Although sometimes slow-moving, A CRY IN THE DARK is a poignant family-in-crisis drama aided by spectacular performances from Streep and Neill. It's based on a nonfiction thriller, Evil Angels, written in Lindy's support by a Melbourne barrister who was critical of the prosecution's handling of the case.

A Cry in the Dark

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A Cry in the Dark (1988)

Directed by fred schepisi.

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Description by Studio

A mother must defend herself against charges that she murdered her infant daughter. Based on the true story of Australia's most sensational contemporary case.

Meryl Streep won the New York Film Critics and Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Awards as Australia's Lindy Chamberlain.

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A cry in the dark.

Directed by Fred Schepisi

A family torn apart. A public filled with outrage. A woman accused of murder.

Based on the true story of Lindy Chamberlain who, during a family camping trip to Ayers Rock in central Australia, claimed she witnessed a dingo take her baby daughter, Azaria, from their tent. Azaria's body was never found and, after investigations and two public inquests, she is charged with murder.

Meryl Streep Sam Neill Dale Reeves David Hoflin Jason Reason Michael Wetter Kane Barton Trent Roberts Jane Coker Rae-Leigh Henson Nicolette Minster Debra Lawrance John Howard Pat Thomson Dorothy Alison Brian James Maurie Fields Peter Hosking Matthew Barker Bruce Kilpatrick Charles Tingwell Bruce Myles Neil Fitzpatrick Dennis Miller Lewis Fitz-Gerald Brendan Higgins Ian Swan Sandy Gore Kevin Miles Show All… Edgar Metcalfe Gary Files Peter Aanensen Jon Finlayson David Ravenswood Eve Godly Reg Evans James Wright Luciano Catenacci Bill Johnston Robin Dene Geoffrey O'Connell Michael Croft George Viskich Merrin Canning Valma Pratt Jim Holt Tim Robertson Patsy Stephen Ian Gilmour Peter Sardi Bill Garner Marion McKenzie Johnny Quinn Deborra-Lee Furness Chuck Faulkner Terrie Waddell Quentin MacLaine Greta Mendoza Vincent Vaccari Abbe Holmes David Wilson John Heywood John Allan Peter Byrne Maureen Edwards Justin Gaffney Lynne Ruthven Bruce Carter Peter Flett Davini Malcolm James Condon James Taylor Mike Person Philip Holder Nick Tate Mervyn Drake Vincent Gil Burt Cooper Mark Little Tony Martin Bruce Venables Lawrence Held Paul Young Bill McCluskey Sunday Rennie Warwick Tennant Moss Brenda Addie Emma Crapper Caroline Gillmer Reg Gorman Kate Gorman Steve Dodd David Bradshaw Sally Cooper Jeff Truman Marilynne Paspaley Pintapinta Alice Nampitjimpa Yuyuya Nampitjimpa Don Reid Susan Leith Alan Hopgood Bruce Clarkson Bob Baines Ian McFadyen Maggie Millar Ruby Hunter Ron Falk Billie Hammerberg Don Bridges James Higgins Frankie J. Holden Roderick Williams

Director Director

Fred Schepisi

Producer Producer

Verity Lambert

Writers Writers

Robert Caswell Fred Schepisi

Original Writer Original Writer

John Bryson

Casting Casting

Rhonda Schepisi

Editor Editor

Jill Bilcock

Cinematography Cinematography

Assistant directors asst. directors.

Toby Pease Steve E. Andrews Philip A. Patterson

Executive Producers Exec. Producers

Menahem Golan Yoram Globus

Camera Operator Camera Operator

Production design production design.

George Liddle Wendy Dickson

Art Direction Art Direction

Brian Edmonds Dale Duguid

Visual Effects Visual Effects

Roger Cowland

Stunts Stunts

Joe Pampanella

Composer Composer

Bruce Smeaton

Costume Design Costume Design

Bruce Finlayson

Golan-Globus Productions Cinema Verity Warner Bros. Pictures The Cannon Group

Australia USA

Releases by Date

03 nov 1988, 11 nov 1988, 19 may 1989, 25 may 1989, releases by country.

