Tales of the Grim Sleeper

2014

1h 45m

Documentary

List

100%

37 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Filmmaker Nick Broomfield investigates the case of the Grim Sleeper, a serial killer terrorizing South Central Los Angeles for 25 years.

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Shadow and Act Staff

Shadow and Act

This is by no means groundbreaking filmmaking, but its ideas are challenging, which, in a story like this one, is crucial.

Sep 15, 2022

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Like the best of Broomfield's work, it's both an explanation and investigation, the filmmaker puzzling out a complicated story as he goes, dogged in his determination.

Jun 18, 2016

Full Review

Clayton Dillard

Slant Magazine

Broomfield meticulously frames his engagements with the South Central residents as dedicated to illuminating how personal strife consistently traces to economic subalimentation and historical degradation.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 27, 2015

Full Review

Ben Nicholson

CineVue

The dark recesses of a diseased mind may make the headline, but it is the indictment of far more widespread infection that rings out and is striking in its prescience.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 4, 2019

Full Review

Morgan Rojas

Cinemacy

Tales of the Grim Sleeper is so outlandish, shocking, and culturally relevant that of course it's going to drop a few jaws, but the ever scarier afterthought is how these murders went unaccounted for, for so long. Now that is truly haunting.

Nov 9, 2018

Full Review

Brian Gibson

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

The sordid yet mundane (making it all the sadder) story of a black community plagued by police unconcern, with the men closest to the accused almost shruggingly inured to his voyeurism and predation. (The impressive fighters here are female.)

Jan 9, 2016

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Audience Member

exposes the truth about how horribly we treat black woman in this country. a devastating and well crafted documentary.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Deeply disturbing and -- despite how often every other documentary review says these words -- this is required viewing for all members of society. (Or rather, should be).

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I don't know why this is critically acclaimed. It is boring for the most part. Interviewing random locals & the main guy producing has the most boring voice I have ever heard. Just dull.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Unfortunately as funny as it is disturbing. And not at the expense of each other, so it really works.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

omfg; one the best films you'll find about the intersection of race and law enforcement...plus its super fun to watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

markus m

Instead of trying to study the case of the Grim Sleeper by looking at it from the outside, director Broomfield decides to take his investigation straight to the community in which these crimes were committed, and by doing so creates a documentary that is not as much a picture of the Grim Sleeper as it is a very up-close and personal one of certain aspects of American society. 8+/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Nick Broomfield

Director

Nick Broomfield

Self

Lonnie David Franklin Jr.

Grim Sleeper

Seymour Amster

Lonnie Franklin's Defense Attorney

Laverne Peters

Mother of Murder Victim

Antonio Villaraigosa

Self

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Nick Broomfield investigates the case of the Grim Sleeper, a serial killer terrorizing South Central Los Angeles for 25 years.

Director: Nick Broomfield
Production Co: South Central Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Runtime: 1h 45m