Indictment: The McMartin Trial

A defense lawyer defends an average American family from shocking allegations of child abuse and satanic rituals. After seven years and $15 million, the trial ends with the dismissal of all charges. George Freeman is the star witness in the trial. Kee MacFarlane and Wayne Satz are in a romantic relationship. The poster and ads for the movie declare "The charges were so shocking, the truth didn't matter." ==Cast==

• James Woods as Danny Davis • Mercedes Ruehl as Lael Rubin • Lolita Davidovitch as Kee MacFarlane • Henry Thomas as Ray Buckey • Sada Thompson as Virginia McMartin • Shirley Knight as Peggy Buckey • Alison Elliott as Peggy Ann Buckey • Roberta Bassin as Judy Johnson • Mark Blum as Wayne Satz • Richard Bradford as Ira Reiner • James Cromwell as Judge Pounders • Chelsea Field as Christine Johnson • Richard Portnow as Judge George ==Reception==

John J. O'Connor, writing for The New York Times: Also writing for The New York Times, Seth Mydans said: The Los Angeles Times described the docudrama as "HBO’s frothing, highly opinionated account of the case". Variety reports this "fact-based HBO Pictures presentation ... makes no apologies for depicting the infamous child molestation case as a witch hunt" and leaves "little leeway for surprise. Even so, the well-acted cabler hits its targets with a take-no-prisoners gusto". ==Accolades==

The film is cited as a watershed in the shift of ideas about satanic ritual abuse, recasting Ray Buckey as a victim of a hysterical conspiracy rather than a child abuser. ==Notes==