• Theatrical M

South Africa

• Theatrical 15
• Theatrical PG-13

120 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Kylo ★★★½

The dingo took my baby! 

It sure seems like Australia locked up Lindy Chamberlain based on public opinion. How horrific to lose your baby in such a gruesome way to then become one of the most hated people in the country. This movie also proves Meryl Streep is a first-class actress regardless of the wig.

Review by Steve Moyle ★★★★ 4

Directed by Fred Schepisi and based on John Bryson's 1985 novel of the same name this Australian film revolves around the true story of Azaria Chamberlain. Meryl Streep played Lindy Chamberlain, a young mother of three who was accused of murdering her 9 week old daughter. Lindy saw a Dingo (a wild Australian animal) going through a tent her baby was sleeping in and looking like it was carrying Azaria. Only she saw the Dingo and initially after a search party tried to find Azaria nothing came up. Sam Neil played her husband Michael Chamberlain and this film explores how easily the media can twist narratives through clever editing as well as other forms of manipulation. She didn't act as…

Review by Edgar Cochran ✝️ ★★★★ 7

Fred Schepisi's sole achievement is mainly two things:

i) A furious denunciation of the mental framing that mass media employs in its communication strategy towards its national audiences. ii) A wake-up call for the audiences themselves to be objective, to question everything seen in the media and to have a mature perspective towards any situation while detaching themselves from any racial or religious prejudice that may blind their judgment.

Evil Angels (aka A Cry in the Dark , the international English title made up for adding dramatic effect) moves at a merciless pace, covering whole years in the lives of the characters, moving from one tiny event to the next even if it may seem irrelevant, quickly moving from one comment…

Review by Mark Cunliffe 🇵🇸 ★★★½ 3

It's funny isn't it how some personal tragedies are deemed no go areas, yet others are considered fair game?

The tragic true life story of the death of baby Azaria Chamberlain and the subsequent suspicion that befall her parents Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, Australian Seventh Day Adventists, has to my knowledge been referenced for the purposes of humour in shows ranging from Family Guy to Seinfeld. But it's in watching the film account, A Cry In The Dark, that I've realised just how prone to bad taste the incident had from the get go. The film depicts both the intrusive and manipulative media response as well as that of the general public as a whole, as a series of almost…

Review by Vanessa Barnett ★★★★ 2

This is the one where Meryl Streep yells “A DINGO TOOK MY BAYBY!!!!” if anyone’s interested 

#australiancinemafunfacts

Review by alan ★★★★ 1

meryl streep overrated MY ASS

Review by chavel ★★★½

Brilliant dissection of how stupid human beings can be, err, how stupid public perception can be.

Meryl Streep and Sam Neill as Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, a married couple on vacation at the crowded Ayers Rock campground when split-second tragedy struck (“the dingo took my baby!”); the couple offered too many interviews on media television which only goaded further investigations. Self-interest investigators and shoddy forensics teams then contrived ways to suggest that the missing baby’s throat was slit and its’ carcass thrown away by the mother.

Director Fred Schepisi encompasses the court of public opinion by intercutting many different types of Australians—rubes and snoots—with their warped interpretation of what happened. Lindy is demonized as aloof and not pained, but cold-blooded.…

Review by reed 📽️ ★★★★

I’ve never heard of this case before watching this movie but it’s all too familiar. The media is always the enemy - capitalizing off of people’s fear and feeding the lies and tabloids.

We’ve seen this message in many movies but this one just felt not so in your face and subtle. I thought Meryl’s performance was nuanced and her character was one that wasn’t hard to really side with. Sam Neill is fantastic and really holds his own next to the GOAT. Would’ve liked to have seen an Oscar nod for him as well.

Meryl Streep's Filmography - Ranked

Review by Stephen M ★★★★

Another bravura performance by Meryl Streep here. I liked it especially because her character is quite complex and at times unlikeable. A dramatization of the real life story of Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, an Australian couple whose lives became the focus of media exploitation and nationwide debate after their baby was snatched by a dingo on a camping expedition to Ayers Rock. And mind you, this was way before social media.

