Killer: A Journal of Murder

R

1996

1h 30m

Drama

List

Reviews

47%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After Carl Panzram (James Woods) is sent to Leavenworth Prison for burglary, a young guard named Henry Lesser (Robert Sean Leonard) reaches out to him. As this unlikely friendship develops, Panzram begins to write down his life story -- and in doing so, admits to murdering a string of people. In jail, Panzram also shows his dangerous, violent streak by beating a guard to death. When Panzram is sentenced to death, Lesser still tries to help him, even though he knows the man is truly a killer.

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steve d

James Woods is great the script has been done before.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Ultimately this was a sad excuse of recounting serial killer Panzram days in prison. It focused more on the relationship with the prison gaurd he befriended which made for a dull story.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Showing an unlikely bond between a convict and a prison guard, both Woods and Leonard play their characters very convincingly in this hard-hitting thriller.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

Killer - A Journal of Murder turns out to be more like Killer - A Journal of Love. 87 minutes of two guys ''bonding.'' I went from expecting James Woods to slice and dice, to thinking - just kiss already.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

More for fans/admirers/researchers of Charles «Carl» Panzram, however, it does contain a good amount of quotable material. Some critics apparently were expecting some sort of Horror film; it carries on more like a slow-paced, dramatic indictment of the mechanically indifferent U.S. prison system.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A prison drama of a cold-blooded murder, based on a true story. Worth watching alone for James Woods excellent performance.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Tim Metcalfe

Director

James Woods

Carl Panzram

Robert Sean Leonard

Henry Lesser

Ellen Greene

Elizabeth Wyatt

Cara Buono

Esther Lesser

Robert John Burke

R.G. Greiser

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Metcalfe's casting of James Woods as the killer is a good choice, and Woods gives a powerful, searing performance. He does not compromise Panzram, or soften him. But the movie does, by withholding information.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 3/5

Oct 10, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jun 19, 2005

Full Review

Steve Rhodes

Internet Reviews

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Synopsis

After Carl Panzram (James Woods) is sent to Leavenworth Prison for burglary, a young guard named Henry Lesser (Robert Sean Leonard) reaches out to him. As this unlikely friendship develops, Panzram begins to write down his life story -- and in doing so, admits to murdering a string of people. In jail, Panzram also shows his dangerous, violent streak by beating a guard to death. When Panzram is sentenced to death, Lesser still tries to help him, even though he knows the man is truly a killer.

Director: Tim Metcalfe
Screenwriter: Tim Metcalfe
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $65.7K
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Surround

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