Twisted Desire

Twisted Desire is a 1996 American crime thriller television film directed by Craig R. Baxley and written by twin brothers Carey and Chad Hayes. It stars Melissa Joan Hart, with real-life domestic partners Daniel Baldwin and Isabella Hofmann. The movie also stars Meadow Sisto, David Lascher, Eric Laneuville, Kurt Fuller, and R&B/pop singer Jeremy Jordan, with Collin Wilcox Paxton in a supporting role. It aired on May 13, 1996, on NBC.

The film is presented as based on real events: the 1990 double murder of James Baxter "J.B." and Katherine "Kathy" Wiseman in Hartfield, Virginia, committed by their 14-year-old daughter Jessica Lynn Wiseman and her 17-year-old boyfriend, Douglas Christopher Thomas. Thomas was executed in 2000, when the death penalty for juveniles was still a legal punishment, while Wiseman was tried as a juvenile and sentenced to six years in prison, from which she was released at age 21.

Jennifer Stanton is a wealthy, rebellious teenager whose father, Bill, is overprotective, strict, and controlling, while her mother, Susan, barely takes her side. When Bill prohibits Jennifer from attending a concert, this—along with Bill's strictness in general—becomes the last straw for her boyfriend, Brad, who breaks up with her. The following morning, Bill admonishes Jennifer for dressing in clothing he deems too 'revealing' for school and forces her to change. Jennifer and her best friend, Karen Winkler, detour to a gas station so they can get gas and Jennifer can change back into her original outfit in the bathroom. The attendant, Nick Ryan, accidentally walks in on her changing; afterwards, Jennifer realizes that she's lost her wallet, leaving her unable to pay the $10 gas fare. Nick, approaching her & Karen, tells Jennifer that it's no big deal and she can pay him later. Karen tells Jennifer that Nick was a former student at their high school and he was just recently released from jail for assault.

At school, Jennifer sees Brad with his new girlfriend, Emma Thomas. Jennifer tries to rekindle her relationship with Brad, but Brad remains staunch on no longer seeing her due to her father's overbearingness. Jennifer tries asking Brad to accompany her to her friend Mark Pearson's party being held that night, but Emma interjects and states that Brad has already asked her to be his date for the party. The both of them then leave for class as the bell rings, leaving a confused and bewildered Jennifer in their place.

In class, Emma and her friends sneer at Jennifer as the classroom gets ready for a pop quiz. Jennifer is suddenly called to the front office. She encounters Nick in the hallway, who's come to the school to bring her back her wallet, which she'd forgotten at the gas station. Nick asks her if she'd like to be his date for Mark's party, which Jennifer initially rebuffs, citing that her parents would disapprove. Realizing the opportunity to potentially make Brad jealous, Jennifer changes her mind and agrees to accompany Nick to the party.

That night, Jennifer lies to her parents and uses studying for a midterm on the French Revolution at Karen's house as cover for going to the party. At the party, Jennifer bonds with Nick and they play pool together; meanwhile, Karen and their other friend, Bobbi, observe Brad with Emma and remark how they couldn't believe he dumped Jennifer and got back together with Emma, who reportedly cheated on him by writing love letters to other boys. Brad sees Jennifer having fun with Nick and expresses jealousy.

Back at the Stanton household, Bill harbors suspicions that Jennifer lied about the French history exam so that she could go out and phones Karen's mother, Trish, to verify if his daughter is really studying at their house; Susan attempts to stop him, to no avail. Trish reveals to Bill that Jennifer and Karen are at Mark's party. Bill immediately drives to Mark's house to retrieve Jennifer. Meanwhile, back at the party, Brad waits for Jennifer outside the restroom and remarks his surprise that her dad allowed her out tonight; additionally, he apologizes for dumping her, while also expressing hurt at the fact that she ignored him and was with another guy all night. Bill disrupts their conversation and forcibly drags Jennifer out of the party in front of all of her friends; among the onlookers of this spectacle is Nick.

At home, Jennifer screams at her father for humiliating her tonight, as well as for being too strict and controlling in general, and laments that she wishes she could have the freedom her friends have. Bill is firm and unwavering, however, and states that as long as Jennifer lives in his house, she must abide by his rules. Susan goes along with Bill and does little to defend Jennifer, which only further enrages her. She storms off, even as Bill demands her not to walk away from him, and goes to her bedroom to calm down.