It also features one of the best performances I've seen by Sam Neill, who plays her minister husband. The couple were Seventh-Day Adventists and their faith initially provided an anchor for their grief. But we watch as he gradually falls apart under the constant police, legal and media scrutiny,…

Review by kevintporter ★★★½

Merylthon continues.

It feels like a new film genre is emerging; Redeemed-Woman Historical-Fiction. These stories feature a re-examination of true events with the distance of time, interrogating the way in which a well-known woman was mistreated by her environment and how this woman you thought you knew is actually a very complicated human being. But YOU, the viewer, are complicit in whatever she suffered because you were a spectator.

Craig Gillespie seems to be the MOST interested in this arc, via I, Tonya , Pam and Tommy , and even bizarrely Cruella . Most recently you can see much of this approach in Spencer , The Eyes of Tammy Faye , American Crime Story: Impeachment , and even a degree in Bombshell lol. Some of these…

Review by teamgal ★★★★

Far more sophisticated than its reputation would indicate.

One of Streep's finest performances, as an adamant, bristly, unlikable woman accused of infanticide, who nevertheless remains an undeniable magnet for our sympathies. Fred Schepesi, probably the angriest director of the New Australian Cinema, documents the media circus that surrounded a figure who became the focal point for all the vicious misogyny bubbling just under the surface of a nation.

A true-crime story that quickly becomes a courtroom drama, A CRY IN THE DARK ultimately morphs into a stridently political film. How the news coverage of the investigation convinced a bloodthirsty audience that a religious woman — a dedicated, loving mother and wife — would behead her infant daughter while on a camping vacation is truly shocking to see. Of the two available truths, why is that the one the public chose?

Review by Jaime Rebanal 🇵🇸 ★★★★

Or otherwise known as A Cry in the Dark in America. This film contains what might just as well be some of Meryl Streep's very finest onscreen work, but there's a case to be made for how thoughtfully this film breaks down the lingering effect of any sort of trial being made into a spectacle for the masses. Lindy and Michael Chamberlain were victims of the circumstance: first with a dingo having taken their baby (hence the often-memed "the dingo took my baby!" quote - which sounds ridiculous at first but feels even more harrowing in context), but also by the fact that there were people in their daily lives who were willing to stand by their misinformed belief that…

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• #85 Best Australian Movies of all time
• "An unremitting, almost magisterial vision of a horrific, true-to-life incident."  Peter Rainer : Los Angeles Times
• "Streep's beauty and talent and director Fred Schepisi's intelligence are both shown to best advantage"  Jonathan Rosenbaum : Chicago Reader
• "Streep ... plays Lindy Chamberlain with the kind of virtuosity that seems to redefine the possibilities of screen acting."  Vincent Canby : The New York Times
• "Streep's performance is risky, and masterful. (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"  Roger Ebert : Chicago Sun-Times
• "The powerful performances and sharp script augment this revealing human drama." Nigel Floyd : Empire
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A Cry in the Dark

