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The Hillside Strangler

Play trailer Poster for The Hillside Strangler R 2004 1h 37m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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9% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 32% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Kenneth Bianchi (C. Thomas Howell) is a security guard whose attempts to become a police officer are repeatedly thwarted. He moves to California to live with his cousin Angelo (Nicholas Turturro) and dates a string of women, becoming increasingly preoccupied with sex. Eventually the cousins decide to start an escort agency. After violently killing a prostitute they thought had betrayed them, Kenneth and Angelo begin committing a series of crimes that become a media sensation.

Critics Reviews

View All (11) Critics Reviews
Empire Magazine Rated: 1/5 Apr 1, 2006 Full Review Kevin Crust Los Angeles Times A garishly slick piece of exploitation with surprisingly high production values but nary a moment of suspense. Rated: 1/5 Oct 15, 2004 Full Review Dana Stevens New York Times This relentlessly unpleasant film documents the true story of cousins whose murder spree in late 1970's Los Angeles was at first attributed to a lone killer known as the Hillside Strangler. Rated: 1.5/5 Oct 14, 2004 Full Review Keith H. Brown Eye for Film Rated: 2/5 Dec 7, 2007 Full Review Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall Feels very cheesy due to its awkward, period-style acting and directing. But it's also chillingly informative. Rated: 2.5/5 Oct 19, 2004 Full Review Mark Keizer Boxoffice Magazine Career-wise, no one really stands to benefit from the film, with the exception of Turturro, who shows he's ready for bigger cinematic opportunities. Rated: 2.5/5 Oct 15, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (68) audience reviews
Demented N No just no a sick story should not be dramatised. Them poor women Rated 1 out of 5 stars 11/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Great movie to watch with your family Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Americans seem to have a fascination with true crime stories. All you have to do is watch TLC or Discovery Investigative for more than an hour to find that out. These stories are often over sexualized and overly graphic retellings of real crimes and killers. This movie is no exception. While true crime and murder stories do and can work, this one feels like they just through their hands up in the air and said, "Fuck it, if you want sleaze we've got sleaze!" The basic premise of a young obviously mentally unstable person being manipulated and controlled by a much more dominate and sadistic person is a good one. Seeing a person with violent tendencies slowly morph into a full on psycho has potential, yet they rarely take advantage of it. Now there are bits in here that do have a charm in the way other brutal crime movies also have, but they are few and far between. It just goes to show that family can be the most influential aspect of life. Wither or nor that's a good thing depends on the family. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member I thought this movie was done right! It is especially good if you know the true story. The acting was way above average and contains strong violent moments that are sometimes hard to watch. Check out the creepy song during the end credits by Earthlings! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member It's hard to really like a film about women being raped and murdered, so lets just say it's a decent film depicting atrocious events. This film is gritty and depraved throughout, but historically interesting. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Awful and offensive explitation flick which revels in being nasty and rooting for the two killers while the victims are shown to be asking for it,which is totally wrong on every level. C Thomas Howell and Nicholas Tuturro do try with their roles but the whole thing is soo unpleasant thats you reallly which the filmakers hadnt bothered making the film. It feels sleazy and has nothing to say about the plight of the victims and their families it just seems to say wow look at how reppellent these guys are. A film with no redeeming features which belongs in a dustbin. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Hillside Strangler

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Kenneth Bianchi (C. Thomas Howell) is a security guard whose attempts to become a police officer are repeatedly thwarted. He moves to California to live with his cousin Angelo (Nicholas Turturro) and dates a string of women, becoming increasingly preoccupied with sex. Eventually the cousins decide to start an escort agency. After violently killing a prostitute they thought had betrayed them, Kenneth and Angelo begin committing a series of crimes that become a media sensation.
Director
Chuck Parello
Producer
Hamish McAlpine, Michael Muscal
Screenwriter
Chuck Parello, Stephen Johnston
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Jun 1, 2006
Runtime
1h 37m