List of the best Tess Harper movies: Little Girl Lost(1988), Tender Mercies(1983), The Man in the Moon(1991), Dirty Laundry(1996), Amityville: The Demon(1983), A Summer to Remember(1985), Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story(1992), The Killing Secret(1997), A Christmas Wish(2011), Death in Small Doses(1994), The Long Shadow(2020), Far North(1988) ... ...
Drama
1988
97 Minutes
Clara Brady
Tess Harper Frederic Forrest Patricia Kalember Lawrence Pressman Christopher McDonald Marie Martin
A TV newswoman (Patricia Kalember) helps a couple (Tess Harper, Frederic Forrest) fight for custody of a girl being molested by her natural father.
Drama
USA
1983
90 Minutes
Robert Duvall Tess Harper Betty Buckley Wilford Brimley Ellen Barkin Allan Hubbard Lenny Von Dohlen Paul Gleason Michael Crabtree Norman Bennett Rick Murray
singer innkeeper son daughter reporter ex-wife engaging uplifting touching texas motel small town redemption alcoholism fame family love country music wretched excess metamorphosis
A broken-down, middle-aged country singer gets a new wife, reaches out to his long-lost daughter, and tries to put his troubled life back together.
Drama
USA
1991
99 Minutes
Abigail Trant
Sam Waterston Tess Harper Gail Strickland Reese Witherspoon Jason London Emily Warfield Bentley Mitchum Ernie Lively
teen girl sister teen boy father mother endearing tender emotional louisiana farm family home field first love love triangle sibling rivalry sister relationship accident betrayal growing up love
A coming of age story set in the south of the U.S. when Elvis was King.
Comedy
UK
1996
91 Minutes
Beth Greene
Jay Thomas Robert Sherwin Tess Harper Tresa Hughes Stanley Earl Harrison Erin Underwood John Driver Dana Chaifetz
This is the story of Bella, who woke up one morning and realized she'd had enough. All it took was one rather nasty man to transform her from a meek and mild secretary into a murderous femme fatale.
Horror
USA|Mexico
1983
105 Minutes
Nancy Baxter
Tony Roberts Tess Harper Robert Joy Candy Clark John Beal Leora Dana John Harkins Lori Loughlin Meg Ryan
reporter estranged wife scientist daughter best friend psychic gory frightening amityville, n.y. family home police station newsroom demonic possession haunted houses troubled marriage ghosts family journalism mystery pursuit
A reporter moves into the Amityville house in defiance of the supernatural events connected to it, and finds everyone around him besieged by the evil manifestations which are connected to a demonic presence in the basement.
Comedy, Drama
1985
100 Minutes
James Farentino Tess Harper Sean Gerlis
deaf child younger sister gorilla mother stepfather doctor engaging charming heartwarming endearing moving emotional america animal intelligence human-animal friendship deafness stepfamily magical animals adventure discovery
Parents (James Farentino, Tess Harper) of a deaf boy (Sean Gerlis) do not believe his tales of speaking by sign language with an escaped orangutan.
Drama
1992
100 Minutes
Lesley Ann Warren Tess Harper Olivia Burnette Lauren Woodland William Forsythe Heather Lauren Olson Sarah Platt Dennis Christopher Joanna Miles Arlen Dean Snyder
mother brother-in-law killer hitman cheerleader rival brooding chilling dark tense intense suspenseful texas jealousy rivalry murder plot cheerleading personal vendetta obsession quest
A woman (Lesley Ann Warren) is accused of trying to get her daughter on the high-school cheerleading squad, by murder.
Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Romance
1997
96 Minutes
Tina DeCapprio
Ari Meyers Tess Harper Mark Kassen Soleil Moon Frye Cindy Pickett John O'Hurley Todd Rulapaugh Rasool J'Han Erika Flores Joanna Canton Brandon Frazier
A high school cheerleader begins to suspect that her unfaithful boyfriend is a murderer when a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks turns up dead.
Other, Drama
2011
90 Minutes
Trudy Willis
Kristy Swanson Tess Harper Edward Herrmann K.C. Clyde Bart Johnson Danielle Chuchran Kevin Lee Herring III Kirstin Dorn
The owner (Tess Harper) of a diner helps a homeless woman (Kristy Swanson) and her children during the holidays.
Mystery & Thriller, Drama
1994
96 Minutes
Richard Thomas Tess Harper Glynnis O'Connor Shawn Elliot Gary Frank Matthew Posey Ann Hearn Mitchell Laurance Collin Wilcox Paxton Andrea Powell Evan Rachel Wood
Luck and courtroom fireworks combine to reveal the culprit behind a woman's mysterious death. Based on a true story.
Mystery & Thriller, Gay & Lesbian
USA
2020
94 Minutes
Mama Doris
Aasha Davis Yetide Badaki Tess Harper Teri Wyble Jim Klock Linc Hand Ashton Leigh Kitty Swink David Jensen Terence Rosemore Rich Paul
A young female Sheriff's Deputy in rural Louisiana takes on her town's old money establishment when the woman she loves - an attorney fighting to stop a rail deal that threatens to displace the town's poor - is murdered.