• A mother whose child was killed in a dingo attack in the Australian Outback fights to prove her innocence when she is accused of murder.
• Based on the true story of Lindy Chamberlain. During a camping trip to Ayers Rock in outback Australia, she claimed that she witnessed a dingo stealing her baby daughter, Azaria, from the family tent. Azaria's body was never found. Police noted some apparent inconsistencies in her story, and she was charged with murder. The case attracted a lot of attention, turning an investigation into a media circus, with the public divided in their opinions. — Murray Chapman <[email protected]>
• Based on the true story of Lindy Chamberlain who was convicted and then completely exonerated in the death of her infant daughter. While holidaying at Ayer's Rock with her husband Michael and their three children, Lindy said she saw a dingo enter their tent and carry away their weeks-old infant daughter, Azaria. The initial coroner's inquest supported her version of events but the police continued their investigation eventually leading her to be charged with murder and her husband with being an accessory after the fact. The case created a media frenzy in Australia and was the subject of much public debate. — garykmcd
• 1980. Of Mt Isa, QLD, Seventh Day Adventist Minister Michael Chamberlain, his wife Lindy Chamberlain, and their three children, the oldest six years old, are camping in a busy area next to Ayers Rock when one evening Lindy screams that a dingo is in their tent, the dingo running off, which only she witnesses, revealing that their youngest, ten-week old Azaria Chamberlain, is missing from her bassinet in the tent. Beyond the initial melee of trying to find Azaria with the help of all their fellow campers, Lindy and Michael, in their religious beliefs, outwardly come to a settled mindset that in not being able to find Azaria that the dingo has killed her, she in a better place with God in his plan for her. Over time as the story reaches national attention which is only fueled by Lindy and Michael talking to the media, evidence is discovered, which, in combination with things that are not discovered, such as Azaria's body, and the media stories, leads to Lindy being charged with Azaria's murder and Michael being charged with accessory to a murder after the fact, the crown charging that Lindy made up the story of the dingo to cover up her murdering Azaria. The purported dingo incident begins a close to decade long legal battle the two, but especially Lindy, have in trying to prove their innocence, the trial which cannot not be affected by the court of public opinion, especially as Lindy refuses to change her somewhat naturally cold demeanor solely to come across as a sympathetic character to the judgmental public. — Huggo
• Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor Michael Chamberlain, his wife Lindy, their two sons, and their nine-week-old daughter Azaria are on a camping holiday in the Outback. With the baby sleeping in their tent, the family is enjoying a barbecue with their fellow campers when a cry is heard. Lindy returns to the tent to check on Azaria and is certain she sees a dingo with something in its mouth running off as she approaches. When she discovers the infant is missing, everyone joins forces to search for her, without success. It is assumed what Lindy saw was the animal carrying off the child, and a subsequent inquest rules her account of events is true. The tide of public opinion soon turns against the Chamberlains. For many, Lindy seems too stoic, too cold-hearted, and too accepting of the disaster that has befallen her. Gossip about her begins to swell and soon is accepted as statements of fact. The couple's beliefs are not widely practised in the country, and when the media reports a rumour that the name Azaria means "sacrifice in the wilderness" (when in fact it means "blessed of God"), the public is quick to believe they decapitated their baby with a pair of scissors as part of a bizarre religious rite. Law-enforcement officials find new witnesses, forensics experts, and a lot of circumstantial evidenceincluding a small wooden coffin Michael uses as a receptacle for his parishioners' packs of un-smoked cigarettesand reopen the investigation, and eventually Lindy is charged with murder. Seven months pregnant, she ignores her attorneys' advice to play on the jury's sympathy and appears emotionless on the stand, convincing onlookers she is guilty of the crime of which she is accused. As the trial progresses, Michael's faith in his religion and his belief in his wife disintegrate, and he stumbles through his testimony, suggesting he is concealing the truth. In October 1982, Lindy is found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour, while Michael is found guilty as an accessory and given an 18-month suspended sentence. More than three years later, while searching for the body of an English tourist who fell from Uluru, police discover a small item of clothing that is identified as the jacket Lindy had insisted Azaria was wearing over her jumpsuit, which had been recovered early in the investigation. She immediately is released from prison, the case is reopened, and all convictions against Lindy and Michael are overturned.

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34 Facts About The Movie A Cry In The Dark

Written by Ranique Hemphill

Modified & Updated: 28 Jul 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Welcome to the fascinating world of “A Cry in the Dark,” a critically acclaimed movie that captivated audiences with its gripping storyline and powerful performances. Released in 1988, this Australian drama directed by Fred Schepisi tells the true story of a mother, Lindy Chamberlain, portrayed by Meryl Streep, who is wrongfully accused of murdering her own infant daughter. “A Cry in the Dark” explores the devastating effects of media frenzy, public opinion, and the judicial system on Chamberlain’s life. In this article, we will delve into 34 interesting facts about this thought-provoking film that shed light on its production, cast, reception, and lasting impact. So, get ready to discover the behind-the-scenes secrets and trivia that make “A Cry in the Dark” a must-watch for any movie enthusiast.

Key Takeaways:

• A Cry in the Dark is a gripping movie based on the true story of Lindy Chamberlain, highlighting the power of perseverance and the flaws within the legal system.
• Meryl Streep’s stellar performance, the exploration of media influence, and the enduring legacy of the film make A Cry in the Dark a must-see for those seeking truth and justice.

