Indictment: The Mcmartin Trial (1995) Apr 2026

(1995) is a powerful, award-winning HBO legal drama that dramatizes one of the most controversial and expensive criminal cases in American history. Directed by Mick Jackson and written by Abby Mann and Myra Mann, the film critiques the "Satanic Panic" of the 1980s and the systemic failures of the media and judiciary. Plot & Key Characters

The determined prosecuting attorney who leads the case against the family. Indictment: The McMartin Trial (1995)

James Woods received widespread praise for his "intelligence, shrewdness, and sneakiness" in portraying real-life attorney Danny Davis. (1995) is a powerful, award-winning HBO legal drama

It highlights the psychological damage done to the children, not by the McMartins, but by the adults who pressured them into giving false testimonies. Critical Reception Reviewers from sites like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes

The film centers on the in Manhattan Beach, California, where several members of the McMartin family were accused of horrific acts of child sexual abuse and bizarre Satanic rituals.

Reviewers from sites like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes note that the film remains a chilling look at how public opinion can convict people long before they ever step into a courtroom.

It explores how a single accusation from a parent with mental health issues spiraled into a national panic, fueled by "overzealous investigators" and a media circus.