Drama
USA
1988
90 Minutes
Rita
Jessica Lange Charles Durning Tess Harper Donald Moffat Ann Wedgeworth Patricia Arquette Nina Draxten
father daughter sister uncle mother teen girl bleak melodramatic tense duluth, minn. family home hospital room family dysfunction father/daughter relationship injury alzheimer's disease alcoholism teenage rebellion growing up transformation
After generations of being apart, an accident brings a family back together and they begin to cope with their original issues.
Drama
1996
97 Minutes
Linda Grant
Beau Bridges Pam Dawber Tess Harper Lyman Ward Ernie Lively Dave Florek Currie Graham Erik von Detten Dylan Bridges Jordan Bridges Michael `Mickey' Scruggs
A man (Beau Bridges) with amnesia finds love with an innkeeper (Pam Dawber), then faces a difficult decision when his wife (Tess Harper) finally finds him.
Drama, Gay & Lesbian
2005
93 Minutes
Elizabeth Austin
Bonnie Hunt Kip Pardue Tess Harper Chris Sarandon Michael Learned Michael Kelly Robin Weigert
reverend mother daughter wife hotel owner son emotional heartwarming tender church beach motel house north carolina abandonment adoption aids religion maternal instinct reunion
Three stories revolve around a troubled woman (Bonnie Hunt) searching for her child, a minister and his wife (Tess Harper) and an HIV-positive drifter (Kip Pardue).
Crime, Drama
USA
1988
117 Minutes
Det. Stillwell
Gary Oldman Kevin Bacon Karen Young Tess Harper Joe Don Baker Sean McCann Ron Lea Michael Sinelnikoff Karen Woolridge Ali Giron Rob Roy
attorney killer girlfriend mother police officer dark creepy chilling courtroom house boston park law and order murder family dysfunction wealth romance deception mystery pursuit
A lawyer defends a killer, but soon after he wins, he finds out that the killer is guilty.
Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
USA
1992
99 Minutes
Kimmy Hayes
Diane Lane James LeGros Stephen Collins Tess Harper Bill Raymond Bruce Altman Maddie Corman
Debbie and Gerald's lives drastically change after they get a gun. Their mysterious neighbor, Skippy, becomes and important and transforming figure in their lives.
Drama
USA
1992
92 Minutes
Martha Harnish
Karen Allen Raymond J. Barry Michael Dolan Tess Harper Gillian Anderson Tannis Benedict
A white supremacist returns to his hometown for the first time in years to try and save his parents' relationship.
Drama
2013
90 Minutes
Kathleen
Naomi Watts Matt Dillon Norman Reedus Tess Harper Antoni Corone Keith Hudson Adrienne Lovette Yvonne Gougelet Gabriel Alexander
Financial strain, an unplanned pregnancy and an abusive ex threaten the stability of a poor couple's (Naomi Watts, Matt Dillon) relationship.
Drama
USA
1986
104 Minutes
Chick Boyle
Diane Keaton Jessica Lange Sissy Spacek Sam Shepard Tess Harper David Carpenter Hurd Hatfield Beeson Carroll Jean Willard Tom Mason Gregory Travis
sister mother grandfather singer sibling heartwarming engaging profound deep south household mississippi family dysfunction crime sister relationship relationships suicide love sacrifice 1980s
Three southern sisters try to come to grips with the meaning of their mother's suicide.
Western
USA
1991
106 Minutes
Cheryl
Scott Glenn Kate Capshaw Ben Johnson Balthazar Getty Tess Harper Gary Busey Mickey Rooney Clarence Williams III Dub Taylor Clu Gulager Dennis Fimple
rodeo rider former lover father sister cowboy spirited inspiring heartwarming uplifting rodeo united states nursing home farm redemption rodeo family dysfunction family honor reconciliation father/son relationship quest
A rodeo rider decides to quit his line of work after a serious injury, but when he visits his family and finds out that his dad is not well, he'll have to risk it one more time.
Drama
USA
2006
104 Minutes
Dixie Rose Delton
Toby Keith Kelly Preston Burt Reynolds Lindsey Haun Tess Harper Anna Maria Horsford Brian Durkin
musician old flame daughter sister brother manager emotional tender inspiring small town funeral family home estrangement father/daughter relationship family tragedy reunion country music the past rise love
A fading country music star (Keith) returns to his hometown, where he reunites with his childhood sweetheart and also meets his 16-year-old daughter for the first time.
Drama
USA
2007
103 Minutes
Miriam Esh
Lisa Pepper Abigail Mason Soren Fulton Elliott Gould Tess Harper Tanner Maguire Bailee Madison Tom Tate Jennifer O'Dell Phil Abrams David Clennon
journalist sister amish woman child teenager boss heartwarming engaging pennsylvania portland, ore. village office school adoption death family responsibility amish career transformation
A thirty-something columnist becomes legal guardian of her Amish sister's five children and ends up 'using' the kids' lives as stories for her column, causing them to feel betrayed, since they had believed she was truly concerned for them.