True Story:

A Cry in the Dark is based on the true story of Lindy Chamberlain, an Australian woman who was wrongfully convicted of killing her infant daughter.

Released in 1988:

The movie was released in 1988 and directed by Fred Schepisi.

Alternate Title:

In some countries, the movie was released under the title “Evil Angels.”

Starring Meryl Streep:

Meryl Streep played the lead role of Lindy Chamberlain in the film.

Streep’s Accurate Accent:

Meryl Streep spent several months perfecting an authentic Australian accent for her role.

A Controversial Case:

The case of Lindy Chamberlain was highly controversial and generated significant media attention.

Dingo Attack:

The film revolves around the infamous dingo attack on Lindy Chamberlain’s daughter, Azaria, in

Religious Conflict:

The movie highlights the religious tensions faced by Lindy Chamberlain, as her Seventh-day Adventist beliefs were scrutinized during the trial.

A Mother’s Struggle:

A Cry in the Dark depicts Lindy Chamberlain’s fight to prove her innocence and regain her freedom.

Multiple Court Trials:

The movie showcases the multiple court trials that Lindy Chamberlain went through before being exonerated.

Meryl Streep’s Stellar Performance:

Meryl Streep received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Lindy Chamberlain, earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Emotional Rollercoaster:

A Cry in the Dark takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster, as they witness Lindy Chamberlain’s highs and lows throughout the ordeal.

Cinematic Adaptation:

The movie is based on the book “Evil Angels” by John Bryson , which delves into the details of the case.

International Attention:

The Lindy Chamberlain case gained international attention, sparking debates about the legal system and media influence.

Critique of Sensationalism:

A Cry in the Dark critiques the sensationalized media coverage surrounding the case, highlighting its impact on public perception.

The film received numerous accolades, including a Palme d’Or nomination at the Cannes Film Festival.

A Memorable Line:

The movie’s most memorable line, “The dingo’s got my baby!” became deeply ingrained in popular culture.

A Chilling Soundtrack:

The film’s haunting soundtrack, composed by Bruce Smeaton, adds to the suspense and drama of the story.

Impactful Direction:

Director Fred Schepisi expertly crafts the narrative, maintaining tension and engaging the viewers throughout.

Exploration of Motherhood:

A Cry in the Dark delves into the complex realm of motherhood and the lengths a mother would go to protect her child.

Engaging Courtroom Scenes:

The film’s courtroom scenes are particularly gripping, showcasing the legal battle faced by Lindy Chamberlain and her defense team.

Use of Flashbacks:

A Cry in the Dark incorporates flashbacks to provide insight into the events leading up to the tragedy.

Historical Significance:

The Lindy Chamberlain case had a lasting impact on Australia’s legal system and how it handles high-profile trials.

Cultural References:

The movie references various Australian cultural elements, immersing viewers in the setting and period.

Exploration of Doubt:

A Cry in the Dark explores the nature of doubt and its role in shaping public opinion and legal outcomes.

A Riveting Narrative:

The film’s captivating storytelling keeps audiences engaged from start to finish.

Supporting Cast:

The movie features a talented ensemble cast, including Sam Neill , playing Lindy Chamberlain’s husband, Michael Chamberlain.

Real Footage:

The film incorporates real news footage and media coverage from the time of the events, adding authenticity to the story.

Cultural Impact:

A Cry in the Dark sparked discussions about media ethics, prejudice, and the power of public opinion.

Legal Reforms:

The case led to significant reforms in Australia’s legal system to prevent miscarriages of justice.

Lindy Chamberlain’s Advocacy:

Following her exoneration, Lindy Chamberlain became a vocal advocate for justice and wrongful convictions.

Box Office Success:

A Cry in the Dark was a commercial success, grossing over $60 million worldwide.

Continued Interest:

The Lindy Chamberlain case continues to captivate public interest decades after the events unfolded.

A Cry in the Dark’s enduring legacy lies in its portrayal of a mother’s unwavering determination and the flaws within the legal system.

