The Boston Strangler

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Aldo G Meticulously directed by Richard Fleischer and a must-see for fans of psychological crime dramas. Yes, it's loosely based on the actual suspected serial killer and some have derided the film as being exploitative. I don't see it that way. The film concludes with a message that is, sadly, as true today as it was then. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/18/24 Full Review Liam D One of Director Richard Fleischer (See No Evil, Mandingo) best movies, a disquieting thriller with an master work performance by Tony Curtis (Trapeze, Winchester '73) Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review isla s This is an interesting film as it's based on a true story and it shows the women as not being entirely scared and shrieky for once. Some of the plot details intrigued me - the situation of potential criminals and how the police came to the conclusions they did. Obviously, they didn't have DNA back in those days (the 1960's). It's interesting in a more of a psychological way, I'd say. There isn't too much in the way of gory violence visually depicted, although you do hear the shrieks of a number of victims. It does feature what could be construed as elements of homophobia from the police perhaps but of course, its a film of its time and that should always be considered. I also thought it 'interesting' that in one scene, a police officer hits back at someone trying to leave the room and the officers colleague tells him that it counts as police brutality, which is something that doesn't go on any more. Some people may well beg to differ on that particular point!. I thought the camerawork was reasonably clever at times and it does ok at creating a sense of the media frenzy that there must have been at the time its set in. It did feel slightly sensationalist towards the very end but overall, I thought it was a good film of its time, so I'd recommend it on that basis. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The Boston Strangler tells the story about ethics and madness that occurred in the Boston area of the 1960s. A story about a psychopath who hunts women in their homes. While the film is tarnished by the numerous historical inaccuracies presented in the film, The Boston Strangler should still be considered acceptably and reasonably decent. Simply because of the film's complex and dark nature as well as a tremendous performance from Tony Curtis as the unstable maniac Albert DeSalvo. While The Boston Strangler is not your typical true crime film with the numerous inaccuracies, the film is still pretty decent and intense. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review william d I had a bit of a mixed reaction to this one. On the one hand the film uses split screen to an annoying degree. On the other hand the story is very good. On the one hand the events immediately preceding and subsequent to DeSalvo's arrest are fictional, even relying on the old "split personality" movie trope. On the other hand Fonda and especially Curtis are excellent. Ultimately, I give it a recommendation. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review dave s Featuring a stellar cast that includes the likes of Henry Fonda, Tony Curtis and George Kennedy, The Boston Strangler is an effective crime procedural centering around a series of killings in the Boston area in the early 1960s. The first portion of the film focuses on the actual murders and the police work involved in solving the crimes, but the movie really takes off when the killer is introduced at the midway point and the psychology behind his heinous activity is examined. The constant use of split screens becomes a distraction at times and feels both unnecessary and lazy, but Richard Fleischer's film remains an engaging crime drama that refuses to back away from the horror of the crimes committed. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Boston Strangler

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