Frances Flanagan made her mark in the late 1980s with her roles in Backfire (1988) and The Accused (1988). In Backfire, she navigates the gritty underbelly of crime, while in The Accused, she contributes to a tense narrative that explores justice and morality. Flanagan's performances reflect the raw energy of exploitation cinema, making her a notable presence in the cult film landscape.
The Accused
On April 18, 1987, at a local bar, 23-year-old waitress Sarah Tobias (Jodie Foster) is brutally gang raped by three men who are cheered and encouraged by onlookers. Based upon a lack of strong evidence, including Sarah's own checkered past and her demeanor before the rape, Deputy District Attorney Kathryn Murphy (Kelly McGillis) offers the three men a plea bargain to a lesser offense which, although having a similar sentencing range, would make them eligible for parole sooner. Enraged, Sarah feels betrayed by Murphy. Against advice of the District Attorney, Murphy prosecutes three onlookers for their solicitation in encouraging the other men to rape Sarah. At trial, Sarah is finally able to tell her story, but is unable to identify the onlookers. A conviction seems unlikely until the fraternity brother of one of the attackers testifies in a flashback as to what he recalls. With all three onlookers convicted, Sarah's attackers will likely not be paroled.