A Cry in the Dark is a powerful and thought-provoking film that delves into the real-life tragedy of Lindy Chamberlain and the wrongful conviction she endured. The movie takes viewers on a gripping journey as it unravels the events surrounding the dingo attack on Lindy Chamberlain’s baby daughter, Azaria. From the moment Lindy utters the famous line, “The dingo’s got my baby!”, audiences are drawn into a complex web of emotions, skepticism, and the fight for justice.

Starring the incomparable Meryl Streep, A Cry in the Dark showcases her unparalleled acting skills as she portrays Lindy Chamberlain with an impeccable Australian accent and a deep understanding of the emotional turmoil Lindy experienced throughout this harrowing ordeal. Streep’s performance in the film earned her critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

The film brilliantly depicts the tension between religious beliefs and public opinion, as Lindy Chamberlain’s faith as a Seventh-day Adventist is scrutinized during the trial. Additionally, A Cry in the Dark explores the influence of media sensationalism and how it can shape public perception and impact the outcome of a highly publicized case.

Fred Schepisi’s masterful direction keeps the audience engaged at every turn, skillfully blending courtroom drama, flashbacks, and emotional moments to create a riveting narrative. The incorporation of real news footage and media coverage from the time adds authenticity to the story and highlights the global impact this case had.

A Cry in the Dark not only reveals the flaws within the legal system but also raises important questions about doubt, prejudice, and the power of public opinion. The film’s legacy extends beyond the silver screen, leading to significant legal reforms in Australia and inspiring Lindy Chamberlain to become a prominent advocate for justice and wrongful convictions.

Decades after its release, A Cry in the Dark continues to hold relevance in contemporary society, reminding us of the importance of seeking truth, fighting for justice, and questioning the narratives that the media presents. It serves as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child.

From the heartfelt performances to the captivating storyline, A Cry in the Dark remains a cinematic gem that sheds light on a tragedy that shook an entire nation and ignited a global conversation. It’s a film that demands to be seen, leaving a lasting impact on all who experience its powerful narrative.

In conclusion, “A Cry in the Dark” is a gripping and thought-provoking movie that explores the complexities of truth, justice, and the media’s influence on public opinion. It showcases the incredible talent of Meryl Streep as she brings to life the real-life character of Lindy Chamberlain, whose story has captivated audiences around the world.

With its compelling storyline, powerful performances, and resonating themes, “A Cry in the Dark” remains a timeless classic that continues to leave a lasting impact on viewers. Whether you’re a fan of true crime films or simply enjoy thought-provoking dramas , this movie is a must-watch that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Q: Is “A Cry in the Dark” based on a true story?

A: Yes, “A Cry in the Dark” is based on the true story of Lindy Chamberlain, an Australian woman whose baby disappeared during a camping trip in 1980.

Q: Who stars in “A Cry in the Dark”?

A: The movie stars Meryl Streep in the lead role as Lindy Chamberlain, along with Sam Neill as her husband, Michael Chamberlain.

Q: Was the movie well-received by critics?

A: Yes, “A Cry in the Dark” received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for Meryl Streep’s performance and the film’s exploration of the media’s role in shaping public opinion.

Q: What awards did “A Cry in the Dark” receive?

A: The movie received several awards and nominations, including a Best Actress nomination for Meryl Streep at the Academy Awards and a Palme d’Or nomination at the Cannes Film Festival.

Q: Is “A Cry in the Dark” available to stream?

A: Yes, “A Cry in the Dark” can be streamed on various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.

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A Cry in the Dark (1988) - "The dingo took my baby!" Meryl Streep and Sam Neill

Many people have heard the phrase "The dingo took my baby!" popularised wrongly as "A dingo ate my baby!". A Cry in the Dark (1988) aka Evil Angels tells the story of the death of Azaria Chamberlain a nine week old baby who disappeared during a family camping trip to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Australia.

Lindy and Michael Chamberlain played by Meryl Streep and Sam Neil respectively are of course frantic their baby has been taken from them but as time passes the story transmogrifies from an unimaginable family tragedy to the biggest story in Australia. As the family mourn and attempt to get back to what might be a normal life there are months of investigation culminating in the Chamberlains being charged with the murder of baby Azaria and face a court case.

