Dolores Claiborne (1995)

A woman (Kathy Bates) working as the housekeeper of an elderly woman (Judy Parfitt) suffering from bouts of dementia is accused of murdering her. The scandal causes her estranged daughter (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to return home for the first time in 15 years. But their own personal demons will play out as well when a deeply buried secret comes to the surface. Based on the best selling novel by Stephen King and directed by Taylor Hackford. One of the very best adaptations of Stephen King's books with a superb performance by Kathy Bates in the title role. She may have gotten her Oscar for King's MISERY but DOLORES CLAIBORNE gives her a more layered character to play covering some 20 years. Victim roles are often a losing battle but Jennifer Jason Leigh manages to to balance both the anger and rage with the almost intolerable pain eating her insides. Add July Parfitt's excellent performance as a society woman not so shallow as she seems. While King is known for his horror novels, CLAIBORNE is more of a psychological thriller. With Christopher Plummer, David Strathairn and John C. Reilly.