''The Trial'' is a 2010 drama film directed by Gary Wheeler and starring

Matthew Modine Matthew Avery Modine (born March 22, 1959) is an American actor and filmmaker, who rose to prominence through his role as U.S. Marine Private/Sergeant J.T. "Joker" Davis in ''Full Metal Jacket''. His other film roles include the title character ...

. It is based on the novel of the same name by

Robert Whitlow Robert Whitlow is a film-maker and a best-selling author of fifteen legal thrillers. He is also a contributor to a short story ''The Rescuers'', a story included in the book ''What The Wind Picked Up'' by The ChiLibris Ring. In 2001, he won th ...

and was released September 10, 2010, grossing $19,753 at the box office.boxofficemojo.com
The Trial (2010)
.

Plot

Kent "Mac" McClain, after losing his wife and kids in a car crash, experiences

grief Grief is the response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or some living thing that has died, to which a bond or affection was formed. Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, grief also has physical, cogni ...

of the loss and attempts suicide with a revolver. However, he is interrupted by a phone call inviting him to solve a case involving a murder called the Hightower murder case. He discusses it with Judge Danielson, who encourages him to start living. Mac then talks to Pete Thomason, the supposed murderer of his girlfriend by

strangulation Strangling is compression of the neck that may lead to unconsciousness or death by causing an increasingly hypoxic state in the brain. Fatal strangling typically occurs in cases of violence, accidents, and is one of two main ways that hanging ...

. However, Pete does not remember the situation. Then, seeking guidance, Mac invites two other friends, his neighbor Ray, and a friend Mindy to help him investigate the murder. They both discuss the idea that Pete doesn't remember anything, and try to find evidence that is possibly important to the trial.

Cast

as Mac *

Robert Forster Robert Wallace Forster Jr. (July 13, 1941 – October 11, 2019) was an American actor, known for his roles as John Cassellis in ''Medium Cool'' (1969), Captain Dan Holland in ''The Black Hole'' (1979), Abdul Rafai in ''The Delta Force'' (1986), ...

as Ray *

Clare Carey Clare Carey (born June 11, 1967) is an American film and television actress best known for her roles as Kelly Fox in ''Coach'' (1989-1995) and Mary Bailey in ''Jericho'' (2006-2008), and her film role in ''Savannah Sunrise'' (2016). Backgroun ...

as Dr. Anna Wilkes *

Bob Gunton Robert Patrick Gunton Jr. (born November 15, 1945) is an American character actor of stage and screen. He is known for playing strict authoritarian characters, including Warden Samuel Norton in the 1994 prison drama ''The Shawshank Redemption'', ...

as Joe Whetstone *

Randy Wayne Randy Wayne Frederick (born August 7, 1981) is an Americans, American actor. Life and career Wayne was born and raised in Moore, Oklahoma. He attended Moore High School (Oklahoma), Moore High School and Campbellsville University. He appeared ...

as Pete Thomason *

Rance Howard Rance Howard (born Harold Engle Beckenholdt; November 17, 1928 – November 25, 2017) was an American actor who starred in film and on television. He was the father of actor and filmmaker Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard, and grandfather of actr ...

as Judge Danielson *

Nikki DeLoach Nikki DeLoach is an American actress. Early life DeLoach was born in Waycross, Georgia. She is the eldest of three children of Terri, Pierce County School superintendent and David DeLoach, an owner of a wood products company. She has a sister L ...

as Mindy *

Burgess Jenkins Burgess Jenkins (born October 24, 1973) is an American actor. He is known for work in the film '' Remember the Titans'' opposite Academy Award winner Denzel Washington; and as Hilary Swank's husband David Winter in '' The Reaping'' (2007). ...

as Harry *

Larry Bagby Larry Bagby (born March 7, 1974) is an American actor and musician, who is best known as Ernie 'Ice' in '' Hocus Pocus'', Larry Blaisdell in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', Pvt. Shirley "Hickey" Kendrick in '' Saints and Soldiers'', Marshall Grant ...

as Spencer Hightower

Production

Filming took place in

Monroe, North Carolina Monroe is a city in and the county seat of Union County, North Carolina, United States. The population increased from 32,797 in 2010 to 34,551 in 2020. It is within the rapidly growing Charlotte metropolitan area. Monroe has a council-manager f ...

References

* * 2010 drama films 2010 films Films about lawyers 2010s legal films Films shot in North Carolina American legal films American drama films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films {{2010s-drama-film-stub