The acting is superb throughout by the two leads. Lindy is charged with murder and is the focus of the prosecution, she remains strong and stoic while Michael struggles emotionally verging on a nervous breakdown. Streep was nominated for best actress at the Oscars, her eighth time in a decade. Neil followed this film with the thriller Dead Calm (1989) and soon became a Hollywood fixture.

The film made me consider what it must be like to go through the worst thing that could ever happen to parents. How do you move on with your lives? How do you cope not just when your beloved baby has been snatched away but you're accused of murdering your pride and joy.

Australian director Fred Schepisi helmed the film and keeps the multi-year narrative on track smoothly which is often difficult to achieve. Impressively Schepisi captures the public mood within Australia who are fixated on the story which is covered breathlessly by the domestic media. As with any case of a disappeared child in any country it usually splits the entire population with prejudiced views believing parents could do the very worst thing while the other half having compassion for the family and their loss.

Schepisi keeps the Chamberlains faith as a constant focus, important as they're Seventh Day Adventists and their faith and prayers helped them through their darkest days. There's prejudice against the family for their religious views too.

You'll despair at some of the events in the court case and the film touches on the ongoing racism experienced by the the Aboriginal people . They helped as trackers on the night of the disappearance of baby Azaria but were never called as witnesses.

This is a movie hardly ever discussed but it should be remembered. The film dominated at The Australian Film Institute's awards. The cinematography of the Northern Territory and Australia's red centre of Uluru is beautiful.

Has anyone else seen this movie or want to discuss it in the comments?

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‘Went Up the Hill’ Review: Vicky Krieps and Dacre Montgomery Confront Trauma (and Each Other) in Chilly Ghost Story

Kate erbland, editorial director.

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Like most classic fairy tales and nursery rhymes, the story of Jack and Jill — who so iconically “ went up the hill to fetch a pail of water” — is pretty scary. Jack and Jill are simply going about their daily lives, chores and all!, when Jack takes a tumble and Jill follows right behind. Jack gets up, makes it home, and is patched up. We don’t hear anymore about Jill. We don’t know how she fares.

Fortunately, however, for as much as Van Grinsven leans on vibes (read: heavily ), he’s also cast a pair of compelling performers to add real dimension to this particular apparition. We first meet Jack ( Dacre Montgomery ) as he’s chugging his way to (oh, geez, fine, OK, we get it) a foreboding hill that he must climb to get to the world’s least appealing funeral. Set in remote, color-sapped New Zealand, we know the house he’s entering is moneyed and luxe, but it’s also deeply unwelcoming and, in the most charitable of words, looks a hell of a lot like something we’re more likely to find in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”

Its inhabitants are not much better. Jack sneaks in during the last rites of recently deceased artist Elizabeth (who we never “see” and never really come to know, even as she will lord over nearly every frame and feeling of the film ). Elizabeth, we’re told by her grim sister Helen (Sarah Peirse, with a sneakily great performance ahead of her), left behind her “two greatest loves” when she passed: this house, and her wife Jill ( Vicky Krieps ). When she catches Jack’s eye, we get it just as clearly as he does: he was not included in this list of loves.

Despite Jack’s insistence that it was Jill who invited him to the event, it’s obvious Jill has no idea who the kid is, but that might be the least of her worries. Mired in her grief, she takes to sleeping next to Elizabeth’s casket, and when she asks Jack to say, she makes too tragic a figure to leave. Even in this state, Krieps cuts a formidable figure, a magnetic presence who Jack rightly believes is the only living person who can explain who his mother was. The key, of course, is living. Because Jack and Jill are not alone in the house, and each night, as they crumple into feverish sleep, they are visited by a spectral force: Elizabeth, who soon starts taking over their bodies at her leisure.

Whether you believe in possession will likely dictate how far you’re willing to ride with “Went Up the Hill,” and while Van Grinsven and co-writer Jory Anast struggle to unspool some key elements of said possession (though the “rules” of it eventually snap into place in the final act, a big help), Krieps and Montgomery sell the hell out of it. Early moments with the performers steep us in their mannerisms and motivations, so when Elizabeth “takes over,” the result is both a feat of acting and genuinely upsetting. But is it real ?

“Went Up the Hill” premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. It is currently seeking U.S. distribution.

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