Other, Drama
2012
87 Minutes
Elizabeth
Teri Polo Paul Essiembre Ty Wood Cruise Brown Tess Harper John B. Lowe Susan Kelso Samantha Kendrick Blake Taylor Cherissa Richards Adam Hurtig
boy son heartwarming hospital house christmas neighbors heart transplant rise
Parents (Teri Polo, Paul Essiembre) become desperate for a Christmas miracle when their son suffers heart failure and needs a transplant to survive.
Drama
2018
129 Minutes
Hazel
Garrett Hedlund Forest Whitaker Andrea Riseborough Tom Wilkinson Tess Harper Crystal Fox Usher Raymond Austin Hébert
racist reverend girlfriend single mother emotional gripping inspiring positive south carolina united states museum church family home small town ku klux klan racism revenge redemption love transformation
A former member of the Ku Klux Klan learns tolerance through love and faith when he's taken in by an African American reverend.
Comedy
USA
1987
107 Minutes
Willa
Warren Beatty Dustin Hoffman Isabelle Adjani Charles Grodin Jack Weston Tess Harper Carol Kane Aharon Ipalé Fuad Hageb David Margulies Rose Arrick
Two terrible lounge singers get booked to play a gig in a Moroccan hotel but somehow become pawns in an international power play between the C.I.A., the Emir of Ishtar, and the rebels trying to overthrow his regime.
Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
USA|Mexico
2007
122 Minutes
Loretta Bell
Tommy Lee Jones Ethan Coen Javier Bardem Josh Brolin Woody Harrelson Kelly Macdonald Garret Dillahunt Tess Harper Barry Corbin Stephen Root Rodger Boyce
hunter serial killer sheriff wife veteran chilling dark creepy texas countryside motel police station gas station murder drug trafficking assassination investigation pursuit mystery 1980s
Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and more than two million dollars in cash near the Rio Grande.
Mystery & Thriller
USA
2015
100 Minutes
Mrs. McCarthy
Sanaa Lathan Michael Ealy Morris Chestnut L. Scott Caldwell Charles S. Dutton John Getz Tess Harper Kathryn Morris Rutina Wesley Holt McCallany Jessica Parker Kennedy
lobbyist ex-boyfriend romantic interest police officer co-worker stalker dark emotional intense office apartment bar car street bedroom breakup fling obsession stalking stress
After breaking up with her boyfriend, a professional woman gets involved with a man who seems almost too good to be true.
Drama
USA
2020
114 Minutes
Dorothy Freeman
Marc Menchaca Kerry Bishé Lili Taylor Stacy Martin Philip Ettinger Cosmo Jarvis Hale Lytle Tess Harper Hannah Barefoot
Adaptation of Carter Sickels' 2012 novel.
Romance
USA
1989
94 Minutes
Sally Blackwood
Tom Selleck Paulina Porizkova William Daniels James Farentino Hurd Hatfield Ronald Guttman Victor Argo Patrick Wayne Tess Harper Barbara Caruso
novelist district attorney murder suspect mother father spy amusing dark madcap endearing connecticut hospital country house courtroom writer's block dangerous romance murder case suspicion deception espionage
Phil has writer's block after 30 detective novels. In court for inspiration, he sees a cute Romanian murder suspect. He provides her alibi. She stays with him. Will he live to write another novel?
Comedy, Drama
2014
105 Minutes
Aunt Flossie
Travis Caldwell Mary Kate Wiles Hayley Kiyoko Rachel DiPillo Nate Hartley James DuMont Brent Briscoe Wayne Duvall Tess Harper Garrett M. Brown
hermit man caregiver daughter friend amusing witty uplifting lighthearted moving emotional endearing united states road road trip adventure friendship loss disability adventure
Frank, a hermit with Tourette's syndrome, is forced to face the harsh realities of the world when his caregiver dies. When she sees how despondent Frank is, Laura, his caregiver's daughter, takes him on a life-changing road trip with her friends.
Drama
USA
2002
89 Minutes
Laurel Holloman Elise Neal Mark Webber Liam Aiken Billy Campbell Gary Cole Alice Drummond Frances Fisher Mason Gamble Beth Grant Tess Harper
Johnny is a successful bank executive who lives quietly in a San Francisco townhouse with his fiancée, Lisa. One day, putting aside any scruple, she seduces Johnny's best friend, Mark. From there, nothing will be the same again.
Mystery & Thriller
USA
2000
104 Minutes
Lori Heuring Susan Ward Daniel Hugh Kelly Matthew Settle Nathan Bexton Laurie Fortier Kim Murphy Ethan Erickson Katharine Towne Erinn Bartlett A.J. Buckley
young woman doctor beauty queen boyfriend best friend girlfriend thrilling brutal frightening country club golf course psychiatric ward beach tennis court bedroom friendship psychosomatic illness murder sexual conquests investigation
A mentally disturbed young woman takes a job at a posh country club and falls in with a clique of wealthy college kids where she's taken under the wing of the clique's twisted leader, who harbors some dark secrets too terrifying to tell.